The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-26
CONGRESS BLOCKS BURLESON
PARCELS POST ORDER OPPOSED
BIZ SENATE.
Postmaster General Requested to Ap-
pear Before POstOfIicc Committee
is There an Express Lobby?

! is There an Express Lobby?
Washington, July 22.-COncerted
opposition was developed in congress
to Postmaster General Burleson's or
der reducing parcel post rates and
increasing the maximum size of pack
ages TO be handled in the se.vice.
The order was issued Sunday, to be-
come effective August Is, and today
the senate pOstoffice committee re-
quested Mr.. Burleson to appear be-
fore the committee next Thursday
with an explanation for the author
ity for his action.
This was the first step in what
promised to be bitter contest. When
the postmaster general has been
heard, the committee is expected TO
undertake to have withdrawn before
August ID any authority he may claim
congress has given him to change
rates and sizes. 1t was contended in
committee that the proposed changes
would entail an enormous loss to the
government, and some Of the members
complained strenuously that the postal
department had failed to furnish con-
gress with data concerning operation
of the parcel post. Apparently there
was no difference of opinion in the
committee as to whether the post
master general should change the
rates, Democrats and Republicans
agreeing that only congress ought to
have this power.
The controversy has aroused extra
ordinary interest at the capitol and i'm
official circles, since the parcel post
touches more or less directly rearly
everybody in the country. Those who
are supporting the postmaster gen.
erals proposition insist that the only
loss imminent under the proposed
changes would be to the express COM
panies, which now carry the profit
making, large size packages while the
government transports the unprofita-
bic, small ones.
Although members of the commit
tee contend it is mere ungrammaticaI
tumble of words without sense or
power, department officials say the
postmaster general is given ample au-
thOrity for his order by the following
section of the parcel post law:
''rhe classification of articles mail
able, as well as the weight limit, the
rates Of postage, zone or 7oroe o-1
other condition .. s..laHt-v. under
this act, if t." postmaster aeucIa,
shall find by / .s eS.-.taa,c ihat th,.-
or any Of then .~e such .s 20 pre-
vent the shipment of articles desir-
able, or ito permanently render the
cost of the service greater than the
receipts of the revenue therefrom, he
is herebyaauthorized, subject to the
consent of the interstate commerce
commission, to reform from time to
time such classification, weight limit,
rates, zone or zones, or conditions, or
either, in order to promote the SER
vice to the public or to insure the re-
ceipt of revenues from such service in
order TO pay the cost thereof"
The changes ordered by the post
master general would affect only the
! first or second zones or territories
within a radius of $50 miles of the
point of mailing. The maximum
weight of parcels would be changed
from II to 20 pounds. The rate on
parcels weighing in excess of four
ounces in the first zone, would be re-
! duced from 5 cents for the first pound
and l cent for each additional pound
or fraction thereof to 5 cents for the
! first pound and l cent for each addi-
| tOnal two pounds or fraction there
of, and the rate in the second zone
would be reduced from cents for the
first pound and 3 cents for each addi-
tiOnal pound or cents for the first
| pound and cents for each additional
pound for fraction thereof to cents
for the first pound and l cent for each
additional pound or fraction thereof.
RAISER ALL At IN\CURITRG