The Washington herald., 1913-10-19
LOWER POSTAL RATES,
AIM OF J. L. c0WLES
Author Of "A General Freight and
Passenger POST Writes Post
master General.

James L. Cowles has sent the fol-
lowing letter to Postmaster General
Burleson and the Interstate Commerce
Commission:
IN my letter Of October Is. oppos-
ing the inclusion OF third-class mat
ter In the existing fourth-ciass serv-
ice, I set forth some OF the evils OF
the proposed change.
In this supplement, speaking only
for myself. I note the large and dis
tinct gains that would follow:
within distances of $50 miles. on
parcels of IL and IL, IL and 14, and
15 and 16 ounces, the rate would be
reduced from s. Z. and cents to a
common rate Of cents.
within local services the rate on
. and pound parcels would be re-
duced from 16 and "a cents to a COM
mon rate of 6 cents. and on 4-pound
parcels from SO to cents.
Outside of local services, up to $50
miles, the existing rates on 2, 8. and
pound parcels OF books-16, "a, and
and s cents
1T would also be possible to pack
up third and fourth class matter,
printed books, blank books, &C, in
common parcels, with a large saving
to the public in packing and handling
and to the postoffice in handling.
The increase in the weight limit
from 4 to 90 pounds would also be a
great gain, the tax on a 20-pound
parcel being only Is cents within local
services. and only "a cents outside Of
local services up to $50 miles, as
against the existing 32-cent rate on
4-pound parcels.
$50 much for the benefits to arise from
this service. Against It's benefits we note
these evils:
ION parcels up to 4 ounces the first
rate would be increased 100 per cent.
"On 2 ounce parcels from to cents;
on 4 ounce parcels to cents.
"Over $50 miles, however, the rates
would be increased:
"On 5 and ounce parcels cents. on
I and s ounce parcels 4 cents, on . and
10 ounce parcels cents, on IL and u
ounce parcels 6 cents. TO I. s, ., 10. II,
and l. cents
"over 300 miles the rates on u and IA
ounce parcels would be increased from
Z to s, 8, 10, II. and IL cents.
"Over GOO miles the rates on Is and Is
ounce parcels would be increased from
3 to .. 10. ii, and Il cents
'-over Loo miles the cent rate on
pound parcels would be increased to 10,
II. And II cents.
ION ? pound parcels from IS cents to
10, q, and q cents
''on . pound parcels from "a cents TO
2S. 81, and IS cents.
''On 4 pound parcels from y cents to
q. Il, and 4s cents.
1T may be argued that the benefits
of the proposed consolidated service
within distances OF 10 miles would far
more than counterbalance the evils aris-
ing from the increased rates for greater
distances.
But why not make the entire business
a blessing by combining the third and
fourth classes OF mail matter with a COM
mon fiat rate based on the cost OF the
service rendered? With the reasonable
use of the machinery OF our day, the post
Ing Of all mail matters-in parcels sealed
or unsealed-at a comman rate Of ! cent
a pound-the existing publishers rate on
registered second-class matter-would
seem quite as practicable as was the old
| cent two ounce fat rate of 1874 on other
kinds of merchandise. With an additional
cent securing preferential delivery on val
liable sealed parcels up to eight ounces
or pound and with lower rates on larger
parcels, over a pound to five pounds, 2
cents; over five to eleven pounds, cents;
over eleven to twenty-five pounds, 10
cents. &c, limited only by the capacity
have a postal service that would carry
out the dream of President Lincoln and
the Congress of 1858 when they discarded
the old value of the service zone system
Of postal taxation and established our
modern fat rate postoffice based on the
cost Of the service rendered and having
for its end a United States Of America
made UP or a united people, each finding
the other mans gain his greatest benefit
81 congratulate the Postmaster Gen.
eral on his proposition to increase the
parcel post limit recently
and ask this question: Why
any limit within the capacity of freight
car? Why not make this our alma
world postal service covering the entire
business of public transportation and
with low uniform rates,
rates steadily diminishing with the i'm
provement of the worlds transport ma
and its more efficient administra-
ton unit. the time shall quickly come
when the weakest hand, the most timid
voice. shah reach to the end of the end
Of the earth and command its richest
treasurer
Respectfully yours,
JAMES L. CoNLEs.