The features inherent in the express service and not now in the parcel-post, as the express service and the parcel-post now function, might be preserved by either of two methods. They might be added to the present parcel-post as separate features to be utilized only when especially desired and for which separate fees would be levied. Or else the Government postal express might be organized into two separate divisions--one for the services now rendered by the parcel-post, with possibly certain additional fees for certain secondary features, to be determined by experience in administration; and the other for the services now rendered by the express companies, except those proved by experience in administration to be homogeneous with the parcel post service proper, and hence properly adhering to the first division. Either the method of complete consolidation or the method of two divisions would meet the exigencies of the service--only the results of experience and experiment could award greater merit to one or the other. The fact that these separate functions of the express service are of too great value and in too great demand to be eliminated is seen by a study of the relation of the express shipments and the parcel-post shipments to the express and the parcel-post rates, this constituting the second point of departure (b) between the public method and the private method of transporting parcels. The differences between the express rates and the parcel-post rates may be graphically realized from a comparative table. As will be seen, the differences between the two sets of rates may be roughly summarized in one sentence--as a rule, the parcel-post rates are lower than the express rates for the shorter distances and the smaller parcels. Accordingly, if the value of the service rendered by the two systems were nearly identical, the express company's shipments would be almost entirely of larger parcels and for the greater distances. But as a matter of fact it is generally known that a large proportion, a very large proportion, of the shipments sent by express are at weights and for distances at which the parcel-post rates are lower than the express rates, often decidedly lower. Only the need to a shipper of all, some, or any one of the above-discussed features of express service not duplicated at present in the parcel-post system can explain this situation. It is therefore imperative that the Government make provision for all these features in establishing a Government postal express. _COST OF LIVING_