The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-06-15
EXPRESS COMPANIES MAY
BE OWNED BY THE NATION
And Operated in Connection.
with the Postal System
of Country.
ILEWlS's BILL IS UP
Before the House Committee
on Postofites and
Postroads.

hASInl4NGIOANs JUNE ne
subcommittee on postofice and
postroads met today and took up
for consideration the Lewis bill.
which provides for condemning and
purchasing the express companies
and adding them to the postal sys-
tenn, and establishing complete
system for the quick transport OF
packages and the eatable products
of the farm and truck gardens, etc.
At their last conference in Washing
ton the representatives of the busl-
ness men of the country and of the
tanners oranges asked Congress to
establish such SYSTEM and repre-
sentatives of these interests were
present at the hearing before the
committee today
There are two main reasons why
the express companies must be- adj
led to the postal system" said Mr..
Lewis in his argument. First, the
express company service does not
reach beyond the railways to the
country or the farmers, which the
postoffice does, through the rural
free delivery, which Is waiting with
empty wagons TO receive the express
packages and take. them to the
country stores to the farmers, and
carry back 70 the towns and the cit
les the produce of the farms and
truck gardens for the people to eat,
at living prices. Second. the con-
tracts of the express companies
with railways give them an average
Transportation rate of three quar-
tiers of a cent a pound; and with
this rate the express charges by
post would be reduced from twps
thirds to one-haif on parcels rang
ng from Ave pounds to fifty pounds.
and about twenty-eight per cent on
heavier weights, as consequences
Icf the coordination of the express
company plants with the postoflce
and rural delivery, and the elimina-
ton of the express company profits.
which are averaging over fifty per
cent on the investment.
THE express companies are pos
tive hindrances and obstacles 70
the business of the country. The
average charge for carrying a ton
Of express in Argentina Is 1851.
and for the countries of Europe
Sap, while the average express
company charge in the United
States is s3l.2O. They charge i've
times as much to carry a. ton OF
express as ton of freight in other
countries. Here the express. COM
panies charge 16 times as much.
OF course. these charges simply pro-
hibit hah or more of the trafic
in the United States. Our average
is less than 100 pounds per capita,
while that OF other countries is
over 200 pounds per capita, al
though we have far greater demand
for quick transport on account Ut
our Longer distances and more ex-
tensive business"
I've cannot have an efficient par
cells post. Tho government cannot
conduct it on mail railway trans
portation rates, at oyer four cents
pound, connection with the
express companies paying but three
fourths OF cent pound. excluding
the weight of equipment In bota
cases; which enables the express
corporations TO pay over fifty per
cent in profits to themselves, al
though rendering no service what
ever to the farmers end to points
off the railways"
Mr.. Lewis has worked 1at a sys-
TEN of zones" based on scientific
methods from which a ive pound
package. Cor Nuisance, can be sent
1856 miles for eleven censt, while
the express companies now charge
twenty-five cents and more for like
distances; from Calias, Maine. to
\ San Francisco, will cost thirty cents
| 'or five rounds, and S2.42 for fifty
pounds, as against the express COM
pany charges of IS cents and $3.50.
| With the rural free delivery IN
art of the express system, an agri-
S0ltural parcels post will market
The farmers produce and save their
lie time and labor OF marketing
aheir truck. Rates even lower than
hoes quoted are promised, by hav-
ng the rural and city carriers as
semble the small consignmeuts OF
he individual shippers and utilize
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