Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-12-10

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post packages in the first and Sec
ond zones from twenty to fifty
pounds, to admit books to the parcel
post and to reduce rates in the third,
fourth, fifth and sixth zones, was ap-
proved by the interstate commerce
commission.
The maximum weight of all par
cells to all zones beyond the second
was increased from eleven to twenty
pounds.
Changes i'm Rates.
The approval changes in rates and
weights to be in effect January IA,
! follows:
To reduce the rates for the third
zone from Z cents for the first pound
and cents for each additional
pound to 6 cents for the first pound
and cents for each additional
pound.
To reduce the rates for the fifth
zone from 8 cents for the first pound
and cents each for each additional
pound to cents for the first pound
and cents for each additional
pound.
1T seems obvious" says the COM
mission, that the service to the pub
lie will be promoted by these changes
proided the revenue from the SER
vice is not less than the cost thereof.
Your experiences and statistics seem
to show clarly that the revenue will
not be less than the cost of the SER
vice.
I'VE can conc Give of no opposition
to the increased weights and reduced
rates proposed except from the car
riers that transport the mails.
I'VE have had some objections
from them on tie ground that in
creased weight should not be per-
mitted until provision for additional
compensation to the carriers has
been made"
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general, with the consent of the COM
mission, that the rate of postage on
parcels containing books weighing
eight ounces or less shall be one cent
for each two ounces or fractional
part thereof and on those weighing
in excess of eight ounces the zone
parcel post rates shall apply"
This is to be effective March 16,
1914. Serious objections to the pro-
posed change in the rates on books
and catalogues were made chiefly by
mailers of heavy catalogues, but the
commission says it feels that the
changes are in the interest of the
public generally.
Consent also was given to the ad-
mission of shipments of gold, gold
bullion and gold dust in Alaska, and
to and from Alaska in packages
weighing not more than eleven
pounds. The rate of postage fixed
is cents an ounce.
THE postmaster general issued an
order, effective August Is, last, in
creasing the weight limit in the first
and second zones from eleven to
twenty pounds and materially reduc-
ing the rates OF postage for these
zones and stated at that time that
this step was in the nature of an ex-
pertinent" said statement issued
tonight by the postoffice department.
after these changes had been in
operation for some time record
was kept of the number of parcels
handled in a large number of repre-
sentative postoffices throughout the
United States and the reports recelv-
ed from these offices show that
changes in the service have been
greatly appreciated by the public.
The number of Parcels handled in the
first and second zones since these
changes became effective, show an in
crease of approximately 1J per cent.
The average weight limit has also in
creased from 1.02 to II pounds per
parcel and Notwithstanding the great
reduction in rates in the first and
second zones the average postage has
Increased per parcel from ~ cents
to 10 cents"
The statement says of the change
relating to books that it has strong
lly been urged by circulating librar-
les, schools, colleges and publishers
ever since the establishment of the
lparcel post service that the present
restricted weight limit and rates on
books are prohibitive to great ex-
tent except in the case of catalogues
and that it was not deemed advis-
able to place the order changing the
classification of books in effect on
January /, as it was desired to give
at least three months time for pre-
paration.