Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-07-15
&c CUTS 0||l|llD
N EXPRESS Rates
rcont,nusd From Pa. IL
poubl. Collections. EIirir. ..d. !

Double CobjOetiono eItmsneSSos
It u found that the large number
Of double collections Of express charxes
arises out Of the fact that package
which has been prepaid does not pear
sufficient evidence Of this fact. AG-
cordingly the report presents q set OF
labels and way bills In different col
ors which the carriers are required to
. use, and in the event that the package
does not bear any label the shipment
10 to be delivered to the consixnee
without collections Of any charges. the
carrier bearing the burden OF discoV-
erins where the mistake lies.
Changes Effective At Once.
BY the terms Of the commissions
order the changes In the regulations.
methods and pEActices Of the express
Companies; the reclaaaif ication Of ex-
x press matter; the changes IN the bill
ing 81 packages: and other administra-
tive reforms are required to put into
effect practically Immediately The
rates proposed, however. will not be-
come effective before some time next
autumn. The commission has fixed
oct. 3 as the date for the beginning
of q hearing Of the representatives OF
express comp and shippers az to
why the rates prescribed by the COM
mission should not go into. effect
On every question except that OF
rates. g substantial agreement has been
reached between the cornntssion and
the companies The latter express
their willingness to conform their bust
ness operations to any requirements
the commission might make; but they
expressed anxiety, concerning any Sc
sious reduction Of their rates last 1t
might seriov4ly affect their revenues.
Attack Graduated Charges.
Commissioners Lane makes a vigor-
Gus attack. In his report, upon the
so-cersf- ,seals OF graduated charges
by when The 1exprsss companies now
determine the rate which shall apply
to package of given weight. This
scale IL held by the commission to be
unreasonable. discriminatory and arbi-
trary. The report says:
1T is the product Of years of shrewd
manipulation, has no Justification in
the minds Of the express men them
selves, and is the richest example yet
brought to our attention Of tariff
based exclusively upon the theory that
the charge should be what the traffic
Will. bear"
STANDARD Of Rates.
With respect to the standard Of
rates. the commissioner says:
What then may De said to be the
standard Of reasonable express rate?
Our answer Ia. no one considera ton.
Thexa conclusionA however. We have
reached:
"1ssThat express rates should be
made primarily to meet the need Of
the great body OF our people and
should therefore be stated In terms
that represent the small packa ges
which the express company Is intended
70 carry rather than by the 100 pounds
az freight rates are stated
70. That Ia the fixing Of Its rates
an express company should not bs
road COMPANY IL the slstt ndertooI
TO. and did, give the same service.
-. That It Is proper for the gov
eminent to treat the express COMPANY
as freight forwarder by passenger
train. giving supplemental service at
each terminal, and intermediate care
-. That an express rate may not
be based upon the monopoly right Of
the express company to be the ex-
elusive freight forwarder over one or
more lines Of railroad.
rs. That the rate should not include
more than q reasonable Compensation
compensation falls below that which
the railroad exacts as a minimum for
the carriage OF 100 pounds of freight.
IS. That it IL unreasonable to Ak
as rapid decline in express rates for
loIg distance as is made by the rail
roads in their freight rates, express
service In this respect being more
analogous to passenger than to freight
service.
81. That in compromising the ex-
; press rate the railroad should be al
lowed q compensation for bulkcl
freight moved upon a passenger traill
as toSwhich it is relieved by contrnc:
for ali liability for loss or damage. and
Is without expense for the furnishing
Of q receipt, the billing, the bookkeep-
ing and great number of other ger
eral expenaDA.
IS. That the rate should include
return to the express company, which
will compensate 1t with profit for the
expense OF the service which II gives
there being added thereto In the for.
nation Of the total rate the proper
charge which It may Reasonably make
for the service which the railroad
gives. pr stated in the preceding para
gr0phx a
Wealth Of Detail in Report.
The report contains q wealth Of Dc,
tall concerning the finai operations q
X the express companies and their rela'
lions With not only the public but Will
the railroads. Attached to IL is .
yoluminous appendix giving an an.
alysis OF the relationship which exists
among the various express companies
showing the directors OF express com.
panies which are interested In rail-
! roads, the railroad officials who are in
terested IN express companies. the or
ganisation and capitalization OF tn
companies and thorough analysis o
their operating expenses and income.
After the hea<ing next october
supplementary order will be entered b.
the commission putting into effect IN
rates proposed - soon as 1t may n'
considered pFact'cabls to make then
effective,
cossoN GREATLY PLEASED.
Odjeves Finding 20 Advantage 9