Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress, Proceedings, 1907. pp. 232-40. Parcels Post.
*Independent. 70: 72-3. Ja. 12, ’11. Objections to the Parcels Post. Allan W. Clark.
Independent. 70: 185. Ja. 26, ’11. Parcels Post Again. Sylvester C. Smith.
*Journal of Political Economy. 16: 417-35. Jl. ’08. Shall the Scope of Governmental Functions Be Enlarged so as to Include the Express Business? Albert N. Merritt.
North American Review. 174: 807-19. Je. ’02. Defects and Abuses in Our Postal System. Henry A. Castle.
North American Review. 178: 222-34. F. ’04. Postal Service. E. F. Loud.
Outlook. 96: 794. D. 3, ’10. Parcels Post. George P. Engelhard.
The parcels post is not a new question. It has been the subject of popular discussion for years, and several of our postmasters-general have recommended an extension of our present system, sufficient, at least, to put it on an equal basis with our foreign service. Those who are familiar with the parcels post systems of other countries, and those who believe that the express companies should not be permitted to monopolize so large a part of the parcels-carrying trade, are in favor of these recommendations. On the other hand, those who believe that the government should not enter into any commercial undertaking, and those who fear that the change will be detrimental to the country communities and will result in the centralization of our population in the large cities, are strongly opposed to any increase in our present rates, or in the size of the package to be accepted.
There are several organizations who are actively engaged at the present time in supporting or opposing all attempts to enact parcels post legislation. The Postal Progress League, with headquarters at 125 East 23d St., New York City, has for its aim the improvement of our postal service, and is at present actively promoting the cause of the parcels post. This organization is made up of manufacturers, wholesalers, publishers and importers, and is supported by many of the state Granges. The Postal Express Federation is a new organization, formed for the express purpose of urging a reform of our parcels post service, and is supported by many of the same organizations which are back of the Postal Progress League. The American League of Associations (headquarters at Room 343, Rand-McNally Building, Chicago, Ill.), is composed of wholesalers in all lines of merchandise. Its object is to promote the welfare of the small towns and country communities, and to oppose the centralization of population in cities. It is at present actively engaged in fighting the parcels post.