The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-08
CUT IN PARCELS POST.
POSTMASTER GENERAL HITCH
COCK CONSIDERS SOME
RATES TOO HIGH.
Would Increase 11-Lb. Limit. Also
FavOrs Admission OF Books And Pa
pcrs to Privilege OF Parcel Post
Rates.

oN"'" iSuu|tioiI VI SOIle paTCel post
rates and increasing the limit of
weight beyond IL pounds.
The report also recommends civil
pensions for postal employees; an in
crease in rates on second-class mail,
which may pave the way for 1-cent
letter postage; the consolidation of
the third and fourth classes, so books
and papers may be forwarded by par
cells post; and points out that during
his administration the expense Of op-
Grating the postal service has been
cut down s45.OOO.OO0.
The report contains no reference
to subjects which have developed
since December l, and, consequently,
the Postmaster Generals considera-
ton of the parcel post has to do only
with the preliminary work of estab-
fishing the new system, which went
into effect on January /. Tentatively,
however, he recommends not only
that the weight of packages be in
creased to a point above the maxi
mum weight Of II pounds. On this
subject the report says:
while the postage rates for the
new parcel post system range con-
siderably lower than corresponding ex-
press charges. it is believed that ex-
perience will show them to be higher
in some instances than is necessary
in order to maintain the service at
cost. Likewise. the restriction that
places an 11-pound limit on the
weight OF parcels mailed should be
regarded as merely tentative.
After the system is thoroughly or
ganized on that basis the scope Of the
service In it's usefulness to the public
should be still further enlarged by in
creasing the weight limit If proper
ly developed under efficient manage
ment, the parcel post will prove to be
most important factor in reducing
the cost Of living"
Perhaps the most important recon-
mendation contained in the report is
that the third and fourth classes Of
mail be consolidated, so that books
and other printed matter may be for
warded by parcel post. At present
the postage charges for these two
classes OF mail bear no fixed ratio to
each other. For certain weights and
zones the parcel post rates are low
er than the third-class rates, while in
other cases they are higher.
This condition" it is pointed out in
the report, "is likely to result in much
confusion and should not exist. Pack
ages containing books or catalogues
do not differ in any essential particu-
lar from other parcels, and they
should be handled by parcel post"
In course Of statement on the con-
dition Of postal finances Mr.. Hitchcock
says in his report:
In 1911, for the first time since
1888, postal receipts exceeded postal
expenditures, leaving a surplus instead
of deficit a heavy loss Of revenue
in 1912, due to the extraordinary
amounts OF franked matter mailed in
the political campaign, created tenn
porary deficit, but since the close of
the fiscal year the income Of the de-
partment again has Outstripped eX-
penses.
During the fiscal year 1912 more
than 300,000,0O0 pieces Of mail, hav-
ing an aggregate weight Of about 61,-
100000 pounds, were carried free
through the mails under the franks Of
Congressman and of various Govern
ment establishments Had postage at
the ordinary rates been paid on this
matter, the revenues of the depart
met would have been increased by
more than $2O,0OO,OOO.
Postmaster General Hitchcock de-
clares that ''it is manifestly unfair to
give the postotfiCe department no cred
it in the Governments fiscal accounts
for the expense of performing this
service. The department therefore
rcnews its recommendation that the
practice of franking be discontinued
and that Legislative authority be grant
ed for the use of on Official mail of
special stamps to be furnished by the
POstoftiCe Department on the rcquisi-
tion Of those entitled to them"
In connection with establishment of
the parcel post Mr.. Hitchcock recon-
mcnds that legislation be enacted
looking To the rcadjustmcnt of the
payments To railroads for the trans
portutiou Of mail lie points out that
many of the roads viii hc entitled to
increased compensation ON account Of