Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-07-04
EXPRESSbUS|NESS
TO Be PR0BED
COMMERCE COMMISSION ORDERS
INVESTIGATION OF ALL COM.
PANIES IN COUNTRY.
MERCHANTS DEMAND INQuIR'
Rates, Profits, Financial Methods and
Regulations Of Concerns
Under Fire Of
tho

washington, July "a sweeping III
vestigation of all of the express com.
panies in the United States, affected
by the interstate commerce laws, was
ordered by the interstate commerce
commission on it's 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 filed new tariffs which are be-
lieved to be material reductions In
rates. 1t was said today that it would
require several months to compare
these rates with those now in exist
ence.
It also was announced that the filing
Of the new rates would not affect the
proposed investigation. This investiga'
ton will be one of the widest in scope
ever undertaken by the commission
and not only will be conducted as to
rates, but will include the practices,
accounts and revenue of the various
companies.
Business Men Ask Probe.
More than a year ago number OF
the leading commercial organizations
of the country petitioned the commits
sion for q general investigation into
the rates and methods of the express
companies and in its order today the
commission says that the inquiry Ia
ordered ITO determine whether such
rates, classifications, regulations, or
practices are unjust, unreasonable, dis
criminatory, preferential or preiudicia>
or otherwise In violation Of the provi'
sions Of said act and to determine the
manner and methods in which the
business of the express companies is
conducted"
The following carriers are named az
parties defendant in the proceeding:
Adams Express company, American
Express company, Brough Express
company, Boston and Worcester Des'
patch, Canadian Express company
Canadian Northern Express company
Dart and Company's Express, Daven'
port and Mason's Express, Dodd
and Child's Express company, Dunlap'i
Express company, Earl and Prews Elk
press, Globe Express company. Great
Northern Express company, knicker
booker Express company, Manhattan
Delivery company, Morris European
and American Express company, Ma
tional Express company, New England
Despatch company, New England Elk
press company, New York and Boston
Despatch Express company, Northern
Express company, Pacific Express
company, Southern Express company
United States Express company, Wells
Fargo & Co., Westcott company, West
ern Express company and "also the
natural persons above-named and each
of them who are engaged in such ex'
press business under the above
names"
Effect o. Reductions.
The reductions in express rates filed
yesterday are said to be important only
so far as they affect what are known
technically as combination rates-that
is, instances in which shipments are
made by two companies to final des-
tination. Express combination rates
long have been figured on a graduated
scale of weights based upon 100
pounds. II the rate on a 100-pound
package is 81, for instance, by the
Adams Express company to junction
point with the United States Express
company and 81 from that junction
point to the shipments destination the
combined rate would be So. By the
terms of the proposed tariffs the COM
bined rate would be $1.60-a reduction
of Is per cent
BY reason Of varying distances and
varying weights of shipment the per-
centage OF the reduction also varies
between points of origin and points Of
destination. but the average reduction
on combinations of graduated rates is
approximately II per cent. So far the
examination of the new tariffs dis
closes no reductions in straight rates
by single companies except in in
stances where manifest injustice ap-
parently heretofore has been done.
The proposed tariffs, which are to
become effective Aug. /. will be in