The Washington times., 1913-06-07
PARCEL POSTS POSSIBILITIES.

There has been almost half-year's experienc.
with the parcel post. What has it demonstrated?
First that there was a greater need for such
facility than even most of its enthusiastic advocates
realized. This is proved by the immense volume o.
business it has done.
Second, that as organized it is incapable o.
giving the real service that should be afforded, be
cause the weight limit is too low and the rates, ir
general, too high.
Third, that until weight limits are greatly in
creased and rates reduced the service is going to be
convenient delivery service for the seminary girls
boxes of candy few things from stores, and aid tc
some mail-order concerns-and quite useless as an
economic factor in solving our problem of living
costs.
Fourth, that the service is now immensely profit
able and that its usefulness be greatly extended
and cheapened without expense to the Government.
Congressman Lewis, the parcel post expert, has
made analysis of the situation presented in the
light of experience date that is worth vastly more
than anybody's forecast of few months ago could
possibly have BEEN But the facts that he now tell
ingy arrays are a complete demonstration of the
calculations he presented to Congress and the coun
try long before the parcel post legislation was passed
The experience has left Mr. Lewis with vindcation
to command complete confidence in his postal ex.
press computations in future. 1t isn't often that
mans representations are sweepingy sustained by
the logic of developed facts. Mr. Lewis is entitled
to be heard and needed He has won his case.
Mr. Lewis, in his newest brief of the subject
urges that rate of cents per pound for the frs,
pound and Y cent for each additional pound, would
cover the costs of the service in the first l00-me
zone, and leave a profit of 20 per cent With that
rate, town householder could make contract with
truck farm for weekly basket weighing so pounds
of assorted fruits, vegetables poultry, eggs, ETC. The
first pound would cost cents; each additional pound
y cent; total 2712 cents. Mr. Lewis wants the
weight limit raised TO 100 pounds, and so do most
of the people who have been giving study to the pos
siblties of this facility for serving the most
acute economic needs of the community On that
basis l00-pound hamper would cost 5213 cents
postage.
The possibility of doing such business at these
low rates rests in the Governments monopoly. An
express company has to do an amount of accounting
and recording, dividing its rate with connecting con-
cerns etc. that make il utterly impossible for
peting service to come in that quarter. The Gov
ernments registry of rst-class letter mail is compar
able to the express companies method of accounting
There is charge Of 10 cents for registered letter
and no profit in it at that. The express package
has to follow the course of the registered letter The
plain mail package does not; which makes all the dif-
ference in the world. Put your stamp it and turn IT
oose-t goes TO destination, right from the rural
route to the town home; accounting, registering
division of rate just plain transportation Of the high
est efficiency and at the low that non-proit
nopoly makes possible.
That is what the country needs right now. Just
consider that in the first FIVE months of its operation
this service has made showing which indicates the
probability of net profits to the department for the
first year of its operations of Sl5O0O000 to S2O,-
100000 Yet the average weight of parcels mailed
thus far has been a trfe over three pounds!
How many people sending new potatoes, eggs,
summer squash, onions, strawberries, and country
butter by parcel post, do you imagine, when the
average weight of packages is held down to three
pounds?
The present limit is eleven pounds That means
simply that there isn't room for even beginning in
the direction of bringing farm and home closer to-
gether and essenng the cost of living necessaries.
There can be no beginning of that sort until the
weight limit is showed up.
The test has been ample to justify another step
forward. The law gives authority for change of
rates. classifcaons and zone distances by executive
order. The order ought to be issued. The public
ought get the benefits of this season. They arc
needed.