The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-20
READY
TOCOMmENCE WAR
on EXPRESS TRUST.
Rates Are to be Lowered Be-
ginning Soon After First
of New Year
PARCELS POST WILL
HELP FIGHT ALONG
! Extensive Reduction Decided
Upon by Commission But
No Formal Order Has
Been Issued


uary LIST, the government will be In
shape to wage Its night against the
express companies for lower rates,
for tho parcels post will be an efec-
tive weapon for the international
Commerce commission as 1t doubt
less will force the express companies
to meet the lower rates Of the par
cells post. There also promises to
be a bitter fight In congress to have
the government connscate the prop
| crty Of the express companies and
operate Ii In conjunction with the
postoff1ce department.
The Interstate Commerce commits
sion. moreover, which recently re-
dueed the rates of express companies,
has been called into consultation by
tho commission making the plans to
| put the parcels post into operation,
on the matter of rates, and il il rea-
sonabla to suppose that IL the ex-
press companies do not accept the
reductions made the Interstate Com
! merce commission will endeavor to
have the parcels post rates so ad-
| justed ~ to punish them through thu
! medium OF low rates.
Before the parcels post legislation
| was passed BY congress, the Inter
| state Commerce commission, several
months ago, concluded It's long and
| thorough investigation Of the express
| business Of the United States. Its re-
/ port. prepared chiefly by Commits
| sioner Lane. was given wide publ
city and was vigorous assault ,n
| the express companies. II found
their capitalization excessive, service
bad, business methods iffdefesfbie,
rates altogether too high and dis
| cr,minatory, and, In general. indicat-
| ed ali around dissatisfaction with the
| express companies.
| il was decided In the report that
An enTenAYye reduction IN express
! rates should be made. but no formal
order was issued to that effect This
order was delayed until the express
4 companies could be given q hearing
on the question. This hearing was
| held recently by the commission when
| attorneys for the express companies
argued against the reduction in the
rates, but II Is not expected than
these arguments will have much
| weight with the commission, which
has spent months in Its careful in,
| vestigation Of the question. Ccnsc-
! ouently, formal order is expected
soon to be issued BY the commission
| putting the suggested rates into ef'
| feet.
The matter Of chief interest nov
| u whether the express companies
| will make . fight when the formal
! order is issued and carry the case
| TO the commerce court and In general
| make themselves troublesome. II
| they adopt the program OF nghtfna
| then the war win be on. The COM
| mission In IN no frame Of mind to
| be thrilled with in this subject II Il
| intimated, and 10 deter mined to ZEE
the hght to the END before gtvins
| way on It's position.
+ When the commission made iti
/ report suggesting the reduction oil
| the express rates. 1t did not have
| the weapons to night 1t now has. Then
there was no legislation creating the
parcels post, but ~ matters stand
| at this time, the commission 10 in q
| MES treat with eminent respect. be-
! cause the parcels post law gives Il
| the commission an important par
| In determining tho rates to be adopt
| ed for the parcels post, which car
be made the big weapon of assault
| on the express companies.
1 That the express companies viii
/ content themselves with the forrna
| protest fled against the rates at thu
| recent hearing. IN the belief Of thu
/ members of the commission. The!
| base this belief on the presumption
| that the railroads will not take ;
| hand and intervene In behalf Of thu
| express companies. OF course. Il thu
| NAMES will have to make the fight
| as most OF the express revenue zoe
| to the railroads for transportation.
But at the interstAte commerce
commission ofIices the general I'm
| preston Is that the express com
/ paniss cannot AFFORD to tight. Thsi
| very existence, IL IL declared, vii
| be at stake IL they refuse to &C
uuiesce in the stashing OF the rate
that will be loNeereA-
In this connection the sentiment Il
the house OF Representatives p point
ed out. During the last session
was shown that the house 10 strongly
in favor Of the Lewis plan Of parcel
Axpresa. which would lnvolve tho gov
ernment's taking over hf the ea
press business entirely. operating
| a. part OF the p&rcels functions o
the postofYice department, and en-
forcing complete government mo
| nopoiy in the express business. Thia
/ Of course, would drive the expires
! composites out o. business entirely.
Congress then compromised on tn
! milder parcels post plan ~ It va
| written into the postal appropriate
| bill. but It would not require mucl
effort. 1t Is declared here. to induc
the house. at least, to pass measur
business. That would mean a res
fght for which. Il 10 said. tho ex
press companies at this time have n
danfra 3sE