The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-08

of the senators mentioned had the re- motest idea in any way to restrict the op- eration of the parcels post as it now ex- amendment referred to was intended to strengthenf and make sure the future usefulness of the system.
 Tt must be remembered that the R. F. D. service was authorized about 15 years ago, after many years of debate and dis cussion in Congress. The whole purpose of this service was to benefit and put the farmer in touch with the mail service. the expenditure for which has grown from about sl4,000 at that time to more than s5O,OOo.OOo at present. The postoffice department estimates the expense for conducting the R. F. D. service is more than 900 in excess of the revenue derived. which, of course, must be paid out of the treasury of the United States. There can be no just cause for com plaint at this deficit in the postoffice de- partment, as it is the only great govern mental agency which reaches all the peo- pie and Congress- has repeatedly shown a willingness to meet this situation with out complaint The appropriation in the present postoffice bill for rural delivery service is more than $54.O00.060 I hope it will be extended and improved, and l shall make no complaint at the cost be- cause it serves a large class of our peo- pie who are entitled to it's benefits and conveniences.
 Adjunct to Rural Service
 'The parcels post was established two years ago and only after years of study and investigation of it's operation in other governments where the average
 weight of parcels was il pounds, while the rates are considerably higher than those fixed in our present system. It was inaugurated as an adjunct to the rural delivery service for the benefit of the same class of people that the R. F. D service was intended to serve. It's orig inal purpose was, primarily. to afford the rural population means with which tc procure and deliver promptly at theil doors, at nominal cost, small packages which are almost daiiy needed, withou paying exorbitant express charges, ant l for which they are required to go to th' 1 express office. So 1t was that the weigh ! of the package in our parcels post wa. i fixed not to exceed Il pounds. It beinf
 a new service it was thought best to giv' | the Postmaster General discretion t, change the rates, zones and weight linn | tCo
 and investigation, it was wise to do so
 Exercising this discretion the weigh 1 limit twas raised to % pounds and tn zones and rates were changed. Yer. soon thereafter the weight limit was ex tended to 50 pounds and the zones ant | rates further modified. We are operatinl Il the parcels post now under an order o l the Postmaster General fixing the weigh at % pounds. I do not object to this. ] think it would be unwise to attempt t l interfere with present conditions; cen
 tainly not until after a fair opportunit. l had been given to test the efficiency o l the system. What do object to is fur | ther extension of the weight limit.
 "I very much fear that a weight fimi of 100 pounds would greatly embarrass
 handicap and perhaps destroy the eff ciency of the rural delivery service F. D. carriers as rule are equippe with light one-horse wagon which the are required to provide at their own ex peuse and are often loaded to the limit I cannot imagine how the R. + D. serv ice can be improved and extended if tn carrier is required to haul all kinds 0 merchandise up to weight limit of 10
 pounds. Five or 10 100 pound package might oetsn1srad to hin, which ma