The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-01-16
Why Not Good for Maine Also2

innings therein, that IN that state
the commission 10 given power to adj
just express ,ates where they find
them inequitable. The REPORTER
took the matter up with our own
board of Railroad Commissioners and
received prompt reply from Hon. j.
B. Peaks, the chairman, stating that
no such power had ever been given
the board by the legislature of Maine.
1t seems that the impression has ex-
listed tn at the Maine Railroad Com
missioner had some power over ex-
press rates and Mr.. Peaks expressed
his thanks for the inquiry and for the
service of the REPORTER in advising
the public of the true standing of the
matter. There has been a general
impression abroad that no state was
more completely dominated by
rings and bosses than New Hampshire.
1t would seem that if the Legislature
OF that state has been able to confer
on the Railroad Commissioners the
it should be possible to secure like
statue in this state. This would seem
to be profitable subject for the con-
sideration of the legislators who will
be nominated and elected during the
present year. The following news
dispat ches give an account of the
Nau, Hafnnshira paSa
Concord, n. H., Jan. 2-The State
Board OF railroad Commissioners has
announced its findings in number of
complaints by residents of Peterboro,
this State, against the American Elk
press Co., alleging excessive charges
The commission finds the complaints
We'll f. unded and orders that the com
pany establish a minimum rate OF 10
cents for the transport alton OF any
article or package not exceeding five
pounds IN weight and 500 i'll Value be-
tween points In New hampshire not
exceeding ii miles by railroad in limit
distance apart
Peterboro, N. H., Jan. 2-The de-
cision of the Board of Railroad Com
missloners against the American Elk
press Co. was received with great in
b6rtSb mere. Inc case Was Tue HISb
prosecuted under the new law
1.-THE petitioners established the
following facts, which the represen-
tative OF the express company did not
question:
The American Express Co. has had
an absolute monopoly of the express
business in Peterboro, Jaffrey and
neighboring towns. What is known
as the minimum charge is that col
lected for the transportation of pack
ages weighing not more than five
pounds and valued not exceeding 500.
There WAS also special aud varying
rate where it was deemed necessary
to complete with the United States
mail, which was very much larger
when paid at the place of delivery
than when paid at the place of ship
ment, for the reason that postage
must be paid in advance and only
completes with express charges when
they are also prepaid. The minimum
charge of shipments between Boston
and New Hampshire points which
seem to have been established with
little regard to distance, if they are
on the main lines of railroads, is ID
cents and has been since 1895, while
on cross lines or branches of railroads
it was p hts. Peterboro and
Jaffrey, where the petitioners reside
and do business, are upon cross line.
Therefore the minimum charge to
them was for six, 10 or 20 miles, while
between Boston and keene, Bellows
Falls and other points on the main IT
was only Is cents.
at was this discrimination that
L., n hut
it seriously handicapped their bust
ness and put them at great dlsad-
vantage in competing with those who
had express service for less.
"Subse quent to the filing of these
petitions and as we must assume, i'll
answer thereto, an order has been
issued by the American Express Co.,
and went into effect, Dec. End, the
day before the hearing, which equal
lied minimum rates in New Hamp-
shire by raising all that were pre-
viously % cents, to that sum, but so
tar as we can learn there was no ad-
vance in NJ Massachusetts,.
"There can be no justification for a
schedule which taxes a shipper %
cents for the transportation OF a
package five or ten miles when the
Shiilt pdCkdSS 10 Saiiiou WV WY
same railroad by the same company
seventy or eighty miles for fifteen
cents, or which makes the crossing of
a State line a reason for adding IS per
cent to the bill.
at is voted and ordered:
"n)-FOT the purpose of this case
a minimum charge by the American
Express Co. is and shall be for the
transportation of an article or pack
age not exceeding five pounds in
weight and $50 in value.
(2j-Minimum charges as above
defined sba all be uniform.
3)-Such minimum charges for Il
distance within the State OF New
Hampshire not exceeding 80 miles by
railroad between Peterboro and
other points and Jatfrey and other
points where the present tariff of the
American Express Co. above the
minimum is so cents per hundred
pounds, il hereby fixed and estab-
lished at Is cents, the same to be in
force on and after seven days from
the date of this order.o
Town Improvement Society.
The meeting of the Town Improve
ment Society was held i'll the Library