Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
.U.S.PARCEL POST.
EXTENSION PLAN
To REDUCE HIGH
COST Of LIVING
Author Of Present Law Would Cut
OF the MiddIeman's Profit
on Farm Products.
By HUGH S. MILLER.

Of the parcel posi-. WnlCn VIII nave llt
effect Of placing the consumer in i'm
mediate touch with the producer. and
which will materially reduce the cost
Of living. is advocated by Representa-
tive David J. Lewis, Of Maryland, who
Is conceded to be first among the ex-
perts in Congress.
It was Representative Lewis who
drafted the bin on which the present
parcel post system IS based. with
the exception OF minor changes the
plan he originally drew up is the one
now in effect.
Mr.. Lewis has submitted his plan
10 Postmaster General Burleson and
20 Congress. and an effort will be
made 20 get action on Il at this ses-
sion Of Congress.
Would Raise Weight.
These are few Of the reforms he
Raising the weight limit TO 100
pounds.
Taking of the weight limit on
shipments delivered to the rail
way terminal by the consignor
and collected from il by the con-
signse.
A zone system, Of 100 miles to
each zone, including the local
zone.
A rate Of ~ cent per pound
for each such zone, plus the in
itisI charge Of cents, arbitrary,
for the first pound.
An Improvement Of classified
tions TO include books and other
articles now prohibited.
The effect OF this. according 10 Mr..
lewis would be to allow farm and
standardized products 20 be marketed
direct 10 the consumer at the follow
Ing rates;
One half cent a pound in the
first zone, which would mean
anywhere in an area Of 20, iO6,24O
acres.
One cent a pound in the second
zone, embracing an additional
area Of 60,31s,720.
One and one-half cents a pound
in the third zone, embracing an
additional area Of 100,531,2OO
acres.
Receive Supplies by Post.
In other words, a person living in
the city could write a postcard 10 a
farmer 100 miles away and order
from him a consignment ~ butter
eggs. lettuce or any other farm prod
uct The farmer could collect the
fresh laid eggs the freshly made but
ter and the freshly gathered lettuce.
and take them to the postothce in the
early evening,
The next morning the man IN the
city would wake to the postman's
whistle and receive. as fresh as when
they were packed. the articles he had
ordered a day or so before Accord
ing 20 the scale Of charges proposed
by Mr.. Lewis. he would pay 3 cents
for the first pound and an additional
charge Of 1-2 cent a pound for the
shipment For a siX-pound shipment
therefore. he would pay the magnlh-
rent total Of cents.
This stands interesting comparison
with prCies actually paid under the
present system for food products
brought from the country. Mr. Lewis
made an investigation recently. TO
find out how much the consumer paid
over and above the price received by
the producer
He found. for instance, that for a
package of three pounds ~ butter the
farmer received p cents. The whole
saler charged the retailer 81 cents for
the butter Along came the consumer.
who in this case was Mr. Lewis and
he paid Sl05 for the three pounds OF
butter
Big Saving Apparent.
II the new parcel post had been tn
effect al the time-the system that is
proposed by Mr. Lewis-he would
have paid 70 cents for the butter plus
transportation charge OF ala cents,
or "a total Of 1919 cents. On this
small order alone tho customer would
have saved 2S l-2 cents.
Farm products are usually pro-
duCed On retail form. saws Mr. Lewis
hut there IS now no direct system
OF transportation 90 carry them d.
rect from the producer 20 the con-
sumer-fTum the farm 20 the kitchen,
They must 60 through the round
about processes Of commerce, which
double the price 10 the consumer.
THE railway is engaged only in the
wholesale or commercial business. It's
minimum weight is 100 pouuds-too
high for retail purchasers. Besides, Il
does not ar.icuiate with the farm
The express company does not articu-
late with the farm and its rates are
three times normal and pruhibitive
TraUsp1 accounting burdens
prevent both railway and express
companies from making rates proper
u0nlI 90 the weight Of Glminutiye
shipments.
PereeI Post Nstural Agent.
The Parcel post ought 20 be the
natural agency tU carry retail. ship
meuts IL docs not do so now. be-
cause ~ two restrictions on fits op-
srauUn-the prohihitiye weight limit
and abnormal pound rates-from
four Go six times the cost " service
OF snort distances"
tn this connection a railroad man
has made a- important contribution.
j.. r. NOakuw. chairman of the st
Louis an. san Francisco Railroad re-
Gently had this ra say on the subject
Of spnrtatior NJ food products
Last years agricultural products
were VIC. IN s. HHH.U.Hu.H 20 the farm
ers. The Government used farm
values ir getting figures fa- This tora.
Assuming that She farmers kept one
third % the products FOR their own
use. the consumers paid more than
$4,000 GOO aH" Tor what The producers
received S6.Ift.H. The cost 20
getting The years products from pro-
Cuut-s Co uUsaggTs amounted @. The
enormous sum o. $500. .1. rr-. The
real problem ru Gea. Ht.f. is not h|EE
cost - Twins. T. rs high cost ~ a.T-
ms
such plan as Mr.. Levi. proposes
would Ee believes. nrs. .u .~ .r-
t.-eIF new industry az sGn.r. BAN Ea--
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