Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1914-02-21
LEWIS DEFENDS
THE PARCEL POST

"A death blow bcinp aimed the parcel post the Sen
This the tcN o appeal addressed e h, nation h Rep
rcsentaYe David Lewis Of Maryland Mr. Lew" is alarmed
over the movement IN the Senate to strip the Postmaster enera
and Interstate Commerce commission q the power make prc
limits and clasSifcations in Congress
The Senate PoSce Committee has a9,ed ach an amendment
the Legislative father Of the parce post the following
PLANTATION Of the Senate committee amendments
the consent OF the Interstate Commerce Commission
weight limit rates or zones conditions Of mailabi
either in order 10 promote the service 70 the public 10 insure the
receipt Of revenue from such service adequate the cost there
This only the same power which the managers of the express
companies and railroads have their rates with the consent Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission Congress has under
check OF the commission and IN passing the parcel post Ia" treated
- +, ,aro ,rst rates H. rar,i t r.e. n,r, H., ,n',
conpxt( and necessity for [n"rt n"edqc as do
the express and freight The in all three has
rate at all and must pay the o the service
These conditions neccsstac the minute administrative
acquaintance with the subject Of transportation costs and the a
tz Of articles Of fommerfe t. pay The rates and move to their nat
experience ana not Tor general Legislative know ledge which de
termnes general principles and not executive details There is
office Committee sufficiently yersed details par
ce by that would either be neeessy high
wha has happened from egave made mail rates which are
What would be thought Of man who proposed that the rates
for transportation should be fixed by Congress the act providing
for the building Of railways Alas ka? In fact no country having
parcel post worthy OF the has committed folly In
Austria Belgium Hungary Switzerland Britain and Canada
the ratemang given the IostmS General Just
is here
What do think may be the effect prefer the parcel
post act repeated me prtla repeal Of the parcel post act ad
yocated members Of the would destroy the power
of the parcel post compete with e\pr companies 1t 4eaves
them free make capture all the profitable traffic while
throwing all the unprotan traffic like the and rra
business TIE postal system The result will t that the
surplus the parcel post traffic will way adetc and
the death Of competition with the express
i should think that gentlemen who interesting themselves
in the parcel post could lind much better work do helping the
Postmaster General perfect the parcel post service max
ng money tor under MS management and Will max" more II ne
let alone
They could help him ii hel wished
Take the question OF railway pay Without being
blame for the condition certainly the railways the Postmaster
General paving mail the transportation Of his
matter which with what the express
les pay.
"On opomd shipment New York o chicago the express
is 81 80 half OF this goes the railways
But the Postotce Department pays of
has load the pounds distance
charge the shipper % The 20 pounds from New York
70 San Francisco by parcels SIT for which 50 81 must be paid
to the railways The express is 50 "a of which one half
ST. l., 81 mile the railways scents
a ton mile the mail railway pay.
The railways do not want for the service rem
dered the PoSocc Department than they the
companies 1t their is the neglect of Congress
Instead of hog the Postoe Department 10y repeating the
important provisions Of the parcel law would not be
better pass Legislation which would give the Postmaster General
the railway which express companies
ing? understand that Just bill has been worked for this
purpose. Why put that the ooce Appropriation bill and
help instead of destroying the peoples agency?