Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-12
EXPRESS RATES ARE
TOO COMPLICATED,
SAYS JUDGE LANE
Commission Is Interested in
General Question That Has
Provoked Complaint From
Atlanta Freight Bureau

The interstate COlnmerCe
sion intends to simplify express rates
Such a complicated system Of rates
now prevails that agents themselves
often don't understand them" said
Judge Franklin X. Lane, of the COM
mission, in discussing express and rail-
road rates Thursday morning, on his
arrival TO speak Thursday night at the
annual meeting Of the Atlanta Freight
bureau.
Particularly interesting is this state
ment, in view OF the fact that the
freight bureau has petitioned the ia
terstate commission 10 reduce the ex-
press rates from New York and Other
eastern cities to Atlanta.
Judge Lane had nothing to say OF
the specific petition on behalf of At
lanta shippers, but his general state
ment shows tnat the interstate CONF
merce commission is alive TO such COM
plants against express rates as local
shippers have advanced.
Because of these complicated rates.
he continued. I'VE found that on one
day one express company overcharged
5000 shippers. and that another ex'
acted overcharges on 1000 shipments
Few IL any of these overcharges were
Intentional. They were due TO the in
volved system IF express rates, which
is too much Tor the agents themselves.
"The commission considers that TINS
system neeis to be simplified, and Is
now endeavoring to bring order out or
the complication of rates."
He discussed railroad rates in the
south, and spoke Of the most important
questions pending before the interstate
commerce commissi' II.
Railroad rates in the SOUTH he ex-
planned, haven't been revised for so
many that they constitute one of the
knottiest problems with which the COM
mission has to deal. The system Of
freight rates in the south will undoubt-
eddy be changed to some degree. But to
what extent, no one can tell.
Judge Lane arrived at 1o:45 o'clock
from New York and was met at the Ter
minal station by Boiling H. Jones, pres
ident of the Atlanta Freight Bureau;
Harry T. Moore. secretary; and W. A.
Wimbish, attorney. He was taken IN
Mr. wimbishs automobile to the Geor-
gian Terrace. where rooms for him had
been reserved.
WILL ADDRESS BUREAU.
Judge Lane will discuss the subject of
transportation at the annual meeting OF
the Atlanta Freight Bureau at the Pied
mont hotel Thursday night This meet
/ ing will begin with dinner at o'clock.
Judge Lane is one Of the best known
members Of the interstate commerce com
mission. Recently he was proposed foF
appointsnt to the United States supree
lcourt bench ~
'sFour large cases are now pending
before the interstate commerce conrnis-
sion" he explained in an interview to
The Journal zone Of these is an invest-
cation OF rates, practices, and rules o.
the express companies throughout the
United States.
1--WE already have a large volume Of
evidence, furnishing comparison OF ex-
press rates in other parts of the world
| with rates in this country. We have
gone into contracts the companies have
made with the railroads. and have par
ticuiarly considered their system of
rates. This investigation is to be con-
tinued at a public hearing in New York
city.
GAS have said, we found that one
company on one day overcharged 5000
shippers and another made overcharges
on 1000 shipments. MURPHY 5000 and 1900
by the number of days of the year, and
YOU will see the enormous injustice that
has been done.
1.-THE commission is determined to stop
overcharges We have decided to ac-
compIish this by securing the indict-
ment of companies that overcharge ship
pers. AS it is now, the shipper has to
wait months and months for redress
from overcharges, while the companies
receive slight punishment Always the
evil of overcharge will exist to some
EXTENT. because men are fallible. But
we intend to reduce this evil to a min
imum.
saThe second most important matter
| pending before us is investigation OF
rates on coal from Pennsylvania and
West Virginia coal fields to Lake Erie
"The two other principally important
cases are rates on hides and wool from
the west, and the question Of long and
i short hauls.
'sThe long and short haul particularly
affects the south. We have heard one
| or two cases based on this question
and viii hear more.
I'm this section, rates are more In
voIved than in any other part OF the
country This is because the south con-
tains more waterways. The situation IN
the south is the most difficult with which
we have TO deal"
Judge Lane expressed himself as very
much interested in a comparison OF
freight rates in the United States with
those in foreign countries.
Here" he explained, I'VE grow VI
lin dependence on the railroads. There the
railroads followed after the establish
metn OF business and commerce. In Eu-
rope, hauiS are MUCH SuoAbeA IMAM III
the United States. I hope myself some
day to make an Investigation Of the
railway condition of foreign countries"
Judge Lane has visited Atlanta be-
FORE but he finds the city much changed
and improved
You've grown wonderfully" he ex-
claimed. Throughout the south great
progress is bein made, but here you
are striding forward with astonishing
rapidity."