The sun., 1913-12-07
MAILS WILL CARRY
so POUND PACKAGES
Postmaster BurIpSOn Also Will
Reduce Parcel Post Rates
on January 1.
MAY REDUCE FOOD PRICES
Congress Will Re Asked to Com
pensatc Railroads for
Extra Burden.
MAY REDUCE FOOD PRICES

WAsHrSGroS Dec. 6--tn order ma
tcrially increasing the weight ot pack
ages which may he carried in the parcel
most and substantially reducing rates VII
y. pos,nas,er-Gcnernl Rurleson's Christ r.
mas gift to the nation.
Mr. Burleson announced o-day that the
weigh, limit Of packages 20 Toe 'arr'eh
in the first two zones-tha' IS 10 any
point within $50 miles of their starting
p!ace--will be- increased on January !
from twenty 10 Nfty pounds The rates
main IN force
Al the same tim. the limit Of weight
on packages carried in the third fourth
nth sixth, seventh and eighth zoi"s' or
to all points in tn. United states beyond
the $50 mile limit. will he increased from
eleven to twenty pounds. with reductions
In postage rates in all Of these zones
except the las, two. II was ONLY lew
months ago that Mr.. Rurleson Increased
the weight limit Of packages IN the first
two zones from eleven 10 twenty pounds.
The step that he has taken is only a
partial development Of the parcel posi-
system which eventually h" expects VIII
be carrying packages W to 100 pounds
to all parts Of the country.
OF almost equal importance To- his en-
largement of the system is the in'iiEa'l"n
conveyed in his statement that he viii
ask Congress To compensat" the railroads
of the country for the extra burden
which the parcel post system has thrown
upon them. Complaints that the fhil-
roads were being imposed upon in IN.
matter Of the parcel post have been rilinr
| in upon the Post office Department for
weeks.
II is alleged that the success of th'
| system was being attained by the GOV
| ernment at the cost of the carriers, VII,
were Obliged To handle the enormous IN
crease in mail on n system OF compensa'
| ton which was entirely inadequate. Fur
thermore the railroads have been sub
iected TO an additional loss through the
| inroads that the parcel post system has
been making on the express business.
says Complaints Are Justified.
Postmaster t;eneral Burleson recog-
nizes the justice of these complaints. He
said
In placing these changes in effect the
Postma General realizes the increased
| burden that will be imposed upon the
| railroads and will treat this matter full,
| in his annual report to Congress, In the
meantime, however. the Department ~
| engaged in gathering the necessary sta
| tistics for Congress to enable 1t to t>
a correct basis for n Just. fair and ade-
auate compensation for the service rem
| dered."
Another important change in the par
| Gel post regulations announced il the ex-
| tension Of the system so as to INCLUDE
books. which now are barred. The order
permitting the transportation of books
| will not 60 into effect until March l6,
The rates in the first two zones on
packages will be five cents for the first
pound In the first. and six for the first
pound In the second zone. with CEN
additional for each pound.
The rates In the third zone. up to 800
miles from starting point. have been re-
! duced from seven cents for the first pount
and five cents for each additional pound
; to six cents for the first pound and two
| cents for each additional pound or frac
tion, thereof.
In the fourth zone from 500 to 6O'
miles. the rates have been cut from eigh