The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-07
MARKED CHANGES
IN REGULATIONS
Of PARCEL POST
Interstate Conn m cree
Commission Gives
Out Revisions.
BOOKS ADMITTED
AFTER MARCH 16
Weight Limits Increased in All
Zones. and Rates Reduced in
Third, Fourth, Fifth and
Sixth Zoncs-New Rules
Recommended by Post
master General.

N"Shiu=t ton. December G.--lmroltant
changes IN parcel post regulations. in
Guiding general reduction in rates ana
increase in maximum weights were
approved to-day by the Interstate Com
mtrce Commission The revisious were
made upou recommendation Of Post
ndSt.r-tcneral Burlcson. and ia "A ma
lority o. cases are effective Januar.-
/, l9lI.
Books are admitted to the parcel
post; weight limits are increased in the
hrSt and second zones from twenty to
mt! pounds, and in all zones beyond
tn" second from eleven TO twenty
pounds; and rates arc reduced i'll the
third. fourth. hfth ard sixth zones
The changes in rates to be in effect
January /. 1914, follow TO reduce the
rates for the third zone from cents
for the first pound and > cents fo,
each additional pound TO cents for
the first pound and cents for each
additional pound.
TO reduce the rates for tho fourth
zone from cents for the first pound
and 8 cents for each additional pound
TO cents for the first pound aud
cents for each additional pound
To reduce the rates for. the frlh Zono
from cents for the first pound and
cents for each additional pound TO s
cents for the first pound and g cents
for each additional pound
To reduce the rates for the sixth
zone from 10 cents for the first pound
ana . cents for each additional pound
to cents Tor the first pound ana s
cents for each additional pound
service IL Promoted.
-, seems obvious" says n staten,eut
by the commission. that the service TO
the public will be promoted by these
changes. provided the revenue from the
service is not less than tho cost there
of. Experience seems to show clearly
he Vii Inc
tn" cosA OF tho service.
We can concciyc ofMo oppos ition TO
: the Increased weights md reduced
rates except from the carriers that
transport the malls. We have heard
some objections from them on the
ground that the increased weight
should not be permitted until provision
for additional compensa ton to the car
riers has been made
1t is provided by the Postmaster
General, with the consent OF the com
mission. that the rate or postage on
parcels containing books Weighing
eight ounces or less shall be | cent
Tor each two ounces or fractional part
thereof. and OH those weighing i'm cX-
cess of cigh; ounces. the zone parcel
post rates shall apply This is 10 b.
effective March i6 1914"
Consent also was given 10 adnis
sion OF shipments or gold cold huI-
lion and 9old dust in Alaska ana TO
END from Aiaska in packages weighing
not moro than eleven pounds. rh.,
rate .! postage fixed is cents an
ounce o. Traction thereof for all
distances.
Npprecintcd by Public.
Tile Postmaster-Gcnera issued an
order effective August ID last increas-
ing the weight limit in the first and
second zones from eleven 10 twenty
pounds. and materially reducinl; tho
rates Of postage for these zones. and
stated at that time that this step was
Ia the nature Of an experiment." said
q statement issued tonight by the
Post Office Department. After these
changes had been in operation for
som" time q record was Kept or tho
number of parcels handled in n largo
number of representative post Offices
throughout the United States and the
reports received from these Offices
show that the changes In the service
have been greatly appreciated by the
public"
The statement says OF the change
relating 10 hooks that IL has strong
ly been urged by circulating libraries.
schools. colleges and publishers ever
since the establishment Of the parcel
post service, as the present restrictive
limit and rates on books arc prohibit
tive 10 Il great extent except in the
case of catalogues" and that 1t was
not deemed advisable to place the
order changing the classification of
books in effect ON January /, as it
was desired 10 give at least three
months notice to firms whose cata-
louses were not being printed"