The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-07-03
PRESSC0.PROBE.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COM.
MISSION REQUESTS REPORTS
FROM ALL COMPANIES.
Yjll Determine If Rates and Methods
OF Business Violates Antitrust
Schedule Filed.

Washington. July "A sweeping
investigation Of all Of the express
companies in the United States, af
fected by the interstate commerce
laws was ordered yesterday by the
Interstate Commerce Commission on
its own motion.
Evidently in anticipation of this ac-
ton by the commission, practically
all of the express companies, with
the exception of the Long Island, late
yesterday afternoon filed new tariffs
which are believed to be material re-
auctions in rates. 1t was said to-day
that it would require several months
to compare these rates with those
now in existence. 1t was announced,
however, 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 conducted as to rates, but will
include the practices, accounts and
revenues Of the various companies.
Inquiry to Be Searching.
More than a year ago number of
me leading commercial organizations
Of the country petitioned the com
mission for q general investigation
into the rates and methods of the ex-
1ress companies, and in its order to-
day the commission says that the in
quiry is ordered ito determine
whether such rateE, classifications,
regulations or practices or any Of
them, are unjest or unreasonable or
Injustly discriminatory or undely
Preferential or prejujdicial, or other
wise In violation of the provisions OF
aid act, and 10 determine the manner
md method in which the business Of
'aid express companies and each of
them is conducted"
The following carriers are named
IS parties defendant in the proceed.
ngs:
Adams, American, Borough, Cana
ian, Canadian Northern. Davenport
nd Mason's Dodd and Childs', Dun.
APIS Earl and Prews'. Globe, Great
Northern. Morris, European and
american, National. New England,
New York and Boston Despatch,
'orthern Pacific, Southern, United
states, Wells-Fargo, Westcott and
Western Express companies; the
Worcester Despatch, Dart C Co.,
Manhattan Delivery Company and
ne New England Despatch Company,
and also the natural persons above
famed and each of them who is en-
ragged in such express business un-
Ter the above names"
Combination Rates Cut.
The reductions in express rates.
lied yesterday are said to be impor.
ant only so far as they affect what
IRE known technically as combination
rates-that is, instances in which
shipments are made by two COM
panies 10 a final destination.
Express company rates long nave
been figured on graduated scale of
weights based upon 100 pounds. The
rate on a 100-pound package is 81, for
instance, by the Adams Express Com
pany to junction point with the
United States Express Company, and
IL from that junction point to the
shipments destination; the combined
rate would be 81. By the terms of
the proposed tariffs the combined
rate would be $1.60--a reduction of
IL per cent
-. Straight Rates Remain Same.
BY reason of varying distances and
varying weights of shipments, the
percentage of the reduction also
varies between points of origin and
points of destination, but the average
reduction on combinations of gradu-
ated rates is approximately II per
cent. So far the examination of the
new tariffs filed with the commission
discloses no reductions in straight
rates by single companies, except in
instances where manifest injustice
apparently heretofore has been done.
The proposed tariffs, which are to
become effective on August /, will be
included in the inquiry instituted to-
day by the commission. If the in
quiry should snow that the reductions
are not, in the opinion of the commits
sion, sufficient to meet the require
ments of express commerce, they I'M
doubtedly will be further reduced.
Power Of Praise.