Mexico Missouri message., 1913-01-02

the unit In which his postofllce lies
to the zone Of the packages destina
lions, the price as has been explained
before, to every postofilce in any one
zone being the same. The parcel post
will take nothing but fourth-ciass mat.
ter. Printed matter is still in the
third class designation. Therefore
books cannot be sent by the parcel
post system. This the postofIlce au.
thorities seem to think Is in way
unjust and may work hardship. 1t
may be that in the future the law will
be changed so as TO include all print
ed matter. It seems to be certain that
an attempt will be made to bring
about this change as speedily as pos.
sible
Postmaster General Hitchcock has
ordered that postmasters be advised
that parcel post packages cannot be
accepted for mailing unless they bear
distinctive parcel post stamp and
have attached to them the return card
OF the sender. A series of distinctive
stamps is now in course of prepare.
ton for this class Of mail as required
by the law creating the parcel post
system. Consignments of these
stamps will be ready for shipment to
all postoflces in ample time for the
establishment Of the new system on
New Years day.
The postofice department has given
instruction to every postmaster in the
country to enlighten his patrons as
4. 81
ject OF the parcel post and especially
on the use OF the special stamps and
the necessary attachment OF the re
turn card The law requires that all
fourth-class matter mailed o Ter Jan
uary /. 1918, without parcel post
stamps attached shall be treated as
Held for postage matter Parcel
post packages will be mailable only
at postofflces, branch postoflces, let.
tered and local named stations, and
| such numbered stations as may be
| designated by the postmasters.
Rate on Seeds Not Affected.
1t should be said that the act Of
congress which puts parcel post plan
into operation does not in any way
Inject Nlb pObNabt iaNO vi bNNhot wv
| tings, bulbs. roots, scions and plants
as fixed by section 4s2 of the postal
| laws and regulations.
The classification OF articles mail
| able as well as the weight limit, the
rates of postage. zone or zones and
other conditions OF Availability under
| the act of congress, II the postmaster
/ general shall find on experience that
! they or any of them are such as to
prevent the shipment Of articles de-
| sirable, or shall permanently render
| the cost of the service greater than
| the receipts of the revenue therefrom,
/ he is hereby authorized. subject to the
consent of the interstate commerce
commission after investigation, to re-
| form from time to time such classitl-
/ cation. weight limit. rates, zone o.
zones or conditions, in order to pro-
mote the service to the public or to
| insure the receipt OF revenue from
such service adequate to pay the cost
| thereof"
Through many years different men,
bers OF the house and senate have
been interested in promoting parcel
post legislation. Among the men most
active in securing the legislation
which soon is to go into effect as
law are Senator Jonathan Bourne of
/ Oregon, Representatives David j.
Lewis OF Maryland and William Sui
ger OF New York, who has just been
elected governor OF that state.