The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1914-02-26

Interstate Commerce Commission
working daily on the subject, or is it
500 members of Congress with ,25,-
600 bills before them? Without i'm
pugning any mans motive, / say
that the repeal of this provision in
parcel post law might we'll be worth
$50,00O,00O to the express compa-
MES 1t will finally take away from
the parcel post service all the power
to compete with them, and they will
thus be enabled to capture that por-@
ton of the postal function which has
turned a deficit in the postal reve-
nues of $7,00O,OOO to $4,000, 900
or $10,00O,0OO surplus in the first
year of it's operation
Post and Express Rates Compared.
Mr.. LEWIS entered into a detailed
comparison of the present parcel
post rates, reduced twice by the
stmaster-General, and the new eX-
press rates.
Cup to 800 miles, the third zone,"
he said, 'the parcel post rates have
been fairly competitive, being as low
and lower than first-class express
rates. Beyond this distance the par
eel post rates are so much higher
than the express rates that, except
on rural routes, the traffic will go
to the express companies. So long
as our present parcel post rates
stand, the express compares will
have the parcel post squeezed out Of
all traffic territory beyond 800 miles.
That is, we now have a 300-mile
parcel post and the express compa-
MES have 3,000-mile express sys-
tenn
How much would the express
companies give to have this condi-
ton sealed to them by law? The
Senate rider, to use a rough descrip-
tive expression, stabs the parcel post
to it's heart and provides just this
seal. Under this amendment the
parcel post rates cannot be changed,
whether SO highNas to kill the traffic
Or SO low as to kill the treasury. AS
result the express companies are
given a complete monopoly of the
traffic beyond 800 miles because of
the proposed legislative fixed and
abnormal rates.
Danger Within 3OO-NEile Zone.
"But how about the traffic within
the 800 miles? The postal rates here
will be similarly crystalized and fro
zen by the same rider. While the
POstOffice Department will be hand
cuffed and prevented from retaliat-
ing on the outlying territory, the ex-
press companies are left free to re-
duce their rates and capture the lit
tie postal traffic within the 3OO-mile
circles. Thus the repeal rider will
take away the right of the Postoffice
Department to either attack it's an
tagonist outside of the 30O-mile zone
or to defend itself when attacked by
the express company within the 800
mile zone. The express company is
alone free-foOted and free-listed in
the combat, while this young parcel
post giant, which was set loose by
the people to secure them against
the exhorbitant rates of a private mo-
nopOly, is to be shackled almost
within a year of it's birth There is
something fiendishly unfair in such
proposal. Surely, gentlemen who
have gwen it the support of their
names have failed to comprehend the
operative results of the proposition.
F'The people will ship by the cheap
est means, and if the Senate rider is
adopted we must expect the rural
routes to be exploited by the express
companies to the limits OF she wants
of the 100000 of farming popu-
lation. The express companies will
use the non-paying part of the pos
tai institution to push their traffic to
and from the farm at postal econo-
mic loss of IS per cent.