The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-07-19
Oht Eattttkr.
MOUNT VERNON, OHIO
FRANK HARPER, Editor
0Oxan1.~ oe1kly
o MONUMENT SQUARE
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Entered at the NJ. Vernon. o., post
sDcs - second class mail matter.
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EXPRESS
Rates Cut IS Per Celt By
Interstate Boafd
Many Changes Are Ordered
10 The Tariff
And Methods Of The Common
Carriers
And Methods Of The Common
Carriers

Washington, July 18--Reductions In
express rates averaging about Is per
cent reforms In regulations and prac-
tises and comprehensive changes In
the methods OF operation. are pre-
scribed in report by the Interstate
commerce commission of its investi-
cation into the business OF the 13
great express companies of the United
States.
The report finds that while these
companies are separate legal entities.
ut is Of interest to regard this fact
that by stock ownership and otherwise
they are so interlaced. intertwined and
interlocked that IL Is with difficulty
we can trace any one Of the greater
companies as either wholly independ.
ent In It's management or the agency
, OF single railroad system. So that
While these companies operate separ-
atsly and compete with each other for
while these companies operate separ.
said to be almost a family AFFAIR eI.,
And while many names may be used
to designate these companies, II Is
within the fact to say that aside from
the operations Of the minor and dis
tinctively railroad express compan-
les, the express business OF the United
States is managed by not more than
three groups Of interests"
The inquiry was the most extensive
and In wealth OF detail probably the
most thorough ever prosecuted by the
commission. II was conducted and
the report was prepared by C0mmis
sioner Franklin X. Lane. II involved
an examination and comparison OF
practically more than 100000, 900 ex
press rates.
Commissioner Lane Ia OF the opin
ion that the conclusions reached con
stitute long step towards the solu
tiOn of that problem OF the American
householder, the cost of living.
The greatest reduction of rates pro
posed Is on small packages-that Is
on parcels which weigh less than 1.
pounds. Rates on packages OF more
than ~ pounds were found to be more
reasonable than those on smaller par
GELS. Briefly stated, the new rates
may be said to be based upon maxi
mum charge OF ~ cents for one
pound package. This charge increases
In ratio TO the increase OF weight aud
distance, at rates varying from $40 oi
cent a pound to about ~ cents q
pound. Twelve cents a pound, ac
cording to the conclusions OF the com
mission, Is approximately the highest
: rate per pound for the greatest dis
tance possible for parcel to be car
ried wholly within the United States
exclusive OF Alaska.
Packages weighing two pounds. f0l
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 81
cents. A tbree.pound package win cost
27 cents for 1000 miles and 81 cents
for 1000 miles. the existing rates being
respectively each 45 cents. A 10
pound package may be transported
1000 miles for ~ cents, and 1000 miles
for n cents. as against the existing
rates OF 75 cents and $i.25 respective
.ly. The cost OF transporting a 2l
pound package 1000 miles win be 20
cents, against the present rate OF Siio
and for 1000 miles $i.6+. against the
present rate OF $225.
Commissioner Lane believes that the
method adopted for the computation
sand construction of express rates will
result In entirely reasonable charges
Through the decision announced. ex
press rates are made that are expect
ed 10 open an avenue Of trade between
the producer OF food commodities aud
the consumer by distributing with re
gard 10 the weight and dlstance tho
burden OF the cost OF transportation