Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-07-01
INTERSTATE TO
INVESTIGATE ALL
EXPRESS COS.
Anticipating Grill, Companies
Unexpectedly File Reduced
Tariff Rates.

WASHINGTON, D. c., July La
sweeping investigation of all of the ex-
press companies in the United States
affected by the interstate
laws today was ordered by the Inter
state Commerce Commission on its own
motion.
Evidently in anticipation Of this &C
ton by the commission practically all
of the express companies, with the ex-
ception of the Long Island, late yes
terday afternoon filed new tariffs.
which are believed to be material re-
auctions in rates. It was said today
that it would require several months
to eompar these rates with those now
in existence.
It also was announced that the filing
Of the new rates would not affect the
proposed Investigation in any way.
This investigation will be one of the
widest in scope ever undertaken by the
commission, and not only will be con-
Quoted as to rates, but will include the
practises, and revenues II
the various companies.
The new rates were dumped in
on the commission only a short
time before the closing hour, but
a hasty checking showed that the tar
ifs call for large reductions in express
rates beginning on August l.
VIII BE II Per Cent. Reduction.
In the hurried comparison that has
been made between the new and the
old rates it appears, for one thing, that
in the case of long haul of express
packages to non-competitive points the
general reductions amount to about
seventeen per cent. Officials of the COM
mission say that the new rates will
bring substantial reduction on 80 per
cent. of the traffic handled by the six
teen or seventeen express companies
of the country.
THE following instance illustrating the
change is cited; Under the system now.
prevailing in a haul between certain
points where the rate is $1.25 per 100
pounds and two companies are partici-
pating, each company will charge fifty
cents for a package of ten pounds,
with proportionate graduating charges
from one up to 100 pounds. Under the
new system, as filed yesterday, seven
ty-five cents will take a package
through to its destination.
The question of establishing a parcels
post has come up again, and is being
actively promoted before the postofice
committee of the House. In addition
to the agitation for parcels post, Demo.
Gratis have been stirring up the subject
of an investigation of the express COM
panies. All of these activities may
have had an influence upon the decision
of the companies in regard to the new
tariff charges.
Many Had Complained.
More thar a yea ago a number of
commercial organizations of the coun-
try petitioned the commission for a
general investigation INTO the rates
and methods of the express companies.
The commission has been considering
this in connection with various cases
brought against individual companies.
In it's order today the commission
says that complaints have been made
against the express companies that
their rates, classiications, ETC., are in
violation of the interstate commerce
act.
The inquiry is ordered ito determine
whether such rates, classifcations, reg
ulatfons or practises, or any OF them
are unjust or unreasonable, or unjust
ly discriminatory, or unduly preferenA
tial or p~rejrdicial, or otherwise in vio-
lation of any of the provisions of said
act, and to determine the manner n
method in which the business of said
express companies n each of them Is
conducted The following carriers
are named as parties defendant in the
proceeding:
Companies to BE Examined.
Adams Express Company. American
Express Company, Borough Express
Company, Boston and Worcester Dis
patch, Canadian Express Company,
Canadian Northern Express Company,
Dart & Co.'s Express, Davenport &
Mason's Express, Dodd G. Childs's Elk
press Company, Dunlap's Express
Company, Earl & Brew's Express.
Globe Express Company, Great North
ern Express Company, Knickerbocker
Express Company, Manhattan Delivery
Company, Morris European and Ameri-
can Express Company, National Elk
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 Compans Wells, Fargo
& Co., Westcott Express Company,
Western Express Company. land also
the natural persons above named and
each of them who are engaged in such
express business under the above
names"
The proposed tariffs 1hich are to be-
come effective on August l VIII be IN
cluded in the inquiry instituted TO-DAY
by the commission. Because OF n
fact that they are reductions no eHort
probably will be made to suspend the
proposed combination rates. but II the
inquiry should show that the educ
t,ons are not, in the opinion of the
commission, sufficient to meet the re-
quirements of express they
undoubtedly will be further reduced.
KING dREETS WANAMAKER.