Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-23
BURLESON IS ASKED |
TO EXPLAIN 0RDER|
Senators Would Know Why He
Reduced Parcel Post Rates
Without Consultation.

Postmaster General Burleson has been
requested by the Senate Committee on
post offices and post roads to appear be-
fore that committee tomorrow and ex-
plain his order reducing parcel post rates
and increasing the maximum size of
packages to be carried by that service.
His order was issued last Sunday, and is
to become effective August u.
Members of Congress. including men,
bers Of the Senate committee, are in
clined to combat this new order of the
Postmaster General. Members of the
Senate committee also take umbrage at
the action of the Postmaster General in
issuing the order without first consulting
the congressional committees They want
to know by what authority the Postmas-
ter General has changed the rates and
the size of the packages to be handled.
1t is commended by opponents of the
change that 1t will cause great loss to
the government Both democrats and re-
pubilcans are emphatic IN their stand
that only Congress should have such
authority over Inc rates to be charged
Tor the parcel post, and 1T is expected
that any power which Postmaster Gen
erai BurleSon may contend he has been
given under the present claw TO make
such changes viii be Withdrawn by Con-
gress.
Authority Claimed by Officials.
| Post Office Department officials claim
| that the Postmaster General is given au-
| thority to change rates by section of
the parcel post law which Declares:
The Classification of articles mailable
| as well as the weight limit, the rates OF
postage, zone or zones and other condi-
| lions OF Variability under this act, if the
| ence that they or any of them are such
| as to prevent the shipment of articles de-
| slrabe, or to permanently render the
| cost OF the service greater than the re-
| celptS OF the revenue therefrom, is mere
| by authorized, subject to the consent of
the interstate commerce commission, after
| investigation, to reform from time TO
| time such classification, weight limit,
| rates, zone or zones or conultions or
| either. III order to promote the service
| to the public or to insure the receipt OF
| revenue from such service adequate to
| pay the cost thereof
Bill to Repeal Clause.
Senator Bryan Of Florida opposed this
section of the law when the parcel post
bill was before Congress- and April Is
he introduced bill to repeal the clause
| in question, and it is expected that he
will urge it's adoption.
| The changes ordered by the Postmas-
| ter General would affect only the first
or second zones, or territory within a
radius of $50 miles of the point of
mailing. The maximum weight of par
cells would be changed from eleven to
| twenty pounds. The rates on parcels
| weighing in excess of four ounces in the
| first zone would be reduced from !. cents
| for the nrst pound and / cent for each
additional pound or fraction thereof. to
cents for the first pound and l cent
for each additional two pounds or frac-
ton thereof; ana the rate in the second
zone would be reduced from cents
| for the first pound and 3 cents for
each additional pound, or cents for
| the first pound and cents for each
additional pound and fraction thereof
to cents for tsefirst pound and 1 cent
for each additional pound or fraction
thereof
Senator Bryan to Press His Bill.
Senator Bryan of Florida declared to-
day that he thought the action OF the
Postmaster General had been ili advised
at this time and that fuller investiga-
/ ton should have been made before an
order was issued which might be costly
to the government.
Il intend to push my bill striking out
of the law that section which the Post
master Generar claims gives him author
ity to change the rates of the parcel
post service" said Senator Bryan. and
nope to get it through Congress in time
to prevent the order of the postmaster
General going into effect The section
provides that he shall have the power to
change rates only after an investigation
has been made by the interstate COM
merce commission, and l understand no
such investigation has been made"
Senator Bristow of Kansas, another
member of the post Office committee, said
that he thought the Postmaster General
had acted beyond his authority in issuing
this order.