The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-10
GETS BETTER RATES
PRESIDENT THORNTON, OF THR
BANKO F BENSON, GAINS A
VICTORY.
EXPRESS COMPANY'S TARIFF
WILL BE REVISED ON THE BASIS
ADOPTED BY TRAFFIC AS
ISOLATION.
HEARING BEFORE COMMISSIONERS.
Something Out of the ordinary
Some Light ON the Methods of the
Business.
HEARING BEFORE COMMISSIONERS.

The case Of Thornton VS.. the Great
Northern Express company came I'M
Tor a hearing before the railroad and
warehouse commission Yesterday
morning. There were present a num-.
Der Of officials from competing express
companies. M. D. Grover represented
the Great Northern Express companvL
The state and complainant, the latter
being President Thornton. of the Ran-
or Benson, were represented by Attor-
ney General Childs and Assistant At
torney General Edgerton. Mr.. Thorn,
toH alIeged In his complaint that the
GREAT Northern Express company
charged 70 cents per 81, 900 for the
the transportation Of a certain sum
or money between Minneapolis and
Benson last year, while the competing
company charged but so cents. there
1ore the complaint alleged discrimi-
natlon against the town of Benson bv
the Great Northern Express
among the witnesses examined were
Vice President w. J. Footner. of the
Great Northern Express J..
M. Hannaford, vice president and gen.
eral manager of the Northern Pacific
Express company; J. E. Olds, Of he
Ohlted states Express company; ]. VIZ
owens, of the Adams c. G.,
irvine, OF the American Express COM
pany; A. E. Rice, of Willmar. banker.
President Thornton, of the Bank Of
Benson, and B. K. Saldeson, Of an
Appleton bank.
Inc express companies, Judging from
the testimony n the result Of the
meeting have nnynA r. 49, zA--y-
that the commission has authority over
the express companies as well as the
railroads.. The testimony taken was
largely upon the rates charged by the
american Express company, when that
company operated over the Great
Northern lines between the stations in
viewed in the complaint. The testimony
showed that there had been a reduce
ton in rates during the last two years.
witnesses testified that there had been
formed a traffic association among the
express companies of the country, and
that a scale of tariffs had been agreed
upon by members. However. the Great
Northern and the Northern Pacific Ex-
press companies had never Joined the
association, and consequently had not
always maintained the association
rates. The association some time ago
the rates, making what is
known as the bankers rates Of so cents
per $1,000 transported, for a stated
amount of business to be furnished by
the banks nde contract during the
life Of the agreement. The Great
Northern and Northern Pacific, how
ever, did not adopt these rates at the
time. The representatives Of the
Adams, American and United States
Express companies testified to the same
effect. Not being in the agreement, the
Great Northern charged rs cents for
transporting a 81, 900 between stations
where there was no competition under
the 50-cent basis.
The Great Northern Express COM
pany k for ten days in which to
prepare a new tariff. 1t Is understood
that the company will put in effect the
tariffs Of the Traffic association, /. e.
90 cents for the carrying Of 81, 900. 1t
is believed this will be satisfactory to
the shippers. The result Of the action
is looked upon as being a victory for
the complainant.