Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-12-08
Increase the Weights from
20 and so Pounds.
Limits in 1st and End Zones
Raised by Approval
OF Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion-.Changes In Other Zones.

Washington, Dec. 7-Postmaster
General Burleson's proposals to in
crease the weight limits of parcel
post packages in the first and second
zones from 20 to so pounds, to admit
books to the parcel post, and to re-
duce rates in third, fourth, fifth and
sixth zones, was approved, Saturday,
by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion.
The maximum weight of parcels to
all zones beyond the second was in
creased from IL to 20 pounds
The approved changes in rates and
weights to be in effect. January l,
1914, follow:
To reduce the rates for the third
zone from seven cents for the first
pound and five cents for each addi-
tional pound, to six cents for the
first pound and two cents for each
additional pound.
To reduce the rates for the fourth
zone from eight cents for the first
pound and six cents for each addi-
tional pound to seven cents for the
first pound and four cents for each
additional pound.
To reduce the rates for the fifth
zone from nine cents for the first
pound and seven cents for each addi-
tional pound, to eight cents for the
first pound and six cents for each ad-
oi'ion pound.
TO reduce the rates for the sixth
zone from 10 cents for the first pound
and nine cents for each additional
pound, to nine cents for the first pound
ciy 70 ol6 mol
pound.
1T seems obvious" says the COM
mission that the service to the pub
lie will be promoted by these changes
provided the revenue from the service
is not less than the cost thereof.
Your experience and statistics seem
to show clearly that the revenue will
not be less than the cost of the serv-
ice.
I'VE can conceive of no opposition
to the increased weights and reduced
rates proposed except from the car
riers that transport the mails. We
have had some objections from them
on the ground that the increased
weight should not be permitted until
provision for additional compensation
to the carriers has been made"
1t is provided by the postmaster
general, with the consent of the COM
mission, that the rate of postage on
parcels containing books weighing
eight ounces or less shall be one cent
for each two ounces or fractional part
thereof, and on those weighing in eX-
cess of eight ounces, the zone parcel
post rates shall apply"
This is to be effected, March 16, 1914.
Serious objections to the proposed
change in the rates on books and cat
alogues were made chiefly by mailers
of heavy catalogues, but the commits
sion says it feels that the changes are
in the interest of the public generally.
The statement says of the change
relating to books that it has strongly
been urged by circulating libraries,
schools, colleges and publishers ever
since the establishment of the parcel
post service, as the present restrictive
weight limit and rates on books are
prohibitive to 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 l, as 1t
was desired to give at least three
months notice to firms whose cata-
logues were now being printed"