Philip weekly review and Bad River news. [volume] (Philip, Stanley County, S.D.) 1912-1918, 1912-10-17
EXPRESS COMPANIES ARE MT
Autocrats Of the Express Com
panies Getting Their" Are
| In Real Trouble

century influences have been at
work to secure reform in the
manner Of transportation Of small
packages in the United States.
The parcel post has been one of
the remedies most popularity sup
ported.
While many men have been
working with the purpose of hav-
ing the postoffice system care for
the work of handling small pack
! ages, another class of interests
have been fighting for cheaper
| express rates under the present
plan Of conducting the transporta
tion business by these same ex
press companies.
There has, in short, been a gene
raj recognition OF the fact that
something is wrong in the express
companies methods of charges,
and this conviction having becom
general throughout the country,
the remaining difference of op-
iniOn has been as to the advisa-
klity Of methods whereby the
evil could be reached.
During the time the advocates
i Of the parcel post have been max
ing sentiment, and while the com
mercial organizations every
where have been active in pre-
pairing an indictment against the
express companies, the companies
themselves have apparently been
"only slightly interested. The
cool, calculated and continued ar
rOgance Of the heads of the ex-
press companies has no parallel il
the business affairs of the coun-
try Almost for the first time in
twenty-five years they have at
last been brought to their knees,
and are now squealing distress
ingly. But in the troubled hours
only the railroad companies, who
have shared in the spoils, are
lending aid and sympathy
Undoubtedly the greatest fac
tor for reform in the postal and
express carriage business in this
country, is James l.. Cowles, the
white haired veteran who for
J thirty years has kept the issues
between the people and the ex-
press companies alive. He is
the father Of the parcel post move
ment in America, but is radically
opposed to carrying on the b,lsi-
ness under the zone system as
provided in the recent legislation.
| Mr.. Cowles now comes forward
with specific statements in refer
ence to the express companies. In
his speech before the Interstate
Commerce Commission this week,
he argued for a flat rate regard
less of the distance hauled, the
same as exists in the postal sys-
tenn. He said the American Ex-
press company at present carries
parcels from Europe up to eleven
pounds weight at flat rate of
twentyseven cents to any part Of
the United States He believed
that such service could be given
to the people Of this country at
profit to the carriers, provided
their business was managed eff
GENTLY. lone trouble is that
there is no efficiency in the car
service he insisted. The Rail
way Age has pointed out that
the average return from q car is
about $3.50 day, and that it's
average daily mileage is only six
teen miles. Why, the modern
freight cars do not earn as much
as the old fashioned stage coach
earned = half century ago.
Tho express companies declare
that the new rates ordered by tn,
lnterstate Commerce Commission
will capse them loss of ZIG, 600,
OOO xsarly. They declare this
wouA practically ruin them.
Howe0er, it il quite certain that