Imperial Valley press., 1913-12-24
Parcel Post Has
Won Great Victory
BY Congressman C. II. Tavenner

I Washington, Dec. 24,-Great is the
parcel post. Bitterly fought as its pas
sage was by the powerful express in
terests, whose influence in Washing
people for many years, the system is
now proving to be the greatest bless
ing that ever descended upon the post
office department.
For the parcel post not only offers
to the entire people the great conven-
ienee of package shipment-whicii
+ the express companies failed altogeth-
er to give to 2O,000,000 rural inhabi-
tants-but it is bringing in its train
a whole host of other benefits. That
this is true is due largely to David b.
Lewis. now chairman of the house
committee on labor, who came to
Washington a little over two years
ago as an eX-coal miner and within a
few short months had written into the
parcel post law what was the most
unique and certainly what was one CT
the most important provisions ever
enacted in any American law.
This was the provision delegating
to the postmaster general legislative
power to increase the scope of the
service. Only once before did con-
gress adopt such a provision, and that
was when it gave the president power
to change the scope of the civil
service.
Without the Lewis provision the
parcel post would have remained what
it was when it started year ago-a
weak, Intellectual thing, unable to
wrest any of the profitable business
away from the express companies;
ANY change in rates would have had
to be made by congress, and each
change would be bitterly fought by
the express lobby.
Left to the executive power to IN
crease its scope, the service has grown
naturally and normally, but at a ter
rife pace. Postmaster General Burie-
sons annual report shows its pace.
First and foremost it is responsible
for the first actual postoftice surplus
since 18S3-a surplus estimated at
s3.S41 ,9067S after charging off every
debt contracted this year, but which
will have to be paid later. Postma aster
General Hitchcock attempted in 1911
to show surplus of $4,000, but he
failed to charge off these holdover
debts. Actually his deficit was more
than s73O,0O0.
This profit comes from the parcel
post. 1t will be considerably greater
next year, for Mr.. Burleson has al
ready issued the order increasing the
parcel weight limit to fifty pounds
after January l. And these profits
are to be used not only in further re-
ducing parcel rates, but in bringing
about other postal reforms. One-cent
! letter postage seems to be In sight as
result But more Immediately will
come postal telegraphs and telephones
as a direct result OF the parcel post.
Mr.. Burleson strongly advocates
| these as the next extension OF the
postal service He offers congress
| the data which his department has col
/ lected on the subject. This informa-
+ ton undoubtedly shows that. even as
/ the express companies failed to give
/ service to the whole people, the tele-
graph companies are equally deficient.
Rural phone lines can be strung along
every rural mail delivery route. And
another great system of communlca-
ton will add its profits to the postal
revenues and cheaper service.
1t is notable that Mr.. Lewis is also
drawing q government telephone and
telegraph bill. which will be the ripe
product of the same keen and eX-
haustive study that characterized his
work for the parcel post legislation.
My prediction is that "Davy" Lewis,
instead of being known to posterity
as the father of the parcel post, will
be called the father of the modern
postal service.