Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
Author Of Present Law Would Cut
Off the MiddIeman's Profit
on Farm Products.
CONSUMER TO BE BENEFITED
Money Spent in Transportation
and Made by Wholesaler and
Retailer Would Be Saved.
gv HUGH s. MILLER.

WASHINGTON, June 14-Reform
OF the parcel post. which win have the
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-
pertH IN Congress.
II was Representative Lewis who
drafted the bill 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
to Postmaster General Burleson and
to Congress, and an effort will be
made TO get action on it at this SEES
zion Of Congress.
Would Raise Weight
These are a few OF the reforms he
Raising the weight limit to 100
pounds.
TAKING OF the weight limit on
shipments delivered 10 tho rail
way terminal by the eonsignor
and collected from it by the con-
signee.
A zone system OF 100 miles to
each zone, including the local
zone.
A rate Of 1-2 cent per pound
for each such zone, plus the in
itisl charge OF cents, arbitrary
for the first pound.
An Improvement Of classified
tons 10 include books and other
articles now prohibited
The effect OF this. according 10 Mr.
Lewis. would be to allow farm and
standardized products 10 be- marketed
direct 20 the consumer at the follow
ms rates.
One half cent a pound in the
first zone, which would mean
anywhere in an area Of 20, fo6,2 4O
acres.
One cent a pound in the second
zone, embracing an additional
area Of 6O,3t8,720.
One and one half cents a pound
in the third zone, embracing an
additional area Of 10O,53t 200
acres.
Receive Supplies by Post
In other words, a person living I'm
the city could write a postcard 20 a
farmer 100 miles away and order
from him a consignment Of butter.
eggs, lettuce or any other farm prod
ucC The farmer could collect the
fresh laid eggs. the freshly made but
ter and the freshly gathered lettuce.
and take them 20 the postofice In the
early evening.
The next morning the man in the
city would wake 10 the postman' 8
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 paw 3 cents
for the first pound. and an additional
charge Of 1-2 cent a pound for the
shipment For a six-p pound shipment
therefore. he would pay the magnifi-
cent total Of 6 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. 60
md 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 Of butter the
farmer received 70 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 Sl.o5 for the three pounds Of
butter
Big Saving Apparent
II the new parcel post had been iD
effect an the time-the system that is
proposed by Mr. Levine would
have paid - cents for the butter, plus
q trans po~tati0n charge Of 41-2 cents
or a total Of 1919 cents. on this
small order alone the customer would
have saved 2S IL cents.
Farm products are usually pro
duced in retail form. SAYS Mr. Lewis
but there Is now no direct system
Of transportation 90 carry them d.
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