Omaha daily bee., 1907-12-28
Low RATE Is HIDDEN
frisco Merchants Make This Charge
Against Express Company.
BULK SCHEDULE NOT POSTED
Allegation that Attempt Was Made to
Deceive Shippers.
DISCRIMINATION ALSO CHARGED
Association Makes Joint Shipment Of
10000 Pounds from New York.
PACKAGE RATE Is COLLECTED
Statement that shipments by Express
Were Neeessary for Christmas
Trade Because Of slow
Freight Service.
Allegation that Attempt Was Made
Deceive Shippers.
DISCRIMINATION ALSO CHARGE1
Association Makes Joint Shipment Of
$4,000 Pounds from New York.
PACKAGE RATE Is COLLECTED

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. Dec 27.-Inter-
state Commerce Commissioner franklin X.
Lane today began an investigation into the
complaint filed with the commission against
the weTls-FarEo Express company by the
California Commercial association Of San
Francisco, charging the express company
with discrimination, eoncealing rates which
had been filed with the Interstate Com
merce commission and other violations OF
the Interstate Commerce Law. The associa-
tion is composed Of about thirty wholesale
and retail dry goods firms.
The charges of discrimination are based
upon the refusal Of the express company
TO transport a shipment Of 5000 pounds,
consisting of 443 packages from New York
TO the California Commercial association
n San Francisco last August at the bulk
of quantity rate of s. per 100 pounds, the
company charging the regular package
rate 1t is also alleged that the express
company charged higher rate than that
published and filed with the Interstate
Commerce commission. which was wilfully
concealed and hidden from the public. This
the complaint AYERS Is distinct violation
Of the Interstate Commerce act.
Reply of Express Company.
In answer the express company denies
association resorted to subterfuge in order
to extort unjust discrimination in its own
favor and based its refusal to grant guam
tity rate upon the shipment in question
on the ground that while consigned to one
oonsiEnee Il was intended for more than
score OF firms. II was brought out by
Commissioner Lane that since the fire of
April IS, 1906, II has required seventy-five,
ninety and even 10 days 60 get freight
shipped from New York. which had forced
many merchants to ship by express in
order to get their goods for seasons for
which they were intended.
Freight Service Too slow.
Mr. Lane also elected by his questions
put to witnesses that while freight rates
averaged from 20 ; cents a pound from
New York 60 San Francisco the express
rate sfren 10 % cenis pound. II de-
peioped that In order TO take advantage
Df the lowest express rate OF cents made
On shipments Of 10000 20 aGOOO pounds q
humber OF the local retail and wholesale
merchants formed an association which
could not separately make such large ship
ments These shipments gathered and for
varded from New York from a forwarding
agency are consigned to the association
and by It delivered TO its members.
because II does not constitute firm or
)ne concern the express company refused
% apply the rate on a shipment of 1900
pounds, charging the association 500 in
excess.
The charge Of concealing rates is in the
allegations made that the express COM
panies complied with the Interstate Com
merce commission schedule containing the
bulk rate. but did not post the rate pub
iciy and II was kept locked UP 50 that the
public might not know of the lower rate.