The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-10-04
C1sanber Of Commerce Notes-Ex-
pecse Rates.

C1anber OF Commerce Notes-Ex-
psess Rates.
The following is q letter received
bv tho local Chamber OF Commerce
d reply 20 q letter from this office
ccmplaiuing Of local expreSs rates:
G washington. Sept. 20. 1911.
NJ. A. v. smell. Secretary. Chamber
Of conrnsscs. Sumter. g. c.
Dear sir:--The commission IN In
r<eeipt Of your letter Of the ssth
INST. In which you state that the
oumter Chamber Of Commerce 10
constantly In receipt Of complaints
from local merchants in regard to
ths rates charged BY the Southern
Empress Company.
In snclose herewith a copy OF '.he
Order Of the Commission Of June 8,
isi1, institutins general investiya-
tion into the rates, classifications.
regulations and practices Of the va
slous express companies. including
ths Southern Expires Company. The
Commission has not yet definitely
hxed dates for hearings In this pro-
ceedins. AZ soon as this is done
you will be duly advised.
You request q general statement Of
empress rates to Sumter. 8 c.. and
other cities In the State Of South
Carolina from the same points Of
origin. The terms upon which tho
Commission will compile statements
Of rates are set forth In the enclosed
copy Of Special Order No. I. Of Feb.
ruary a.1s0s. II you desire to have
. ststeent compiled. you should name
certain representative points
The Commission. Of course. 10 al
ways glad to verify the correctness
OF rates charged on actual shipments.
and II at any time. you are OF opin-
Son thai excessive charges have been
collected on express shipments and
you vii forward the express receipt
OF q statement describing the ship
mont. irving date. points Of origin
and destination. commodity. and rates
charged. prompt examination will
be made OF tariffs on file In this Of
Gee.
Replying TO your inquiry as TO
whether express companies are re-
euired TO furnish general rate infor-
nation on demand. the only provis-
lon OF the Act 10 regulate commerce
requiring carriers TO furnish rate in
formation Is contained In the last two
paragraphs OF section Of the Act.
copy Of which is enclosed. also
snciose copy OF order OF the Conn
mission OF January s. 1909. In the
matter OF modification Of require
ments OF Section Of the Act with
regard to posting OF tariffs by ex-
press companies.
Yours truly.
JUDsoN c. CLEMENTS.
Chairman.
There have been several complaints
Med at the Chamber Of Commerce
against excessive rates charged by
the Southern Exprss Company. The
cate Is now mp To our local shippers
and merchants. We should be glad
to receive complaints In writing. stat
Ing the rates complained OF and II,
upon investigation. II is found that
sumter has n good case the subject
viii he taken up with the Interstate
Commerce Commission directly. The
Commission has tho power 10 order
an investigation upon It's own .nitia.
tive and will do so. provided the facts
warrant such an Investigation.
'rhe merchants of the city are
warned 10 closely examine all ex-
press charges as IN many case,
these charges are In excess OF the
established rates and the merchant Is
entitled TO n refund. The express
company IN required upon request to
give the true rate.