Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-03
Editors Letter Box
Secure Packing is PenaIixed.

Editor kenneLeC Journal:
The nationwide campaign for i'm
proved express service. inaugurated by
the officers and employees Of tie Ameri-
lean Railway Express Company, which
drive has been under way in every sec-
ton of the country since the middle of
February, took an interesting turn re-
Gently when Mr. Charles E. Butman,
traffic representative for the New Eng
land Manufacturing Confectioner.'
Assn and traffic manager Of the New
England Confectionery Co.. declared
that the effect of the present system of
rates and regulations on express and
freight shipments was to penalize the
careful shipper and to subsidize the
careless shipper. Following Is the gist
Of his remarks:
1.-The present campaign of appealing
to the shippers to use stronger contain
ers and better marking of packages in
an effort to check the enormous waste
of time, labor and money that result
from lost and damaged express ship.
ments Is long step in the right direc.
ton. At the same time 1t is doubtful
| If the carriers can accomplish perma.
nent good on a mere appeal. or on the
promise Of better service II certain
safeguards are taken.
''It seems to me that they must do
more than that. 1t seems to me that
they must offer something tangible
something that would be equivalent to
a bonus for those who respond to their
appeal for cooperation. Only through
proper cooperation OF the railroads 10
this possible because only with their
support can the suggestions which ]
have to make be made possible.
Under the existing system Of chars-
ing for transportation. the gross weight
OF a shipment IL made the basis for
crate, box, carton, wrapping paper n
whatever materials are required to pro.
tect the commodity on Its way to the
consumer Ia charged for at the same
rate as the commodity itself, notwith.
standing such materials are worthless,
or nearly so, after one.time usage. an
most instances packing materials are
discarded.
ITO my mind this practice of charg-
ing for the weight OF the container is at
the bottom Of the whole problem Of loss
and damage. 1t Is fundamentally de-
fectiye in that it encourages the use of
cheap. flimsy. lightweight packing
materials. The lighter and cheaper the
container-the less weight; the less
weight-the lower will be the transport
tation charges. In other words, there
is a big inducement to use light con-
tanners. and the lighter the better.
1.-THE reverse is true of the heavy, sub.
stantial container. Mind you, there q
no denying the fact that a strong, able
container is produced only at the ex-
construction, or both. Usually the in.
crease in weight is considerable. And
that is the bugbear under present con-
ditions. To use strong container the
shipper must increase the gross weight
of shipment. To increase the weight
means to add to the transportation
charges.
Reduced to the last analysis, the ef-
feet of this principle is to penalize the
shipper who uses strong containers and
who takes pains to observe every pre-
caution toward good packing: whereas
the shipper who uses light. fiimsy con-
tainers is favored. subsidized if you
like, by lower charges. Getting right
down to brass tacks, as things stand,
carriers grant an Inducements bonus
to the wrong party. There is no escape
from the accuracy of this statement.
Not only is the careful shipper pen
allied by increased charges for the in
creased weight of his packing materials,
also for TIE increased charges for tire SUI
perior packing materials: but he is fur
Their penalized advancing rates Of
transportation. which rates have been
advanced to defray the burden of in
c:sasing loss and damage claims on in
ferior containers. 1t must be UNDER
stood that as damage claims increase
go do the carriage costs increase, thus
affecting the rates. In short. the care
full shipper is taxed for the sins OF the
careless shipper. The careful shipper
soon finds this out. and says to him
self. what's the use-Tll be money in
roc'set by using cheaper. lighter con.
tainer.
without wishing to seem pc s'mistic.
~ 10 my COHNlctiou tHdI go long as the
present system of charges prevails
there will be no appreciate reduction
in lost and damaged shipments We are
encouraging and tempting and reward
ing the use of light containers. To ex-
pect relief under such circumstances
suggests the idea of trying to cure a
drunkard by compelling him to live IN
a wine cellar, or by trying to reform
thief by constantly placing him in the
way Of temptations to steal
What Is needed is a preferential rate
for the user of safe containers. or at
least an equalization in the rates where.
by the net weight OF the shipment. and
not the weight Of the container. ia
charged for. Such system of rating
would automatically abolish the evils
of the poor package and careless ship
per. inasmuch as there would be every
inducement to use good practices. That
Is what l mean when say the carriers
should offer something tangible in re-
turn for their appeal for the shippers
cooperation.
"All parties concerned should ignors
the weight of the container. providing,
OF course, that the container was Of
suitable construction and not too
bulky.
There VIII be no trouble In educating