The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-04-01

committee points out that the order Of
the postmaster general Of January 81
1914. changes the third class rote as
fixed by law and admits 10 the parcel
post miscellaneous printed matter in
packages weighing more than 4
pounds, but retains within the third
class, with the third class rate of .
ounces for / cent all such printed
matter in packages weighing not over
4 pounds. AS result of this order a
package of miscellaneous printed mat
ter weighing pounds can be ship.
ped from Washington, D. c., to Nor
folk, Va, $50 miles for 80 cents; by
adding one ounce to the weight of the
package and the rate drops to 9
cents.
THE very mention of such rates
makes them appear ridiculous, and as
a matter of fact this is a very serious
absurdity," says the BrstOw commit
tee. If the addition of / ounce to
the package makes it possible for the
government to carry the package for
so much less, why should the addition
of l ounce to a 4 pound package ship
ped from Washington to San Francisco
increase the rate from 32 cents on the
4 pound package to so cents on pack
age weighing pounds and ounce?
Some Pointed Questions.
Then again." asks the committee,
why should the government charge
more to transport books than it does
to transport miscellaneous printed
matter if the weight of the parcel is
between 8 ounces and 4 pounds, and
charge the same for the two If the
weight be above pounds or not over
ounces? Why, in shipping a short
distance, should the government
charge more for miscellaneous printed
matter than it does for books, and III
long distances, more for
books than 1t does for miscellaneous
printed matter? Why should the gov
ernment charge 32 cents for trans
porting a 4 pound parcel of printed
natter and only cents for transport !
ng a pound package the same dis
ance? Congress has at times been !
lccused Of loose and immature legisla-
ion" says the report, but there is |
lothing in the foregoing to Indicate |
hat when the legislative functions
ire assumed by departmental officials |
my better results will be obtained"
Continuing, the report says:
Merging of Zones.
mo other change made by de- /.
oartmental order has been so in
equitable as the one which practically I
.10.20S was na'7 - dividends. In Sep
fleet is to benefit especially the mail
rider houses by giving them an undue
advantage over the local dealers In
expenses, Under the |
'one system now in effect mail order
louse can establish branch agency
n the territory which the concern
eeks to reach, and within a radial dis
ance Of $50 miles from the location of
UGH agency, the mail order house gets
exactly the same rate as the govern
nent charges the local merchant, who
hips only few miles, notwithstand-
ny the marked difference in the cost
# transportation service rendered. The
government aids the mail order house
" giving it a greater service wthou,
harging 1t a cOrrespondngly greater
ee."
This review of the Brstow report
My touches a few items of mal-ad. ;
charged up against the
resent administration of the post
flee department The complaint in
eneral Is that Mr.. Burleson, by arbi
"ary orders has overturned some OF ;
ne essential features of the parcel
ost law, and has made it an unbusi- .
ess like affair." whereas the law left il
n a sound basis, and one that at least ,
ould stand the test of consistency }
nd reason, +