New-York tribune., 1911-11-26
COMPLAINTS FROM 1900
Philadelphia Man introduces
Them at Express Hearing.
SUBMITS TABLES OF ROUTES
F. B. de Berard After Struggle
Gets ALI in Evidence-At-
tack $50 Loss Limit.

The Interstate Commerce Commission
continued its hearing yesterday In COM
plants OF overcharges by express COM
panles The witnesses called were Freder-
ick b. de Bersrd. secretary and statisti-
clan Of the Merchants Association of New
York; Mr. Ryan. statistician OF the COM
mission: NJ p. Kelly. Of the Merchants
Association Of Philadelphia: o. w Sum-
merfield. secretary OF the Philadelphia or
ganizaton, and II. c. Barlow. traffic man
ager OF the Chicago Association OF Com
merce.
After the days session ended Commis-
sioner Lane announced that the commission
would adjourn its hearing until the hrst
part Of the last week in January, when the
body will again sit in New York. Commits
sioner Lane requested the express COM
panies and shippers to submit questions
pertinent 10 the inquiry. having them ready
by December 15
Mr.. de Berard rs part OF his testimony
yesterday submitted several tables con-
cerning shipments made over railroads py
the express companies. showing the direct
routes and the routes actually used by the
express companies. Mr.. Hines, generai
counsel. objected To the admittance OF the
tables on the ground that the Interstate
Commerce Commission had no jurisdiction
In the matter.
Commissioner Lane, however, overruieo
Mr. Illness objections and admitted the
tables In evidence. The Commissioner also
cautioned counsel for the express companies
against useless argument saying that they
were only delaying the proceedings
MIR. de Berard next cited a number OF
complaints made to the Merchants Asso-
citation regarding the refund Of &C Q d.
money orders. Browning, King e. Co. OF
Providence, being one Of the complalnsnts
specified.
The witness also stated that there Were
a large number OF letters received from
merchants throughout the United states
complaining Of the $50 loss limit lie sald
In his opinion the express companies snou'n
give the shippers a receipt separate i'oiH
the one ordinarily used.
Mr.. RYAN here explained that the witness
vas trying to show the commission ,na
the express companies had used discrir'l-
nation. and cited as an instance Hrm VI
Jewellers in Maiden Lane who shipped val
uabIe articles OF iewelry to the hnoWedEs
of the express comp5nies under the y"
limit but were enabled at the same time
IN carry insurance on the outside 10 pro-
tect the articles while on their journey ~
no loss 10 them .,
NJ. p. Kelly testified that a hummer OF
complaints had come 20 him representing
over eighteen hundred merchants OF Phiia-
delphla. and that the complaints came un-
der the head OF slow delivery, lack Oh
pronpt payment OF deliveries and genera
dissatisfaction among shippers in Phiiade'-
phia.
H. c. Barlow. the next witness deciaieo
he saw no difference in the express com
pany to-day and that OF years ago re
said the Accent scale in Chicago from l"'
10 1903 showed an increase IN packages uh-
der twenty pounds and not over t"eh'S-
one pounds, and under twenty-nine pounuS
and not over thirty pounds, OF 70 per cent
and packages of fifty pounds sho"eu d"
increase OF IA per cent during those years.
Mr.. Barlow next directed the attention VI
the commission TO the very close INTERIOR
norate relations OF the express companies
and. while significant slances passed pe-
tween counsel. nothing was said for record
The witness finished his testimony with the
statement that If the ratio OF freisht ser
vice 10 express service were placed on
bs s,s Of two 10 one. then the express rates
OF the country might be prohtably ADJUST
ed on such basis.