The Washington times., 1914-02-13
PARCEL POST BETRAYAL.

! lhc Senate committee on Post
/ offices and Postroads has need to put
forth a prompt and detailed defense
of its action in hOg-tieing the parcel
post and undertaking to prevent its
, expansion and development. 1t is
nothing less than amazing that at
this particular time, when the whole
country is peculiarly gratified with
the results of the parcel post expert
ments thus far, and when there is
universal conviction that its develop
ment has only fairly begun, the Sen
ate committee should undertake to
stunt it. For that is Just what has
been attempted.
The law as it now stands provides
that the Postmaster General, with
the assent Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission, may make
changes in weights, zone limits, or
rates of postage OH parcels. This is
left to the discretion of the Postmas-
ter General, in consultation with the
Interstate Commission. Its effect is
TO make possible the ready adjust
ment of conditions to the needs Of
the service. 1t removes one of the
very greatest obstacles to effective
Government management of such
facility by making it easy to achieve
adjustments and readjustments
without a lot of delay and red tape.
Under this wise and colnmon-sense
provision changes have already been
made in the service, and further
ones are contemplated. If this pow
er be taken away from the people in
control of the service, it will be ut
terly impossible for the parcel post
TO adapt itself to the necessities i'm
posed by the vigorous competition
which the express companies are in
augurating.
Yet the Senate committee actually
does propose to take away all this
discretion. 1t has inserted in the
Postoffice appropriation bill, report
ed today, a proviso which reads thus:
THERE SHALL BE NO CHANGE
IN THE EXISTING WEIGHT LIN
ITS, RATES OF POSTAGE, OR
ZONES OF FOURTH CLASS MAIL
MATTER UNTIL AUTHORIZED
BY LAW.
Those few words. if they shall re-
main in the law, will be the death
blow to it. The express companies
are right now diligently at work ad-
justing their rates, practices, and
services to the purpose of taking
everything possible away from the
postal service. That is perfectly nat
uIal. Competition is necessary, GER
tairly it is desirable, so long as the
Government does not frankly assume
a monopoly of this business. The ex-
press companies, being free to adjust
Their conditions to the momentary
necessities of business, can take I'D
vantage Of whatever opportunities
may present. Not so the Government,
if this provision shall remain in the
law. No weight limit. GisLamcc-zone
Of rate can &c changed without first
getting Congress to pass the qeces-
sary law.
1t is just as plain as day that such
ci.ange would be the biggest pos
sible victory for the express COM
panies, and the worst possible blow
to The parcel post. You might as
we'll turn two gladiators into the
arena to fight, one with hands and
legs sh2ckled, 'he other free and
fully armed, and expect fair light.
as to presume that the Government
can make fair show in such con-
test as this.
Competition Is not competition
unless it is full and free competition.
To announce that the Coyernmcn.
rate shall be as Tow established. and
that it can't be changed save by law.
means to invite the express COM
panies to readjUJt their rates and
arrangements with the specific pur-
pose Of taking the remunerativc
part Of the business, with all the
profits, and leaving the Government
to do the unrcmunerative part and
carry all the losses.
1t is very easy to understand how
any interest, desirous of proving that