Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-03
THE FIRST PROSECUTION
Under the New Law Now in Force IN
New Hampshire.

Peter boro, n. H.. Jan. 1.-The decision
of the board of railroad commissioners
against the American Express Co was
received Will; great interest here. The
case was the first prosecuted under the
new law. The petitioners in the case
were II. II. Cohen and others OF Peter
boro George II. Duncan and others oil
JafTrey. James F. Brennan. counsel Tor
the petitioners. tonight received a copy
Of the decision which in part is as fol-
lows:
1.-THE petitioners established the follow
ing facts which the representative OF the
express company did not question:
1.-The American Express Co. has had
and has an absolute monopoly of the ex-
press business in Peterboro, Jaffrey and
neighborinG towns. What is known as
the minimum charge Is that collected for
the transportation Of packages weighing
not more than FIVE pounds and valued
not exceeding $50. There was also spe-
cial and varying rate where it was DEEM
ed necessary to compete with the United
States mail, which was very much larger
when paid at the place Of delivery than
when paid at the place of shipment. 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 Is cents. and has
been since 1896, while on CROSSINGS or
branches of railroads it was Is cents.
Feterboro and Jaffrey, where the petit
TONERS reside and do business, are upon
cross-line. Therefore tho minimum
charge to them was - cents for six, 10
or 20 miles, while between Boston and
Keene, Bellows Falls and other points on
the main line it was only Is cents.
'It was this discrimination that they
complained of. contendins that it seriously
Handicapped their business and put them
at great disadvantage in competing with
those who had express service for less.
Subsequent to the filing of these pc
titions and. as We must assume. in an
swer thereto. an order has been issued by
the American Express Co. and went into
eff ect Dec. .. the day before the hearing.
which euualized minimum rates in New
Hampshire by raising all that were pre-
viously less than IS cents to that sum.
hut so far as we can learn there was no
advance in Massachusetts,.
There can be no justification for
schedule which taxes a shipper Is cents
for the transportation of package five
or 10 miles when the same package is
carried over the same railroad by the
same company 20 or 50 miles for Il cents.
or which makes the crossing Of n state
line n reason for adding 66 per cent. to
the bill.
1T is voted and ordered
"OD For the purpose OF this case a min
imul1 charge by the American express
Co. is and shall DE for the transportation
of an article or package not exceeding
five pounds in weight and $50 in value.
"G, Minimum charges as above defined
shall be uniform.
"(3) Such minimum charges for n dis
lance within the state of New Hamp
shire not exceeding Gu miles by railroad
between Fetea boro ard other points and
Jaffrey and ether points where the pers-
ent tariff OF the American Express CO.
above the minimum is 80 cents per 100
pounds is hereby fixed and established at
Is cents the same to be in force on and
after seven days from the date of this
order