Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-07-29
POSTMASTER GENERAL suRLE.
SON HAS PLANS FOR EN-.
LARcINc DEPARTMENT.
COMMERCE
BOARD WILL COOPERATE
Express Companies Have Few Friends
in Washington and There Are No
Obstacles in Way Of Extension
Enemies Of System Surprised At
Amount Of Rural Patronage.
Especial Correspondence

washington, July 2S.-Rapld extern
SIGN of the parcel post service, with in
crease of the weight limit and lowering
of rates as 10 be expected. Indications
are strong that 1t will not be long, per-
haps within the life of the present ad-
ministration, before the country sees
the transmission OF parcels up to 100
pounds by the postoftice department.
In the recent hearing before the SEN
ate pcstofices committee, Postmaster
General Burleson made it plain he ex-
pected the parcels post system to de-
veiop rapidly, and he purposed to push
il forward as fast as expedient, and
that ne expected to see the 100 pound
parcel eventually eligible for carriage
by mail. His attitude alone would not
be so significant were 1t not for the
fact that Chairman Clark. Of the inter-
state commerce commission, made 1t
plain he favored similar development
Of the system. Moreover. it was made
quite plain that If the postmaster gen.
eral and the interstate commerce COM
mission are in accord, there is nothing
to stop the development Of the system
in the fashion they want it developed.
Express Companies Frisndlsss.
The express companies have few
friends in Washington and II the view
of the government lawyers is correct
they will have no chance Of hating the
development Of the parcel post system
thru resort to the courts. The railroads
are complaining of the fact they are not
getting adequate mail pay for the in
creased haulage of parcels. The feeling
in congress is that the railroads have
been TOO heavily paid for their service
in the past but in any event II 1t should
be shown they are not being adequately
paid it would be up to congress to at
ford the necessary additional pay, 50
that any controversy with the railroads
could be adjusted without resorts to
tbs cour:s.
Possibilities Surprising.
The statements Of Mr.. Burleson and
the revelation Of the attitude Of the
interstate commerce commission have
shed a new light on the possibilities Of
the parcel post The truth is that con-
gress did not realize fully what It was
doing when 1t enacted the parcel post
law. That law was a sort Of compro-
mise. Many members voted for It be-
lieving that it would not seriously
interfere with the express companies
or make it possible for much parcels
business to be done by mail Not few
of them thought the rates were such
as to preclude the farmers OF the coun-
try from purchases and sales to any
extent thru mail order system. Now
that a postmaster general and inter
state commerce commission have the
enforcement Of the law and purpose to
exert their authority to develop It. men
in congress who thought there was
such a check in the law that congress
would be able to dictate rates are sur
surprised.
Efforts Of Senator Bryan. Of Florida,
to get the section OF the law which
gives the postmaster general and inter-
state commerce commission power tc
modify the regulations as they choose
viii IN all probability fail Congress
for the most part Is glad to see the
1 parcel post extended and the express
! companies hit, II not put out OF busi-
] ness. The Bryan measure will appar-
emily not be passed and II It should be
President Wilson would doubtless veto
it. Meantime, demand comes from the
country to broaden out the scope OF the
parcel post system.