Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-09
EXPRESS
RATES ARE
REDUCED
Pacific Company Cuts Down Its
Charges on an Average Of
20 Per Cent on All
Oregon Lines.

Inc EdCluC bNpIesS COmphhy hiVN
a new revised tariff in the Railroad
Commission ONCE this morning, in
which II reduces its merchandise
rates in oregon on the average OF
90 per cent, some being much lower.
This is the elimination of a COM
plant fled with the commission
year ago by B. F. Jones, OF Independ-
ence, in which he complained OF the
high rates being charged by the Pa
cific Express Company.
The readjustment includes 3200
separate rates. Il covers all express
stations, Portland eastward TO the
Washington state line, and to Hunt
,ington on line OF o. r. & N. Co. II
does not include the stations on the
Sumpter Valley railway (which were
taken over by the Pacific Express
Company after the submission OF the
controversy to the commission). ex-
cept as far as affected automatically
by the reduction TO and from Baker
City, on which the Sumpter valley
rates are based Nor does the read
justment reach lower Columbia river
points, served by the Pacific Ex-
press Company by steamer, as such
traffic is necessarily largely interstate
Controversy originated with formal
complaint fled by b. F. Jones, OF In
dependence, representative from Lin
coin and Polk counties. After a
hearing before the commission, an
order was made on April 20. 1909.
finding the existing rates unreason-
able and prescribing new rates for
the future The rates filed are slight
ly lower than those subsequently pre-
scribed by the amended order. For
instance, the Observation-Disclosures
rate was s4.00, tho order April 20
fixed II at $500, and the amended
order. Just issued. at s3.25. Before
the service OF the order on the ex-
presss company II appeared before
the commission by J. w Rogers, IT'S
superintendent, OF Salt Lake, and
Wallace McCamant. its attorney. and
requested further consideration OF
the matter and conferences, with a
view TO an adjustment. without re-
sort TO litigation to contest the COM
missions order, A number OF con
ferences were held, and propositions
and counter propositions made. Mr.
Rogers made a trip 10 81. Louis 10
present personally the matter TO the
traffic officials OF the express COM
pany. The new tarin has been
checked with care to avoid discrep-
ancies, such as a greater charge for
a shorter intermediate haul than the
longer haul, rates exceeding the sum
OF intermediate local rates and de-
partures from n fair mileage scale
The original order was made 10 ap-
apply only as TO articles taking mer-
ehandlse and general special rates,
and not TO shipments OF coin, fruit
poultry, which were not covered by
the evidence taken. However, the
new traffic will be applicable TO all
commodities. however classified
which take rates based on merchan-
disc rates, or multiples OF fractions
thereof. There are some special
rates now in effect between certain
points which are lower than general
rates. and no change is made In these
The new tariff will become effective
October LIST. While necessarily II
must be confined by its terms to In
terstate business, the express com
pany has indicated that necessary
changes In interstate business will be
made