Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-25
Postmaster General BurlesOn
Announces He Will Issue
Order Today for Changes.
EXPLAINS HIS ACTION
TO SENATE COMMITTEE
Declares There Was Widespread
Complaint Against Special Stamp.
No Loss to Be Incurred.

| today announced he would issue the
| final orders this afternoon, putting the
| changes in effect August 10.
/ This announcement came after the wis
dom of making the changes had been
| subjected to a searching review before
the Senate post office committee in the
presence of the Postmaster General Sen
ator Bristow of Kansas and Senator
| Bryan OF Florida led in the attack upon
| the proposed changes. Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson, replying to their criticism
produced figures to show that the new
! rates would be profit making, and de-
clared that the parcel post law gave him
| abundant authority to make the changes
| In order TO promote the service to the
public"
| Chairman E. E. Clark Of the interstate
\ commerce commission. explaining why the
/ commission had sanctioned the proposed
changes said he believed the Postmaster
General had ample power under the law
to make the changes.
| Il am convinced that the Post Office
Department ought to, can and will extend
the parcels post until it will carry all
| packages up to 100 pounds" he added
| The Postmaster General assured US
| that progress must be made slowly, be-
! cause the facilities of the department
for handling parcel post business had to
keep pace with the increased business"
Report Made to Him in June.
! In the course of the hearing Postmas-
| ter General Burleson stated that the sug-
gestion of reduction of rates and in
| crease of the size of packages from
eleven pounds to twenty had been pre-
sented to him by a departmental COM
mittee in June, but on account of a Wall
| street furry he had deemed it wise, as
q conservative public official, to post
pone action until the last few days.
| Mr.. Burleson contended that his de-
partment had investigated every phase of
the question and was satisfied that the
government would reap profit on twen-
Bryan contended that figures produced for
the Senate committee last winter showed
there would be a loss of cents.
Postmaster General Burleson was
| authority to abolish the special parcel
post stamp. Senator Bristow contend
ed this was the only method of ascer-
tanning the cost of the service.
| Mr.. Burleson replied the stamp was
| the source of so much complaint that
he had come to regard the stamp as a
requirement he would abolish in the
interest of the public.
| He declared it was ascertained
that the stamp prevented the shipment
of many articles and departmental COM
mittee reported to him that although the
| law required the stamp to be attached.
and hence one that could be changed by
the department without the consent of
| Congress.
Don't you think those who drafted the
law were not better able to interpret 1T
| than departmental officials?" asked Sena-
| tor Bristow.
| mo. SIR" responded Mr. Burleson. "a
lawyer who had never seen the law might
| be best qualified to interpret it,
Senator Hoke Smith asked II the solicit
tor Of the department had given an opin-
| ion on the matter.
| mo. SIR said Mr.. Burleson. ut SEEM
| ed so clear to me. being a corn-fed law
yer myself. that changed it without an
| opinion"
No Loss in Change, He Says.
Mr., Burleson contended nothing had
been lost by the abolishing of the stamp,
because he had been able to approx
mate receipts Of the parcel post by hav
ing accounts kept at fifty large post Of
fees where 80 per cent of the mail bust
ness is done.
Senator Bristow wanted to know how
this represented the business done at
rural Offices
How does that show how much the
people on rural routes in Texas used the
parcel post?' asked Senator Bristow.
j Mr. Burleson said that the stamp would
not increase the business nor indicate the
cost and in response to Senator Swan
son said he could have the accounts kept
) at fifty small post offices with the great
est of ease and without annoyance to the
public.
THAT would be a small part of $1,000
post Offices" interposed Senator BristOW.
Postmaster General Burleson next took
, up his order reducing the cost or senolng
, articles in the first and second zones and
increasing the size of packages from
; eleven to twenty pounds
; He read a letter from the interstate
; commerce commission to the Postmaster
; General stating that after conferences
with him and departmental officials it was
. satisfied that conditions were such as to
prevent the shipment by the parcel post
. of many articles, and that the proposed
. changes were in order to promote the
. service to the public
Study Given to Changes.
Mr.. Burleson said the department had
. studied the proposed changes carefully
lin order to promote the service to the
. public very intelligent committee of
the department, assisted by Representa-
tives Lewis Of Maryland and Kindel OF
!. Colorado. having the matter in charge.
. When postmaster General Burleson be-
; gan to explain his authority to make the
changes Senator Bristow said he believed
the Postmaster General had authority to
change the rates and zones IL the inter
state commerce commission approved.
$50 do H. added Senator Hoke Smith,
. but l am not so sure about the dis
J tinctive stamp"
.>or l." added Senator Lea.
, Mr. Burleson read to the committee q
: report submitted to him by his depart
Z mental committee. showing the weight
Z limit was sucn as to prevent the ship
I ment by the parcel post of articles upon
I which money could be made.
FL Senator BrtstOW asked If money was
) not now being lost on the long hauls
I'll Mr.. Burleson retorted that that was
j. q hard question to answer, but II II
: were true that would be all the more
reason for changing the regulations in
4 the first and second zones, so as tG
make money to offset the loss.
I'll Senator Bristow said that would bring
lup a big question Of whether money
Z should be made on any business.
Promises Further Reduction.
Il felt that Congress wanted the Post
3 master General to go ahead and i'm.
prove this service, and not to be con.
> tent with standing STILL" continued Mr.
: Burleson. We are going to make
WIN I. 5s able seo to make further reductions
: every important step We take is in
= the nature of an experiment" he added
z "For instance, they estimated before
Z the law went into effect that 500, 000, 00(
Z and now we know they will handle $780,.
Z 600, 600"
Nl In explaining the revenues received
{ from parcel post matter Postmaster
& General Burleson said that since the
& Introduction of the parcel post the
revenue of the Chicago post Office had
= Increased 21.63 per cent. an increase ir
htc npiniou dua the Y,ar met III