The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-19
Conflict Between These and
the Railroad Commission,
Developed at Yesterdays
Session = Companies on
Defensive.
STATE BODY PROPOSES TO
COMPEL FREE DELIVERY
This Applies to Hammond and in Fact
to all Cities Throughout State
Where Population Numbers Over
2,50O-Express People Are Defiant
Refuse to Answer Questions.

2,500-Express People Are Defiant
Refuse to Answer Questions.
Indianapolis. Ind. Sept. Ie.-Just as
sure two and two make four, there
is going TO be trouble between the
express companies doing business in
this state and the railroad commis-
sion. Not only will this trouble con-
cern the fact that the companies have
been trying to charge extra service
fee for delivery without prescribed
limits. but also Will IL concern tho
fact that the Indiana commission wants
some figures that the express con-
panies. at the close OF yesterdays
hearing. practically refused to give.
In the first place, there is now little
question but that the commission win
make order TO compel the express
companies TO deliver all packages to
all parts of cities and towns over 1850
In population free CT charge. This is
not done now in any city in the state
except Marion and Terre Haute, where
some Of the companies make these
deliveries over the entire city without
extra charge.
Twice the members of the commits
sion indicated such an attitude before
adjournment taken yesterday af-
ternoon. Once. Commissioner Wood. In
examining G. r. Curtis. district super
intendent OF the Adams Express COM
panya aaconcerning the free distribution
In Terre Haute and Marion as COM
pared with the charges outside the pre-
scribed territories in Fort Wayne.
South Bend. Hammond. Richmond.
, Michigan City, Huntington. and other
cities of similar size. Commissioners
Wood asked Mr. Curtis If he did not
regard 1t as a discrimination in favor
of these two cities against the 9TH
ers In the state. The witness said he
thought IT might be so considered. per-
haps.
Well" said Wood. that's the way
the commission is inclined to regard
1t. too
No Limitations on Delivery.
Again Commissioner McAdams made
the straightforward statement that no
limitation should be placed on the ter
ritory Of free delivery. He was ques-
J tioning several superintendents with
reference TO their rules limiting tho
free delivery section Of cities over
$500.
The truth is, Mr.. Witness" said the
commissioner. I'VE do not think that
| lneTe snOulu Dc any TulSs OF THIS SoTL
at all. We think that an express COM
pany should deliver It's parcels free OF
charge to every point within the cor
porate limits OF any city or town over
2. 500 inhabitants" So the mind Of the
commission seems to be made up pretty
fully on this point.
Nor are the express companies go
ing to give up anything in the matter
? Of actual properties that they are not
t actually forced TO. Mr.. c. w. Stock
l ton. assistant TO the president OF the
: Wells-Fargo Express company. said
e almost in so many words that the
e company would not answer a question
showing how much in actual cash had
\ ever been paid for the $4,000, 900 capt.
tai stock that that company had. He
? denied fatty a statement Of the treas
0 urer Of the company to the effect that
r only 100000 OF that capital had ac-
: tually been paid into the business. but
he would give no positive information
n TO confute that statement. And he
g said that such information would not
q be forthcoming.
Other Matters Involved.
: In fact this preliminary tryout that
: lasted throughout yesterday and was
adjourned that the commission could
collect some evidence. showed that IL
? was not only matters OF free delivery
: that concerned the commission. but
: the more vital matters OF general ex-
: press rates The lines OF questions
: that the commissioners pumped at the
witnesses showed what was further
back in their minds-the belief that
:, present express rates IN Indiana were
too high, both in proportion to the
services rendered and also TO the
amount OF capital invested IN Indiana
? AS compared with the amount OF capf-
? tai invested, the companies practically
admitted that the rates were too high
but the express men said that that
5 was no criterion-any more than the
cost OF a suit or clothes of a messen-
II ger boy was any criterion as TO what
l. his personal services were worth.
II 1t will be about a month before the
r express hearings are reconvened- The
. whole indication Is that these cases
l. will move very slowly. II is the de-
N sire Of the commission TO go step by
T. step, and ascertain what facts IL can
IN at every opportunity. 1t is too big
ir a proposition 70 settle in q day. but
III the prediction may be made that the
l. commission will take some effective
faction when the time comes.