Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-01-02
Hitchcock Says Parcel Post Is
First Step toward Govern
ment Ownership.
MILL LOWER COST OF LIVING
9ato Will Be Reduced after the
system Is Perfected-Law
Went into Erect Yes
terday.

Washington Dee 3o--At midnight ct
Tuesday, December 80, (Ncw York tme),
the now parcel post system. authorized
by Congress, will be put In operation in
tically ready to start the machinery that
ideally ready To startthe machinery that
will carry into effect this vast addition to
the postal business of the country Many
difficulties are still to be overcome, but
the postal authorities are satisfied that
these will disappear with experience. and
they do not doubt their ability to have
the system running in apple-pie order
within very short time.
An immense amount of preparations
wa, necessary to lay the foundation for
this innovation in the relations between
the postoflicc department and the people.
Postmaster General Hitchcock, who had
been an ardent advocate OF the idea, has
worked early and late in devisinC plans
for giving the greatest difficulties that
constantly presented themselves. He is
now very we'll satisfied with what has
been accomplished. and is looking for
ward with great interest to the workings
OF the experiment that will be undertaken
under his direction
In discussing the inauguration of the
parcel post system with the correspond
dent Of the New York Times. Postmaster
General Hitchcock said he regarded it as
q stepping stone to the acquisition by the
government of the entire eXprcss-carry-
ing business of the country
TAKE Over EXPRESS COMPANIES.
From what study ! have given to the
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,le, ,b,, IL sbo,,ld ho do,,, ,,r,,,,,,,,r RI
,vrross co,,r,,ia. .bo,,,d ,.,oai,.o ~ f,t
urira for tbol, business and c,,,in,,,,,t
.,r1 tboi,. .r,i,. ,,r,r, b,,l1 H., ,,,,s-
rerrcd ,o povo,p.,,ort cor,r,l In q ,,oos-
iura # is fortunate. that fine pov.rnm,,,
t. tn h..in its ,vo,l; as an evnross car.
rio,. with a limitod service for in mat
way We shall he able 70 establish the
Foundation of thu, tremendous task that
he Government would be called on To
H"sf"rm if it succeeded to the entire bust
3"-s of the express companies.
"INo establishment Of the parcel post
bound to result in n downward
lewiston Of express rates by tho private
'""ua hes 1t is easy to see how this will
Io accomplished. They have federal and
STATE taxes To pay, ana necessarily must
lie conducted at a profit, while the post
Office department in it's operation of the
parcel post will not be taxed and will not
Ice required to earn money for the pay
m"nt Of dividends 1t will be opcratcd AT
cost
The fact that the express companies
will have 10 lower rates win mean. of
80 ma. '''ic "'H 'c Ie"uc'oh "
holding small amounts Of stock in OK
press companies, and their holdlucs will
become less valuable 10 prevent injury
to their interests. a fair-mindcd and zen.
crous policy would be to pay the EXPRESS
companies for their entire nroperties MS
they stand to-day. and thereafter havc
the government conduct all EXPRESS hush
ness. This would be both for tho bonaH,
of the people and the owners Of small
amounts OF exnress comnsnv stock The
benefit 10 the noonle would come from, ,bo
fact that II the government handled oil
EXPRESS business r. couId mako ,nucb
lower rates than now nravoi
you see. in fixing the MARCEL most ratos
which are to he lucrative IN Ianuary ,
we were Obliged 10 annIv tho law NJ aver.
ages. Thus. while the marcel most rate
for long haul will bo extremely cbean
all things considered. it will no nronor-
tionately high FOR short haus Rut T., tbe
entire express business Of the country