El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-06-07

The Commerce Commission
Is Asked to Order Rate
Reduction.
Ell PASO STARTS
INSURANCE WAR

Through the Associated Commercial
/ organizations of the United States,
which includes the Ell PasO chamber
! of commerce, the express companies
/ now operating in this country are to be
1 attached on the ground that they are
/ charging excessive rates which are out
/ Of all proportion to the service rerd-
cred. The movement which originated
with the Merchants association of New
! York has become general and includes
| the leading commercial organizations of
/ the United States. To finance the move
ment against the excessive rates now
, being charged by the express compa-
MES. contributions have been asked
from all of the organizations which
have enlisted in the fight. A meeting
of the transportation committee of the
FL Paso chamber of commerce was held
Tuesday afternoon to consider ways and
means of raising the contribution of
the FL Paso chamber to the general
fund for prosecuting the attack on the
express companies
The action to be taken against the
companies carrying express in the Unit
ed States is the result of a conference
held in New York on May II under the
auspices Of the Merchants association
Of New York, attended by representa-
tives of 81 organizations. at which 1t
was decided 10 petition the interstate
commerce COMMISSION 10 HIKE Il COLl-
prehenSive investigation of the justice
and reasonableness Of the entire body
of rates now in effect and also as to
the express practices in use by the COM
panieS operating the larger express
companies The commercial organiza-
tions represented at this conference in
Guided those of New York, Baltimore,
Cleveland, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis.
New Orleans and other commercial
bodies in the larger cities.
Insurance Rates Into Question.
In addition to the q organizations
which sent representatives to the con-
ference. Is other organizations signi
fled by letter Willingness to join in
this fight for more equitable rates from
the Insurance companies and offered to
join the campaign against the high in
surance rates.
OF this number the Ell Paso chamber
Of commerce heads the list and secre-
tary c. A KinnS and traffic manager
A. w. Reeves areNbOth taking an active
part in the MONUMENT TO bring the facts
before the interstate commerce commits |
sion. Letters have been written to Bis
bee, Douglas, Tucson, Albuquerque and |
other cities Of the southwest urging |
that the commercial bodies join the As |
ISOLATED Commercial organizations in |
presenting this matter in the proper /,
light to the commission and asking for /
their financial and moral support in the |
movement.
Express Companies VIII Fight Back. /
\ hard fight is expected from the eX- !
press companies and it Will be neceS- |
sary for the associated organizations TO 1
employ eminent counsel to properly pre- /
sent its case before the commission |
when the hearing is called. 1t was an |
nounced at the conference that the In |
terstade Commerce commission would, /
upon the application of the commercial /
organizations, take up the matter of /
express rates and have a thorough in /
vestigation of the body of rates now in !
effect. However, it will be necessary
for the petitioners to show specific
cases where express rates are excessive
and that the practices of the express
companies are irregular and the differ
ent organizations have been asked to
send all data and information obtain
able concerning such cases.
Heavy Earnings to be Considered.
The great percentage of earnings over
cost of operations which amounts to
from so to los percent is to be cited
As an example Of the excessive charges
which are being made by the four big
now operating the large eX-
press carrying systems of the country.
It is the contention of those who are
behind the movement that the only tan
Sible service performed by the express
is in furnishing terminal ia
,ilities and delivery facilities for the
goods as the express matter is carried
ntirely on the railroads, for which the
abroad lines are paid a percentage of
he gross earnings. The charges for
his terminal charge does not increase
II decrease with the distance the pack ]
ge is shipped, yet the charges are in /
reased many times over, the railroads | {
,etting only a proportiOnate share of
he increased tariff. il
1t is this and other practices that are 7
ow in force with the insurance COM !
anies that are to be brought into &
uestion by the associated organizations Z
f the commercial bodies in an effort =
o show that the express rates are ex- 4
essive and out of all reason for the
ervice rendered.
The case promises to be as interest
lg as the railroad rate cases, as the {
xpress companies are expected to make :
hard fight TO maintain the present !
ltes. The fight will attract additional :
interest in the west and southwest as
be shippers and merchants are more =
ffected by the high rates here than in
ny other section.