The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1913-12-19
LOWER RATES APPROVED.
Change In Effect January 1st. 80
Pound Weight Limit Fixed For First
and Second Zones. Twenty In All
Others. B0oks Admitted.

and Second Zones. Twenty IN All
Others. Books Admitted.
Washington, Dec. 6-Postmaster-
General Burlesons proposal to in
crease the weight limit of parcel-post
packages in the first and second zones
from 20 to 80 pounds, to admit books
to the parcel post and to reduce lates
in the third. fourth, fifth and sixth
zones WAS approved today b. the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
The maximum weight of parcels to
ALL zones beyond the second vas in
creased from Il to 20 pounds.
One OF the reasons in raising the
weight limit IN the local zones Is to
encourage the utilization OF the parcel
post as a shipping agency for farm
produce TO the cities. After January
1 a farmer living at any point in Mary
land. - far south Ia Virginia a. New
port News. Petersburg or Lexington,
Va. In one-half OF Pennsylvania, two
thirds of NeH Jersey and alf Della
ware, can ship to Baltimore a market
basket" weighing fifty pundz for 81
cents.
The increased weight limit In the
local zones Hill also give the Balti-
more merchants an opportunity TO
ship direct to the Maryland, Virginia.
Delaware and Southern Pennsylvania
farmer and town customer packages
of merchandise weighing as much as
so pounds.
The commissions consent" to the
proposed changes was transmitted In
three letters from Chairman Clark to
Postmaster General Burleson. The
approved changes In rates and weights.
to be insS9fect January |, 1914; follow:
To reduce the rates for the third
zone from seven cents for the first
pound and i've cents for each addition
al pound to six cents for the first
pound and two cents for each addi-
tionai pound.
To reduce the rates for the fourth
zone from eight cents for the first
pound and SIX cents for each addition
al pound to seven cents for the first
pound and four cents for each addi-
tionai pound.
To reduce the rates from the sixth
zone from ten cents for the first pound
and nine cents for each additional
pound to nine cents for the first pound
and eight cents for each additional
pound.
It 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
excess of eight ounces the zone par
cel-post rates shall apply" This Is
TO be effective March Is, 1914.
Consent also was given by the COM
mission to the admission OF shipments
of gold. gold bullion and gold dust In
Alaska and to and from Alaska In
packages weighing not more than ii
pounds. The rate of postage fixed Is
two cents an ounce or fraction there
of for all distances.
The Postmaster-General issued an
order effective August 10 last increas-
ing the weight limit IN the first and
second zones from II to 20 pounds and
materially reducing the rates Of post
age for these zones and stated n that
time that this step was In the nature
of an experiment" said statement
issued tonight by the Postofiiee De
partment. After these changes had
been in operation for some time a
record was kept OF the number OF
parcels handled in a large number OF
representative postofiies throughout
the United States and the report re-
celped from these Offices show that the
changes in the service have been APP
precIated by the public
The number OF parcels handled In
the first and second zones since these
changes became effective show an in
crease OF approximately 10 per cent.
The average weight limit has tnereas-
ed from LOO to II pounds per parcel,
and. Notwithstanding the great reduc-
ton in rates In the first and second
zones, the average postage has IN
creased per parcel from IT cents TO
10 cents"
The statement says Of the change
relating to books that 1t 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
weight limit and rates on books are
prohIbitive TO a 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 eata-
logues were now being printed