The Washington herald., 1911-05-04
RADICAL ACTION
PLANNED AGAINST
EXPRESS RATES
Fourteenth Street Merchants
Incensed at Unfairness.

Merchants in Fourteenth street
above Florida avenue will to-day be
asked to form a union to fight ex-
ira charges on merchandise deliv-
cred to them by express companies
of Washington.
SEEKS COOPERATION.
The movement has been inaugurated
by Warren A. Humphreys, q hardware
dealer, at 2916 Fourteenth street. He
said last night that he will personally
approach every business firm Of any con-
sequence and ask their cooperation In
| determined effort to compel the COM
| mon carriers to either reduce their rates
outright or set some basis Of charges
| which will be satisfactory to citizens of
that section.
He claims that almost any price Is now
asked for the delivery of packages above
Florida avenue, there being no basis by
which person can be sure whether he
is being done" or not.
| THE first STEP" said Mr. Humphreys.
| will be to get the consent Of the mer-
| chants themselves for concerted action,
| after which the Commissioners will be
asked to extend the present boundary.
claimed by the express companies to be
| Florida avenue in which they deliver
goods for uniform price, farther north.
possibly to the end Of the car line. Fail
ing In this, It is our plan to form a
| union and provide for a system Of dray-
age among ourselves, and be Independent
| Of the express people"
Mr.. Humphreys claims that a great
| majority Of the people Of the neighbor-
| hood are thoroughly incensed at the hap
| hazard way Of charging in vogue, and
| that some radical action Is necessary. He
further alleges the companies impose al
most any price, without regard for stand
| ards or systems
| Mr.. Humphreys expects that not less
than fifty merchants will join hands and
| force a rate commensurate with the
| charges to the downtown section.
Suburban Citizens Aroused.
| Citizens OF the suburbs. aroused by the
entire situation. and claiming It is pre-
| rosterous and unfair they should b,
forced to pay whatever the express peopl,
desire to charge without regard to tn,
| growth or expansion Of the phantom
| CITY VIII lne-up lOr the nRh
| through the various citizens associa
tions.
Saturday night, at the monthly meetint
Of the Federation of Citizens Associa
tions at the Chamber Of Commerce VIII
lam Mex. Clayton. the president. will in
troduce a resolution asking that a com
mittee be appointed to approach the ex
press companies in an effort to get ade
quate concessions. The federation is no
dis! sed to wait until Congress passes O
rejects the public utilities bi1l, which pro
vides for the case in strong terms. bu
will commence work Immediately to re
lieve the citizens Of what is claimed Z
be an imposition. without necessity o
fairness
"All we want is a square and fair deal,
said Mr.. Clayton Yesterday.
We do not expect the express com
haul our goods for nothing, but we do ex
case OF the nearby sections. like Pet
for the same prices charged within tn
thickly settled as many portions of tn
city proper, and we believe the citizen
should receive more consideration thai
they get from the common carriers"
]. w. Dyer, president Of the Takom
Citizens Association. yesterday said tn
time was ripe for a radical change in tn
express and telegraph charges.
Cheaper on Train.
1T is so expensive to get a packag
delivered to and in the vicinity Of Tia