New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-10
EXPRESS COMPANIES RATES.
PARES THEM WITH FREIGHT
CHARGES
CHARGES.

The Merchants Association OF this city recently
sent out thirty thousand copies OF a pamphlet
entitled ITO Regulate Express Charges" This
pamphlet contained an analysis Of those charges
a. compared with freight charges to some three
hundred towns In all parts OF New-York State. and
shows enormously large excess OF charges by ex-
press for the weight and distance az compared
with freight charges. The pamphlet also shows
these express charges be unduy large and out OF
proportion to the value OF service rendered and
that they average from 20 Is per cent OF the value
OF the merchandise transported by express. This
circular was accompanied by interview with $
Crlsty Mead. assistant secretary OF the Merchants
Association. in which set forth the position OF
that association in this matter. and in which. in
general terms the policy OF the association in that
direction was outlined This Interview states that
the analysis in the pamphlet accompanying IT shows
that the express charges as compared with freight
charges under exactly similar conditions are
several hundred per cent greater. and that for
transportation Of equal bulk in different form the
b maximum OF express charges I'm extreme instances
IS nearly 400 per cent in Of freight charges
for the same weight. All this work and further
work 10 he done on the same lines preliminary 70
the Introduction Of bill in the Legislature OF this
State providing that the express companies be
placed under the jurisdiction OF the State Railway
Commission and are In the nature ~ an educational
campaign, explaining to the public why the pro-
posed bill should be passed
Referring 10 this matter W. ". Chandler who
Merchants Association said:
considerable publicity was thus given 10 the
work. and the Merchants Association IL In
cept OF letters and EXPRESSIONS Of commentator
from persons and firms in the different trade CEN
tres for what II is doing The only article or com
municaton which could he considered In the nature
OF reply by the express companies which has been
received by the Merchants Association has been
article published in the December number Of The
a. r. G. Pathfinder Railway Guide which Is
published by the New England Railway Publish
ing Company. No 81 Federal-st.. Boston. Mass
This article has been reproduced in one OF the
leading daily papers in Now York the answer Of
the express companies. This Pathfinder Railway
Guide Is A monthly publication In New England.
and is the official publication OF the transportation
lines Of New England. II Is printed in pamphlet
form It's outside covers filled with the adver-
tisements Of express companies One-half Of the
back page is entirely taken up with the advertise
ment Of the Adams and the Southern Express COM
panios. the other half Of the page being divided
equally between the advertisements ~ tho National
/ Express Company and the New York and Boston
Dispatch Company The upper half Of the front
page IS occupied with the title and illustration Of
The Pathfinder Guide itself end lower half o,
that page is equally divided between the advertise
ments OF the American Express Company and tho
Armstrong Transfer Company. Of Boston, which is
local express company % that city
1T Adams Express Company operates over
the lin Of the New-York New Haven and Hart
ford Railroad Company. That railway system. by
rs requirement Of the New-York and NewE Eng
land Railroad Company. and by the steamboat
lines plying between this city and tho cities
far east A. Newport and Fall River. we'll as the
intermediate cities. and by the requirement OF
smaller lines in Connecticut. and the NewYork.
Providence and Boston Line. from New London
70 Boston, has absolute monopoly OF all the
transportation business IN New England south Of
Springfield and Boston. and Is the only system
having ninal properties in this city. through
which direct transportation connection IS had
with tho entire New England territory Ever since
It's organization the Merchants Association has
made repeated applications 10 the New England
Railway Passenger Association. asking FOR re-
duced rates in favor OF NewYork for merchants
desiring 10 visit this market 10 make their pur-
chases. At certain periods Of the year reduced
rates Of this character have been granted at the
instance of the Merchants Association Ivy all the
roads east OF the Mississippi River. as well a.
southwest OF that river. and by some other In
dividual lines in other parts OF the country but
every application that has been made to the New
England Passenger Association has been denied.
owing 70 the active Influence and negative vote
OF the New-York New Haven and Hartford Rail-
road which. controlling Il does the entrance
into New-York and the direct connection between
New-Yo and Boston. and being an absolute
monopoly in Southern New England. has reso.ute-
~ set It's face against any concessions being
granted IN favor OF this city
The Merchants Association has received numer-
Gus complaints from persons living In New-Eng-
land OF the arbitrary manner IN which they are
treated by the NewYork. New-ifaven and Hart
ford Railroad Company. and of the slow delivery OF
freight over the lines Of that company. This sub
tect IL now being taken up actively by the Mer-
chants Association"
Ia reply u the article set forth in THE Pain
finder Railway Guide" the Merchants Associa-
ton has addressed the following letter to the
manager of that publication:
We read with great pleasure your article in
! The iathfnder' Of December When we went TO
school 80 per cent OF - cents was " cents i'dNths
Is cents for the carrier for his collection and other
work We trust you will examine with great
deal Of interest the tabuated statement when
tention to the Adams Express Company. which
started with carpet-nas business SHie St, rSbu,s
ago. since which time II mas b'r apI" 10 u.s.! @
something like 9DODo.Vc In dividends, etc II was
$4,000 drpositing as collateral eIi'e co. 49,. ard
tics representing a market value OF S4VT"' anu
leaving in hand surplus Of between $4,000 ana
s40Ho'o 10. the poor expressman. doing busl.
ness at cost and for the beneht OF me P.pic a.
people than the express companies TINS We Jbdgse
from the adyer,enent, On your the Star cham
ber of the express companies last June. and begged
the latter pay their proportion OF the war az
we have always gone the principle that r'sht
makes might After seriously considering ,he
navnent ~ this stamp tax by the shippers. the
one month the value Of the merchandlse shipper
bv a member OF this association: showing The value
81 merchandise shipped In bundles by express pre-,
paid by that house the weight etc ana ,ouEd
that the cost Of transportation amountted 40 o's
cent Of gross value OF the Hltr'liailu.s,'.
T, the express companies are allowed 10 continue
their business on this basis houses mere ana eis ,
where will not only up all their capita. Dut
before long will become paupers: We want iaf
piav The express companies shall nave iaIr p.ay'
but we are going 70 have them pay THIS stamp YAK,
and we are also going to have them MAKE propei
exprestman IS that he looks through his own glass
onfy and does not see through the glass 81 the
small merchant Compare the difference p"'"f-i
tic exnress charges and the freight charges, ana
see how soon the small merchants will be torcs1
n the wall in the small towns and villages lor 'e
latter cannot pay the eXOrbitant charges ana 90
business az all w have the kindlest feelings iur
the exnress companies and are willing TO Dc JuS,.
We are also willing 20 60 10 Washington, II neces-
sary 10 strive to have this tax modified 10 propTs,
rate or what the express companies think wouln