Evening star., 1914-03-22

dents have hOuSe-to-hOuSe delivery L
and collection of parcels, service for II- !
merly to be had only in cities and towns -
The benefits of parcel post applied to the
rural delivery service work both ways
Manufactured articles and the means of culture and
education brought to the farm while the smaller
agricultural products sent from the farm to the
city, swelling the supply of the necessares of life and
reducing the cost of living.
1t will be gradually developed in accordance with the
demands and requirements of the people, keeping in
mind the necessary economies OF administration Its
growth will continue at increasing rate as all the
people for whose benefit it established accustom
themselves to its use; while it will correspondngly in
crease revenues that from time to time further
duction of be had and additional increases of
weight limit of parcels authorized. The weight limit
has no for because the main purpose of the
parcel post is to afford cheaper of transporta
ton for mailable merchandise and clearly the in
tenton of Congress that this function should be limited
in perfo only by the considerations OF cost and
conservative postal administration
1t is important, however, that the people should aid
the Postofice Department in making the service eff
cient While the partnership, so to speak, exists be-
tween the government and the people in that which
concerns the welfare of the nation it exists its widest
scope the postal business and primarily in the parcel
post Postmasters and clerks recently informed
as result of complaints, that whenever it shown
that the loss damage to parcel It's contents
clearly the result of improper packing wrapping at
the time of its receipt the Office of origin the person
responsible for its acceptance in that condition would
be held accountable for that damage.
Postmasters refuse to receive for mailing parcels
not properly indorsed packed for safe shipment.
This done for the benefit of the public, and blame
should attach either to the department to the ind
vdua employee carrying out instructions If the latter
refuses accept inadequately addressed protected
packages. The public must remember that the proper
handling of packages is the great essential; but this
educational campaign must continue. The response is
not vet unanimous Not all patrons of the posofice
realize that goods to arrive unchanged
at their destination they must start their trip
fully packed, wrapped, and addressed. A few precau
tions the part of the public will result in greater sat-
isfaction all round.
THE question of packing and wrapping, of course,
leads to the probability of phase of COM
merce,-the manufacture of special containers for all
kinds of goods mailable by parcel post Officials of the
department constantly receiving for inspection
samples of packing equipment especially for eggs and
liquids Egg containers of many sizes and forms,
and quite likely other forms will be devised. Further
more, all have their merits, particularly when
sders that eggs have been shipped in imsy box with
regard to their original shape delivery. Sending
fish porous absorbent paper is also evidence of
careessne and not conducive to the patience of the
postman if the wrapper should give way in transit.
Sending liquids containers not meeting the require
ents of the postal regulations bound to cause tro