The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-02
RATE REDUCTION
IS MADE TOO LATE,
Can 'tSave Express Com
panies From Sweep
ing Investigation.
ORDER is GIVEN
BY COMMISSION
Drastic Downward Revision Of
Tariffs Is Rushed In, but De-
spite Decrease in Figures,
/ Spotlight Will Be Turned
on Every Phase of
Business.
Especial to The Times Dispatch. j

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l "A
Washington. July 1.-The lnters tatA4
commerce Commission has decided to-
subject twenty-six express compapfes#
to an investigation OF the most search
ing character. and the express COM
panies, evidently to meet the investi-
CATION, have reduced their rates to
take effect August l. There will be q
probe into rates, classincations regueil
lations and practices of all the ex-
press companies.
The commission will go thoroughlyIl
into the question of alleged divisional
OF territory among the several com-iE
panles, and of pooling arrangement orr
Gentlemen's agreements II any such
exist. The character of freights CARY
rted by the express companies, the
amount of matter that would be mail,
able II presented to the postal ser-I
vice and the prices charged for such
matter, with revenues derived there
from, Will form an important and tn
terestinE feature OF the commissioned,
probe.
Rush In New Rates.
On the eve OF the PRONUNCIATION OF
this order. the express companiea
rushed to the commission revision
of their tariff rates. While but cur
sorry examination of the new rates nas
been made by the tariff experts of the
commission, it Is evident the express
companies have made sweeping re-
auctions In their rates, to become eff
fective August 1. the law requiring
thirty days notice OF change In rates.
In the case of long hauls OF express
packages to non competitive points
the reductions amount in some in
| stances to 100 per cent
| There are substantial reductions on
| 90 per cent of the traffic handled by
the express companies. There has
4
| graduate system OF charging for ex-
press packages under 100 pounds
weight, Every express company for
merly charged It's own rate for tho
distant hauls. while under the new
schedules the charge will be based on
a through haul.
The only express company that fall
ed to get In with new tariffs was thu
Long Island Company.
| The filing OF the new tarifr-s. now
ever. will not change the plans of thu
| commission No regulations of any
railroad or set of railroads, no rates
or classi6catons by such railroads.
have been subjected to q moro exhaus-
| tive investigation than Is to be made
| by the commission into the rates and
AFFAIRS of the express companies. The.
work Will include public hearings In
| Washington and elsewhere by tha
commission to shippers. with the righei
| or the express companies to make de-
Tense. Examiners and Investigators
OF the commission will be sent through
out the country, and the books of the
various companies will be searched.
| Has Specific Complaint.
| The probe of the express companies
| is undertaken by the commission or
| Us own initiative under recent
amendment OF the railroad rate law,
giving the commission that right but
1 .k- tat L. 80
| complaint against all the express oom-
| panies filed by Bengt E. Sundherg
| who contends that the rates, oiassifi.
| cations and regulations OF the expreS&
| companies filed with the COMMUNIST
| are unjust. unreasonable, tpnJustly al
| criminatory. unduly preferential s{I
prejudicial and otherwise insyiolaAz
OF the acts to regulate oommehcey ~
The express companies to be 1nE ~
| tigated by tho commission are Ada.f IL
American. Borough Express CompanN
| Boston and Worcester Dispatch. Cana,
dian Express Company. Canadian
Northern Express Company. Dart q
Companys Express. Davenport & Ma
sons Express, Dodds & Childs's Ex-
press Company. Dunlap's Express Cons
pany. Earl & Prew's Express. Globe
| Express Company Great Northern Ex-
| press Company. Knickerbocker EH-
| press Company, Manhattan Delivery
! Company. Morris European and Amer
lean Express Company, National Ex-
press Company. New England Dispatch
Company. New England Express Com
pany, New York and Boston Dispatch
Express Company, Northern Express
Company Pacific Express Company.
Southern Express Company. United
States Express Company. Wells Fargo
& Company. Westcott Express Com
pany and the Western Express COM
pany.