Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-06-10
wisconsin Express Rates High

OF receive goods by express, in com
mon with nearly all residents of Wis
cons1n, pay exorbitant express rates
as compared with rates for like ser
vice in practically every state where
express rates have been brought un
DER public regulation was sHOwn by
express rate comparisons introduced
IN evidence before the state railroad
commission in Milwaukee last week
Ihese comparisons, presented in stat.
lstlcal tables containing thousands
OF rates and also shown graphically
py large charts, comprise the most
exhaustive express rate comparisons
ever introduced before any commits
sion. They were put in evidence by
the testimony Of Alexander Jameson,
employed in the office of Transports
ton Attorney Walter Drew, who has
charge of the express case on behalf
OF the Merchants & Manufacturers
association of Milwaukee.
After introducing tariffs and rates
in force in Wisconsin, showing that
express rates and charges in this
state have been recently greatly in
creased over rates and charges in
force in this satte for many years,
comparisons with rates in other
states were presented.
It was shown that Wisconsin ex-
press rates are % per cent higher on
the average than expires rates for
like distances in Minnesota, the ex-
cess in Wisconsin in some cases
ranging as high as sc per cent, while
none of the ISL rates between Mil
waukee and Wisconsin points were
lower than for like distances in Min
nesota. -....- -.--.-
Wisconsin rates were shown to be
from to so per cent. higher than the
rates for like services in Iowa.
Neither the Minnesota nor Iowa rates
have ever been contested by the ex-
press companies in court.
The excess of Wisconsin rates over
the maximum lawful rates in force in
Nebraska range from 3 to 60 per cent.
Rates between Milwaukee and 1853
Wisconsin points averaged over 81
per cent. higher than rates for like
distances in Virginia. Rates of the
Wells, Fargo Express between Mil
waukee and it's 248 Wisconsin stations
are higher than like rates in Virginia
ingall but thirteen instances
Wisconsin rates averaged over %
per cent higher than the rates for
like distances promulgated by the
railroad commission Of Georgia and
accepted without contest by the ex-
press companies of that state. Seven
hundred and fifty-three Wisconsin
rates were higher in all cases than
the Georgia rates, the excess for Wis
consin ranging in many cases as high
as &c per cent.
The excess of Wisconsin rates over
the express rates established by the
corporation commission of North
Carolina, and in force for many years
in that state without contest in
court by the express carriers, ranges
in some instances as high as 100 per
cent. and ON 753 rates between Mil
waukee and all Wisconsin points
averaged over II per cent.
The Wisconsin rates were shown
to range from to sc per cent. higher
than the express rates for like dis
tances in the state Of Texas, and to
average over 29 per cent. higher than
rates now in force for like distances
sion has recently issued a new ex-
press tariff for that state, greatly re-
ducing 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 Mis-
souri, commission. The express COM
panies have attacked the new tariff
OF the Missouri commission in the
federal court and it is temporarily in
operative pending the litigation.
Similar comparisons of the Wiscon-
sin rates with new tariffs of express
OF Oklahoma and New Hampshire,
which are also temporarily restrained,
show the Wisconsin rates to range
from 5 to &c per cent. higher than
rates fixed upon investigation as rea-
sonable 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 other states with
which rate comparisons were made.
The admission of the rate compari-
sons were strenuously objected to by
G. w. Stockton of New York, general
counsel for Wells, Fargo & Company,
by Attorney w. w. Collin of the New
York firm Of O'Brien, Boardman,
Littleton & Platt, attorneys for the
United States Express Company, and
also by Attorney Mack, of Miller, Mack
O. Eo;, e.