The Detroit times., 1911-08-29
PARCELS POST
LAW COMING
Congress Will Enact Legislation To
End Express Graft-Taft Will
Recommend Bill.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29.--Parcels
post legislation will be enacted by con.
gress at the next session, says John
Callan OLoughlin in a dispatch to the
Chicago Tribune. II will be earnest
ly recommended by the president, q
bill will be passed by the Democratic
house OF representatives, and the sen
ate 10 expected to give its approval. II
will be one Of the things for which
both the great parties, including the
progressive Republicans. will claim
credit In the coming presidential cam
paign.
Thus the end is approaching OF the
express company graft. II will be de-
layed even beyond the next session II
there happen to be the slightest di.
minution OF public interest.
As result OF the inquiry conducted
during the extra session by subcom-
mittee OF the nous ecommittee on post
ofices and postroads the fact has been
Impressed upon congress that the
rural as well as the urban districts
want TO be freed from the rapidity OF
express companies. This inquiry is to
|be resumed when congress recon
|venes, but the subcommittee expects
10 present report with recommends
|tions TO the full committee in time for
that body to act before the Christmas
holidays.
In the meantime there will be an
|other investigation In progress which
will throw a good deal of light upon
1.-The practices and Affiliations Of the ex-
press companies. BY direction OF the
Interstate commerce c o mmission
FRANK X, Lane, one OF It's members,
will begin in October thorough In.
|uuiry into numerous complaints which
have been fled against the companies.
Besides being able Mr.. Lane is
noted for the thoroughness he displays
in dealing with any subject intrusted
Ito him. His report therefore, will be
valuable, not only in its determination
4 pf what rates should legally be
charged by the express companies but
in establishing their relations to the
railroads; and II will be an aid to con-
gress I'm the enactment OF legislation
FOR the relief of the public.
The commission has looked into
Few complaints and has maintained
some rates and reduced others. II
also has secured reports as to the
Ownership OF stock In express COM
panies, and these have shown the
large control which railroads have
pver them.
Railroad holdings OF express com
panies' stock amount to $14,l24,O0O.
The New York Central, for example,
owns 100000 of American Express
company stock, and the Southern
Pacifs owns 81, $50, 900 OF Wells-Fargo
stock. In other cases the express
companies are organized for doing the
cypress business over the roads which
own the stock. Six million dollars OF
the stock of the Pacific Express com
pany belonged to three railroads
which Invested themselves of 1t with
The intention Of turning the business
bver to the wells-Fargo company.
q In other words, the express COM
panies have served as subsidiary
brofit feeder for the railroads or for
bfficials of the latter. When the ex-
press company idea originated the cor
boration formed obtained a contract
from the railroad. These contracts
were secured by officers OF the roads.
who were made officers of the express
companies.
Consequently as one witness pertin-
Entity observed before the postal In
|Eestigation committee, they were gull
ny OF a fraud upo nthe rights OF the
Stockholders Of the railroads.