The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-16
GREAT NORTHERN EXPRESS COM
PANY'S RATES FOR CARRYING
MONEY ARE QUESTIONED
BY THE BANKERS OF BENSON.
THEY CHARGE DISCRIMINATION IN
FAVOR OF WATERFOWL, SOUTH
DAKOTA.
COMPANY ENTERS A DENIAL,
Claiming, Also, That WATERFOWL Is q
Competitive Point, Thus Forcing
Better Rates.

The state railroad and warehouse
commission has been asked to settle
a dispute between a bank and an ex-
press company over the matter of al
legged discrimination and oyercharging
for the transportation of money. The
arguments of both parties have been
filed with the commission, and unless
an agreement Is reached between the
two the commission win appoint day
for hearing Of all parties concerned.
Recently the Bank Of Benson, Mimi,
had $4,000 shipped from Minneapolis to
that town via the Great Northern Elk
press company. The money was safely
delivered, and the express company
charged the bank at the rate of rs
cents per 81, 900 carried, or a total Of
$3.50 for the entire amount. The bank
officials paid the amount under pro-
test and took a receipt for the same,
and then filed a complaint with the
state railway and warehouse commits
sion. The officials of the bank in their
complaint declared that the Great
Northern Express company discrimi-
mated against Benson in favor of other
points, and Of general unfairness, as
regards Benson and competing points
on the same line. The complaint re-
cites the sending of the sum of Sc, 900
in bills which weighed less than five
pounds, the package being carried for
$3.50 for distance of 120 miles The
petition or complaint declares that the
same company has carried a similar
package of money from the Twin Cities
to Watertown, S. D., a distance of 21O
miles, for 40 cents per 81, 900, twice the
distance to Benson, at one-half the
cost, which gives the bank officials their
basis of claim that there Is an unafir
discrimination in rates. The officials
of the bank also complain Of the ex-
cessively severe conditions under which
money is transported, saying that the
express companies practically relieve
themselves of any responsibility.
M. D. Grover, attorney for the Great
Northern Express company, has filed
his answer to the complaint with the
railway and warehouse commission
In its answer the express company
admits that 1t carried the $1,000 from
Minneapolis to Benson at the rate of
rs cents per $1,000; the company main
tains that the charge is just and rea-
sonable for the service performed and
the risks assumed. The company denies
that the rate from WATERFOWL, s. D.,
to the Twin Cities is 40 cents per 81, 900
and declares that the regular rate is
so cents. The answer declares that
Watertown is a competitive point and
that other express companies doing
business at that point make(a charge Of
but 60 cents for each 81, 600
The bank officials are not satisfied
with the answer and will ask for a
hearing. They declare that the rate
of 80 cents for 210 miles is not proper
Tomato with rate Of rs cents for 12O
miles and want the latter rate lowered.
1t is possible that the case will not be
argued before the commission until
the supreme court has passed upon an
appeal from recent decision which
says that the railroad and warehouse
commission has jurisdiction over ex-
press companies in the matter Of dis
elimination in rates, etc