The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-01-16
WOULD CHANGE RATE
Railways in This Section Appeal
to Railway Commission for
Change in Package Rate.
TO MAKE CHARGE UNIFORM

rs AL cHCLl is UG1NS IHduc Dy the Td1l'
roads Of the state to have the State
Railroad Commission grant them the
privilege of tablishing Uniform
minimum rate to be charged for
freight parcels which weigh less than
100 pounds. No effort is to be made
to change the rate on freight of
weight greater than 100 pounds. The
permission sought will cover the in
crease which was made in the mini
mum rate byathe roads as we'll .as the
boat lines some time ago, adding Is
cents. The rate went into effect
some two months ago and remained
in force for but few weeks when it
was discontinued for the reason that
serious complaints were made by
small manufacturers and merchants
through the state. The roads are
now seeking & permission from the
COMMISSIONER that there can be no
question as ito their rights in the
matter.
The Chicago, Milwaukee and St.
Paul, Chicago and Northwestern, and
Wisconsin Central railroad companies
have asked the Railroad Com mission
Of Wisconsingto authorize them to es-
tabl1sh uniform minimum charge on
package freight weighing less than
100 pounds, which shall be in force
throughout 1.-THE territory east of the
Missouri river. In order to find out
just what effect the proposed charge
will have On shipments made by Wis
consin shippers, the commission has
addressed sletters to the Merchants
and Manufacturers association of
Milwaukee and other associations and
individual business men, asking them
whethers they believe the proposed
change undesirable. If there is any
reasonable objection to the change,
the commission will hold a hearing
on the matter. saAThis hearing will
probably be held at an early date, per
haps the l1astsof this month.
While the Commission is not pre-
pared to express an opinion on the
probable effect of the proposition, the
opinion prevails among some ship
pers who have examined it that it will
in general sraise existing charges,
particularly on packages weighing
thirty to eighty pounds. The rail
roads may be able to show that this is
not true, but it is nevertheless the
impression of those shippers who
have seen a.copy of the schedule.
The proposed plan provides that
matter shall not be accepted for ship
ment for less than Is cents, but the
minimum charge ssha1l be for 100
pounds at the class or commodity rate
to which the shipment belongs. For
example: p The rate from Madison to
Milwaukee at the present time on 100
pounds first class shipment is IS cents.
Under the same condition, d package
of fifty poundsGcan be shipped for Is
cents, the sminimumf charge. Under
the plan which the railroads propose
to inauguratel!the rate would be IS
cents for 100 pounds or any number of
pounds less.
The presenta minimum charges IN
Wisconsin3gis 25sRcentssss for package
freight weighing less than 100 pounds
over onesiline of3ssroad, and 40 cents
over twoslor more lines. Several
weeks ago sthe roads increased this
charge, but the shipperssmade strong
protest, andsfnally the Railroad Com
mission ordered it reduced to the pres.
ent charge, which hassbeen in force
many years.