The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-07-15
EXPRESS RATES TO
Be REDUCED BY
COMP AN|ES
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion Say They Must
THEY ADVOCATE IS PER CENT
Express Companies must Employ the
Shortest Routes-Report Shows
Much Unfalrness Exists

w
reductions in express rates averag-
ing in general, approximately 10 per
cent drastic reforms in regulation
and practices; and comprehensive
changes in the methods of operation.
are prescribed in a report made pub
lie today by the Interstate commerce
commission of its investigation into
the business of the Is great express
companies of the United States.
Dealing with the identity of inter
est between the various companies,
the report finds that while these
companies are separate legal entities,
lit is of interest to regard TINS iact
that by stock ownership and other
wise they are SO interlaced, inter
twined and interlocked that 1t is with
difficulty we can trace any one OF
the greater companies as either whol-
" Independent in its management or
the agency of a single railroad sys-
TEN. So that while these compan-
les operate separately and compete
with each other for traffic, the eX-
press business may be said TO De
almost family affair. An interest
ing genealogical tree, in fact, might
be drawn showing a common ances-
try in all of the larger companies.
And while many names may be used
to designate these companies. 1t is
within the fact to say that aside from
the operations of the minor and DIS
tinctively railroad express companies
the express business OF the United
States is managed by not more than
three groups of interests.
The inquiry was the most extern
sive. and in wealth of infinite detail
probably the most thorough. ever
prosecuted by the commission. 1t
was conducted and the report was
prepared by Commissioner Franklin
X. Lane. 1t has been in progress
for nearly three years. The report
itself makes 600 printed pages. 1t
involved an examination and compar-
ison of practically more than 6OO-
600 900 express rates in effect in this
country. in addition TO an examina-
ton of millions of waybills and an
investigation, through the books of
the companies of their financial OPP
erations and business methods.
Commissioner Lane is of opinion
that the conclusions reached const-
tute a long step towards the solution
of that gravest problem of the Amer
lean householder, the high cost OF
living.
The greatest reduction of rates
proposed is on small packages-that
il on parcels which weigh less than
II pounds. Rates on packages of
more than II pounds were found to
be more reasonable than those on
smaller parcels.
Briefly stated the new rates may
be said to be based upon a minimum
charge of 81 cents for a one pound
package. This charge increases in
ratio to the increase of weight and
distance. at rates varying from three
| tenths of a cent a pound to about II
cents a pound Twenve cents a
pound, according to the conclusion of
the commission, is approximately the
highest rate per pound for the great
est distance possible for a parcel TO
be carried wholly within the United
! States. exclusive of Alaska.
Packages weighing two pounds
for instance. may be shipped 1000
miles-New York city to Chicago
for "a cents; and 1000 miles-New
York city to Denver-for 81 cents,
the present rates being respectively
! for each 35 cents. A three pound
package will cost q cents for 1000
miles and 81 cents for 20O0 cents, the
existing rates being. respectively
each 40 cents. A 10 pound package
may be transported 1000 miles for a.
cents and 2000 miles for Il cents. as
against the existing rates of as cents
and s1.25, respectively. The cost OF
transporting a 25 pound package 1000
miles will be 76 cents against the
present rate of $1.10 and for 2OOC
miles, Sl.64 against the present rate
n S225