The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-12-18
WIDENING SCOPE OF PARCEL

The practicability of the parcel post
is growing by leaps and bounds. The
latest proposals for the parcel post
which come from Postmaster Gener-
al Burleson who believes that it is
time to increase the weight limits OF
parcel post packages in the first and
second zones from twenty to fifty
pounds, to admit books to the parcel
post. and to reduce rates in the third,
fourth, fifth and sixth zones, have
been approved by the interstate COM
merce commission.
| The maximum weight of parcels to
all zones beyond the second was in
| creased from eleven to twenty pounds.
The commissions consent to the
proposed changes was transmitted In
/ three letters from Chairman Clark to
Postmaster General Burleson. The APP
proved changes in rates to be in effect
January /, 1914, follows:
To reduce the rates for the third
zone from seven cents for the first
pound and five cents for each addition
4 al pound TO six cents for the first
pound and two cents for each addition
al pound.
To reduce the rate for the fourth
one 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-
tional pound.
To reduce the rates for the fifth
zone from nine cents for the first pound
and seven cents for each additional
pound to eight cents for the first
pound and six cents for each additional
pound
To reduce the rates for 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.
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
experiences and statistics seem Il
g show clearly that the revenue will no.
J be less than the cost of the service.
We can conceive of no opposition tx
Il the increased weights and reduced
rates proposed except from the car
riers that transport the mails. We
have had some objections from then
e on the ground the increased weigh
9 should not be permitted until proyi
sion for additional compensation Il
the carriers has been made"
1t is provided that the rate of post
age on parcels containing books weigh
n ing eight ounces or less shall be ont
u cent for each two ounces or fractional
o part thereof, and on those weighing II
q excess of eight ounces, the zone parce
E. post rates shall apply" This is to b,
Is effective March 16 1914.
Serious objections 10 the proposed
u change in the rates on books and cata
1t logues were made chiefly by mailer
II Of heavy catalogues, but the commits
sion says it feels that the changes ar,
IS in the interest of the public generally
Consent also was given by the CON
mission to the admission Of shipment
e. OF gold, gold bullion and gold dust ii
% Alaska to and from Alaska in pack
e ages weighing not more than clever
n pounds The rate of postage fixed 1
i two cents an ounce or fraction thereo
d for all distances.
d, The postmaster general Issued al
a. order effective August Is last, increas
1t ing the weight limit in the first an
Al second zones from II to 20 pound
G and materially reducing the rates 0
s postage for these zones. and stated a
S that time that this step was in tn