The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-06-16
FIGHT ON FOR REDUCTIONS
Milwaukee Association Prepares Tables
Showing That Almost All Charges
are Higher in Wisconsin Than in
Many Other States.

That Kenosha people who SEND or
receive goods by express, in common
with nearly all residents Of Wisconsin,
pay exorbitant express rates as COM
pared with rates for like service in
practically every state where express
rates have been brought under public
regulation was shown by express rate
comparisons introduced in evidence be-
fore the state railroad commission in
Milwaukee last week. These compari-
sons, presented in statistical tables con-
tanning thousands of rates, and also
shown graphically by large charts COM
prise the most exhaustive express rate
comparisons ever introduced before
any commission. They were put in
evidence by the testimony of Alex
ander jameson, employed in the Office
of Transportation Attorney Walter
Drew, who has charge of the express
case ON behalf Of the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association Of Milwau-
kee
After introducing tariffs and rates
IN force in Wisconsin, showing that
express rates and charges in this state
have been recently greatly increased
over rates and charges in force in this
state for many years, comparisons
with rates in other states were pre-
scented.
1t was shown that Wisconsin express
rates are % per cent higher on the
average than express rates for like
distances in Minnesota, the excess in
Wisconsin in some cases ranging as
high as sc per cent, while none of the
75l rates between Milwaukee and Wis
consin points were lower than for like
distances in Minnesota
Wisconsin rates were shown to be
from to so per cent higher than
rates for like services in Iowa. Meth
er the Minnesota nor Iowa rates have
ever been contested by the express
companies in court.
The excess of Wisconsin rates over
the maximum lawful rates in sforce in
Ncb,2ska ranges from to sc per cent.
Rates between Milwaukee and 753
Wi@c2r@;n points averaged over 81 per
e cent higher than rates for like dis
tances in Virginia. Rates of the
Wells, Fargo Express between Milwau-
kee and its 248 Wisconsin stations are
higher than like rates in Virginia in
all 'but IS instances.
Wisconsin rates averaged over % per
cent higher than the rates for like dis
tances promulgated by the railroad
commission of Georgia and accepted
without contest by the express com
panies of that state. 1853 Wisconsin
rates were higher in all cases than
the Georgia rates, the excess for Wis
consin ranging in many cases as high
as GO per cent.
The excess of Wisconsin express
rates over the express rates establish
ed by the corporation commission of
North Carolina, and, in force for
many years in that state without
contest in court by the express car
riel5, ranges in some instances as high
as 100 per cent and or 1853 rates be-
tween Milwaukee and all Wisconsin
points averaged over II per cent.
The Wisconsin rates were shown to
range from to Sc per cent higher
than express rates for like distances
in the state of Texas, and to average
over % per cent higher than rates now
in force for like distances in Missouri.
The Missouri Commission has recently
issued new express tariff for that
state, greatly reducing the rates at
present in force, and the Wisconsin
rates are in many instances 100 per
cent higher than the proposed new
rates of the Missouri Commission. The
express companies have attacked the
new tariff of the Missouri Commission
in the federal court and it is Temperate
ly imperative pending the litigation.
Similar comparisons of the Wiscon-
sin rates with new tariffs of express
rates issued by the state commissions
of Oklahoma and New Hampshire,
which are also temporarily restrained,
show the Wisconsin rates to range
from to 66 per cent higher than rates
fixed upon investigation as reasonable
maximum rates in those states
Wisconsin rates were also shown to
be greatly excessive in comparison
with the rates for like distances of the
Canadian Express Company on the
lines of the Canadian Pacific Railroad
in the sparsely settled country of
Canada
Statistics were also introduced to
show that population and railroad con
ditions in Wisconsin are substantially
similar to those in the other states
with which rate comparisons were
made, The admission of the rate COM
parsons was strenuously objected to
by G. W. Stockton, of New York, gen
eral counsel for Wells, Fargo & Com