The Glenwood post., 1911-06-24
Will FIGHT
EXPRESS RATES
PROPOSE TO PUT THESE TRANS
PORTATION COMPANIES OUT
OF BUSINESS.
OPPOSE PARCELS POST
CLAIM THIS is STEP T o W A r o
FEDERAL CENTRAL
IZATlON.

Washington.-The Democratic lead
ers in the House are opposed to the
establishment of a parcels post and
propose to provide relief from the eX
tortionate rates of the express com
panies by abolishing these agencies of
transportation.
If they can have their way the rail-
roads will be forced by legislation to
convey all packages now carried by
express companies at rates which will
merce Commission.
There have been several conferences
on this subject during the last few
days, participated in by Speaker Clark.
Representative Underwood, the floor
leader; Representative Lloyd, chair
man of the subcommittee of the
House Postoffice Committee, and Rep
resentative Burleson of Texas.
The leaders are opposed to the par
GELS post because they assert that it
would be another step toward the cen
tralization of power in the hands OF
the federal government which they do
not propose to permit. To avert what
they think would be calamity they
have reached the conclusion that the
way to deal with the question of the
transportation of small packages is to
legislate the express companies out OF
existence and require the railroads to
perform the work they now do.
Before any action can be taken in
this direction the ability of the rail
roads to handle the business now
done by the express companies must
be established. A few days ago Mr..
Burleson introduced a resolution in
the House directing the Bureau OF
Corporations to investigate the com
panies and their relations with the
railroads.
Under the law creating the Bureau
OF Corporations it is forbidden to deal
with transportation agencies. Mr..
Burleson therefore will confer with the
Interstate Commerce Commission, and
as a result expects to modify his reso'
luton so that the commission will be
instructed to conduct an Investigation
In this shape it will be passed by the
House.
The investigation will be conducted
with the particular object of ascertain
ing the capitalization of the express
companies and the present market val
ue and actual consideration paid for
their stocks and bonds in money; the
value of their physical properties anc
the assessed value of the same by
cities, counties or states; the relations
of their officers with railroads; how
bonds of an express company are
owned or controlled by railroad com
panies or other express companies
the causes of the excessive transpOrta
tion rates charged for express; wheth
er the companies are using thei
funds to oppose the establishment of ;
parcels post, and finally whether an,
agreements exist between the express
companies or between the companie
and the railroads in restraint of trade
Mr.. Burleson said that express com
panies constitute form of graft upol
the American people. When the
were organized it was for the purpos
of enabling the officers of the raj
roads to "get something on the side.
The Texas member sees no reaso
for the existence Of express con
panies in view of the fact that the raj
roads are amply equipped to suppl
this service under proper govern
mental regulation.