The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-11-29
OYERCHARGES
FOR EXPRESS
SOURCE OF PROFITABLE BUSI.
NESS TO EXPRESS coMPAN-
les, ACCORDING TO
TESTIMONY.

New York. Nov 9.-Overchargine
Is a source of profitable business To the
express companies, according to tes-
timony given at the hearing i'm the
rooms Of the Merchants Association
before Franklin X. Lane of the Inter
State Commerce Commission into ex-
press companies rates and methods.
"A. w. Ryan, an investigator for the
commission, offered figures showing
that the United States Express COM
pany collected in 1910 $2SS31 in over
charges and did not refund SG,SO4 of
this. This sum represented. Mr.. RYAN
pointed out, an unjust accumulation
and was brought about because of the
complicated system of charges and the
lack of knowledge or the scale by en-
ployes. The Interstate commerce in
vestigators took one days business as
an index. on Dec. %, 1909. the United
states Express company over charged
on 1871 shipments, Mr.. Ryan's report
showed. and the uncorrected over
charges at the close of that days bust
ness was $471.
The total orercharge Of the Adams
Express company In 1910 amounted to
S69.5S7, according to Mr.. Ryan's figures
and not all of it was refunded. The
day taken as an index. Aug IS, 1909.
showed uncorrected overcharges of
$2S7.
The companies side-the loss
through undercharge-was not pre-
scented. II also came out through Mr..
Ryan's testimony that some of the ex-
press companies at least had refused
to give the investigators access to their
books prior TO 1906.
I'VE were not only not allowed ac-
cess to the books" complained Mr..
Ryan, but they were sealed"
Commissioner Lane expressed sur
prise. Mr.. Ryan explained that the
reason given for the refusal was that
the commission had no jurisdiction at
that time The investigators protested
Mr.. Ryan said, but the express people
stood by their contention and the
books were not viewed.
you have the right Of access to
those books" said Commissioner Lane
and turning to Walker ID. Hines, law
yer for the express companies, asked If
he conceded that right.
IF the action was taken on the ad-
vice of counsel" he replied, II should
like to confer on the subject before
replying"
Maps showing the direct routes be-
tween various cities and the devious
routes which express matter follow
were put in evidence by Frederick De
Berard, Secretary of the Express Rates
Conference and statistician of the
Merchants Exchange. These show that
the direct route between Binghampton
and Perry, n. Y, is: Binghampton to
Silver Springs, 154 miles; to Perry. Z
miles. a total of 161 miles. The ex-
press route is: Binghampton to AL
bany. 143 miles; to Rochester, 22S
miles; to Silver Springs. so miles, to
Perry, miles total mileage of 42S.
The direct route from New Haven to
syracuse, n IL. ne gave as Sl3 miles
by way of Springfield and Albany
whereas the actual express route is:
New Haven to New York. 73 miles; to
HARRISBURG. 1874 miles; TO Newark n
Y. 242 miles; to Syracuse. so miles;
total 500 miles. The direct route from
New York TO Roanoke, Va, is by of
Washington and Lynchburg. yet ex-
press matter goes by way of Newport
News and Norfolk. III miles longer.
Mr.. De Barard said that the Cor
ham company shipped 100000 worth
Of silverware out of Providence every
year. Its shipments to the Pacific
coast territory went by a roundabout
way by Adams Express. the service II
was compelled to use. They sought a
more direct route over the Wells Far
go out of Boston, but found IL impos-
elble to make the arrangements. Tho
Gorham company complained that this
made a delay Of n day or so, and de-
prived Il OF the lower rates of the NOR,
llrect route.
The contractal relations between tn,
abroad companies and the expires,