The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-02
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion Orders Investigation of
Express Companies.
MANY CARRIERS NAMED
IN THE PROCEEDINGS
Defendants Get Wind of Posi-
bility of Probe and File
New Tariffs.
BY Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, July IA sweep.
ing investigation of all the express
companies in the United States. af-
fected by tho interstate commerce laws,
was today ordered by the interstate
commerce commission.
Evidently in anticipation Of this ac-
tion by the commission, practically all
of the express companies. with the ex.
ception Of the Long Island, late yester-
day fled new tariffs, which are believed
to be material reductions in rates. IT
was said today that it would require
several months to compare these rates
with those now in existence.
Wide Scope Of Inquiry.
II was announced. however, that the
fling of the new rates would not affect
the investigation in any way. This in
vestigation will be one of the widest In
scope ever undertaken by the commits
sion and not only will be conducted as to
rates, but will include the practices, ac-
counts and revenues Of the various
companies
More than a year ago, n number of
the leading commercial organizations of
the country pctitioned the commission
for a general investigation into the
rates and methods of the express com
panies and in its order today the COM
mission says the investigation is ordered
to determine whether such rates,
classifcations, regulations or practices
or any of them are unjust or unreason-
able or unjustly discriminatory, or un'
duly preferential or prejudicial or
otherwise in violation Of the provisions
OF said act, and to determine the man
ner and method in which the business of
said express companies and each OF
them is conducted -
Defendants Named.
The following carriers are named as
parties defendant in the proceedings:
Adams. American, Borough, Cana
dian, Canadian Northern, Davenport &
Masons, Dodd & Childs, Dunlap's, Earl
&, Prews. Globe. Great Northern Nor
ris, European g. American, National,
New England New York g. Boston De
spatch. Northern, Pacific, Southern,
United States. Wells Fargo. Westcott
e. Western Express companies; the
Worcester Despatch, Dart Co, Man
haitian Delivery company and tho New
Fr gland Despatch company, "and also
the natural persons above named and
each of them who are engaged In such
express business under the above
names.'
The reduction in express rates fled
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
destination.
Combination Rates.
Express combination rates long have
been figured on a graduated scale Of
weights based upon 100 pounds. If the
rate on 10o-pound package is 81, for
instance, by the Adams Express com
pany to junction point With the
United States Express company and 81
from that junction point to the ship
ment's destination. the combined rate
| would be 50. BY the terms of the pro
| posed tariffs The combined rate would
| be s160, reduction Of Is per cent.
Ry reason Of varying distances and
| VARYING weights of shipments the per
| centage of the reduction also varies be
| tween points of origin and points OF
| destination, but the average reduction
on combination of graduated rates is
approximately II per cent. So far the
examination of the new tariffs filed
with the commission discloses no reduc-
tion in straight rates by single com
panics. except in instances where mani
fest in Justice apparently heretofore has
been done.
The proposed tariffs which are to be
come effective on August ] will be In
cIuded in the inquiry instituted. today
by the commission. If the inquiry
should show the reductions are not, 1T
the opinion of the commission. sufficient
TO meet the requirements OF express
commerce. they undoubtedly will be