The copper era and Morenci leader., 1913-01-03

now furnished with scales of limited capacity makes it necessary for the postmaster general to make this very large purchase of scales capable of taking care of the parcel post busi ness. It is understood that this will be the largest single order ever placed for scales.
 Rate on Seeds Not Affected
 It should be said that the act of congress which puts a parcel post plan into operation does not in any way affect the postage rate on seeds, cut tings, bulbs. roots. scions and plants as fixed by section 482 of the postal laws and regulations.
 The classification of articles mail able as well as the weight limit. the rates of postage, zone or zones and other conditions of mailability under the act of congress, if the postmaster general shall find on experience "that they or any of them are such as to prevent the shipment of articles de- sirable, or shall permanently render the cost of the service greater than the receipts of the revenue therefrom, he is hereby authorized, subject to the consent of the interstate commerce commission after investigation, to re- form from time to time such classif- cation, weight limit, rates, zone or zones or conditions, in order to pro- mote the service to the public or to insure the receipt of revenue from such service adequate to pay the cost thereof"
 Through many years different mem- bers of the house and senate have been interested in promoting parcel post legislation. Among the men most active in securing the legislation which soon Is to go into effect as law are Senator Jonathan Bourne of Oregon, Representatives David J. Lewis of Maryland and William Sul- ger of New York. who has just been elected governor of that state.
 To ascertain conditions surrounding the establishment of the parcel post system in places differing widely in size, climate and industries, Postmas- ter General Hitchcock recently sum- moned to Washington, to confer with the special parcel post committee, the postmasters of five typical offices. They are William H. Davis, Pittsburg, Pa; Daniel T. Gerow. Jacksonville. Fla; NJ. H. Joster, Wilmington, Del; E. M. c. Quimby, Suffolk, Va, and Henry N. Bradley, Charlestown. W. Va.
 Confer With Postmasters.
 The postmasters of the five largest offices in the country have already appeared before the committee, so Pittsburg was represented as being a large first class office, though smaller than any of the greater five, and as being the center of a tremendous man. ufacturing area. The postmaster of Pittsburg reported that the board of trade of that city has a special parcel post committee, working toward bringing the consumer and producer nearer to each other by the new sys- tenn. He also said that many of the merchants are planning to have their city deliveries made by parcel post.
 Wilmington, Del, represented a large farming and manufacturing dis trict, with it's mail connections close with Philadelphia, one of the largest offices. Jacksonville is the largest of flee in Florida, and the outlet for all the mall or the state. It IS peculiar in having a special increase of force in winter, the tourist season, and the postmaster said that it was expected that travellers would use the parcel post extensively in sending nome five and ten-pound packages of fruit.
 Suffolk, Va, and Charlestown, W. Va, are both very small second class offices, one in the tide-water district, with large truck interests; the other far inland in an orchard country, with diversified farm products. The post masters of both offices reported great interest in the parcel post, and said that they had continual inquiries re- garding it's scope.
 From these postmasters the com. mittee was able to glean a great of valuable information, which, added to that gained from the recent hearings in Maryland, puts it in position to plan the details of the service to the greatest advantage of the producing farmer.