The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-07-15
DRASTIC REFORMS
IN REGULATION
New Method Of D .Ssr1nining
the Points of Origl..' Asst
Destination. ~
REDUCTIONS APPLY LARGELY
TO SMALLER CLASS PACKAGE
Reduction will Serve to Permit Cheap.
er Shipments of Food Products from
the Farm to the Ultimate Consum.
e In the City.

er Shipments OF Food Products from
the Farm to the Ultimate Consum.
e In the City.
Washington. July 15.-Sweeping re-
ducttons in express rates averaging,
in general, approximately fifteen per
cent; drastic reforms in regulations
and practices; and comprehensive
changes in the methods of operation,
are prescribed in report made pub
lie today by the interstate commerce
commission Of its investigation into
the the business Of the thirteen great
express companies of the United
States.
Dealing with the identity Of interest
between the various companies, the
report finds that while these COM
is of interest to regard this fact that
by stock ownership and otherwise
they are SO interlaced, intertwined.
and interlocked that it is with difficult
ty we can trace any one of the greater
companies as either wholly independ-
ent In its management or the agency
of single railroad system. So that
arately and compete with each other
for traffic. the express business may
be said to be almost family affair.
An interesting genealogical tree. in
fact. might be drawn showing COM
mon ancestry in all of the larger COM
panies And while many names may
be used to designate these companies.
from the operations of the minor and
distnctively railroad express COM
panies, 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 infinite detail. prob
ably the most thorough. ever prose-
euted BY the commission: It was con,
Quoted ana the report was prepared
by Commissioner Franklin K. Lane.
It has been In progress for nearly
three years. The report itself makes
600 printed pages. It involved an ex-
animation and comparison Of practi-
cally more than 600,000.000 express
rates in effect in this country. in ad-
Waybtlls and an investigation, through
the books of the companies. Of their
financial operations and business
methods.
Commissioner Lane is of opinion
that the conclusions reached consti-
tute long step towards the solution
of that gravest problem Of the Amer
ican householder. the high cost Of liv-
ing.
The greatest reduction Of rates pro-
posed is on small packages-that is on
parcels which weigh less than twelve
pounds. Rates on packages Of more
than twelve pounds. were found to be
more reasonable than those on small
er parcels.
Brieay stated the new rates may be
said to be based upon a minimum
charge Of 81 cents for q one-pound
package. This charge increases in
ratio to the increase Of weight and dis
tance, at rates varying from three
tenths Of cent a pound to about IL
cents q pound. Twelve cents pound.
according to the conclusions Of the
commission. is approximately the
highest rate per pound for the great
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
cost 81 cents for 1000 miles and 81
cents for 1000 miles. the existing rates
being, respectively, each IS cents. A
ten-pound package may be transport
ed 1000 miles for 42 cents and 1000
miles for II cents. as against the ex-
listing rates Of 76 cents and $1.26, re-
epectively. The cost Of transporting q
will be 76 cents, against the present
rate of 31.10. and for 1000 miles.
$1.64 against the present rate Of
Commissioner Lane believes that
the method adopted for the computa-
tion and construction Of express rates
is scientific and will result in the ex-
Through the decision announced today
express rates are made that are ex-
pected to open an avenue Of trade be.
Atween the producer Of food commodi.
ties and the consumer by distributing
equitably to the weight and distance
the burden Of the cost Of transporta-
ton. At present that burden is borne
BY Commissioner Lanes decision, tho
small package will bear no greater
share. per pound, Of the cost Of trans-
portation than the heavy package. ana
every package Weighing less than 100
pounds will bear the same amount OF
terminal expense.
Lacks Uniformity.
The charges Of the express COM
panies. now In many instances, are the
same Ior uIty POUNDS a. Tor 100
pounds. between the same poiats; and
in some instances they are az much
for thirty pounds az for 100 pounds,
Under such a system tho householder
is compelled TO pay as much for q
ten-pound package a. . dealer would
pay for a twenty-ive-pound package.
and three or four times @ much a.
the dealer would pay for ten pounds
included in 100 pound shipment.
Commissioner Lane expresses the
belief that the system proposed will
make practicable the opening Of
direct avenues Of trade between the
farm and the city household. He,
likewise. IL of opinion that while the
reduction Of the rates ON the lighter
weight parcels will average between
twenty and thirty per cent the express
companies themselves will be the
benehciaries Of . largely increased
business In the handling Of small par.
GELS. ~.
The report shows that more than
S00.000.000 parcels are handled an
nuelly by the express companies In the
United States. The average household