Omaha daily bee., 1911-07-02
ATTEMPT MADE TO FoREsTAIL IT
Corporations File New and Lower
Tariffs Late Friday Afternoon.
TO BE WIDE IN SCOPE
Effects of Rates, Classifications and
Regulations to Be Examined.
LEaALITY ro BIZ DETERMINED
TO he Made 60 Find IL Any
Are Unjust, DISCRIMINATORY or
Undu1y Preferential or
Otherwise Unlawful.

WASHINGTON, July LA sweeping in
vestigation OF all Of the express COM
panies In the United States affected by
the interstate commerce laws today was
ordered by the Interstate Commerce com
mission.
Evidently in anticipation OF this action by
the commission. practically all the express
companies with the exception OF the Long
Island, late yesterday afternoon filed new
tariffs which are believed 20 be material
reductions In rates. II was said today that
It would require several months to com
pare these rates with those now in exist
epce.
II was announced. however that the
filing Of the new rates would not affect
the proposed investigation in any way.
This investigation will be one of the wild
est In scope ever undertaken By the COM
mission and not only will be conducted as
to rates, but will include the practices,
accounts and revenues OF the various COM
panies.
More than q year ago a number of the
leading commercial organizations OF the
country petitioned the commission for an
investigation into the rates and methods
OF the express companies. and in its order
today the commission saws that the inquiry
is ordered ito determine whether such
rates. classificsttions. regulations. or prac-
tices. or any of them, are unjust OF un-
reasonable or uniustly discriminatory. OF
unduly preferential or prejudicial or 9TH
erwise In violation OF the said act. and tc
determine the manner and method in which
the business Of said express companies and
each OF them is conducted"
List of Defendants.
The following carriers are named as par
ties defendant in the proceedings:
Adams American, Borough. Canadian
Is Canadian Northern. Davenport & Masons
Dodd & Clids. Dunlaps, Earl 4 Prews
Globe Great Northern. Morris, European
& American. National New England, New
York G. Boston Despatch, Northern, Pa
clfic. Southern, United States. Wells-Fargo
Nestcott and Western Express companies
the Worcester Despatch. Dar & Co, Man
haitian Delivery company, and the Nev
England Despatch company. and also th'
natural persons above named and eacl
of them who are engaged In such express
business under the above nuness, y J.
The reductions in express rates filed yes
terday are said 10 be important only s,
far as they effect what are known technic
ally as combination rates that Is. instance
in which shipments are made by two com
panies 20 a final destination.
The proposed tariffs reduces the con.
bined rate fifteen per cent The propose
tariffs which are to become effective ol
august I. viii be included in the fnquir
institutcd today by the commission. /
the Inquiry should show that the reduc
tions are not, In their opinion, sufficien
20 meet the requirements OF express com
merce. they undoubtedly win be furthe
reduced.
Call for Books and Records.
OKLAHOMA CITY. Okl. July 1-sdwar
Thomas FTatt, son OF the late United State
senator from New York and an execu
tive of the United States Express com
pany was ordered today by mandate O
the state board of equalization to appea
here on July 10. with books and record
Of the company to testify concerning stock
and bonds and other financial matter
which the state board is considering In cor
nection with the assessment OF take
against the company.
similar orders were made applying |
Vice President and Traffic Manager Brad
ley OF the American Express compan!
whose office is In New York to Rlchar
Burr general auditor OF the weils-Farg
company and such other officials of III
Wells Fargo and Pacific companies VIII
may be able TO enllghten the state boar
with regard TO recently made railroad cor
tracts whereby tho Wells-Fargo is to SUI
plarf the Pacific upon certain midd
vestefn trunk lines