The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-04-05
Provisions Explained by Mr..
AdamSon
THE COMMERCE COMMISSION
Investigation Not Satisfactory-Plan Fa-
cilitates Sending Of Small Packages
Report Declares There's Moth
ing Radical in Measure.

Washington April j.-Although the
interstate commerce commission has
spent 100000 in the investigation of
the express rate problem and in trying
90 eliminate express abuses, Chairman
&damson of the House interstate COM
merce committee in his report to the
House in support OF the maximum eX
press rate bill, declares the progress
thus far made has been very msatis-
factory. Mr.. Adamson asserts that the
proposed legislation would not be neces-
sary if those charged with the response
bility for transportation had done their
duty in the first instance. THE purpose
of the bin said Mr. Adamson, is to
facilitate and perfect, ut least to inn
prove, the regulation Of express eompa-
MES, and by requiring cooperation With
rural routes give to the people in rural
communities the advantage of trans
portation, convenient safe, and at rea-
sonable prices for small parcels. 1t has
been years since the interstate commerce
act was amended with view to sub
jecting express companies to its proyi-
sions. The progress made up to this
time in bringing them to practices and
charges reasonable and agreeable to the
people has been very unsatisfactory. So
It was deemed essential to make some
further effort at regulation.
"The committee concluded that it
would be wise to fix maximum rates adj
judged by Congress to be reasonable ami
just as a guide to the express COM
panies in the first instance and to the
interstate commerce commission in the
second instance in correcting and adjust
4. = : l., . H.. 81, q
maximum rates il somewhat novel in
our practiees-may be denominated rs
sn innovation but it is not revolution
AIRY nor drastic, nor even arbitrary, It
is believed that the III. yimum rates fixed
in the bill are such as will prove re-
muneratiye to the express companies.
an fact, this legislation is already
producing its effect. 1t has come to our
knowledge that, since this bill was intro
duced, the companies are giving their at
tention to improved methods and more
economical measures and practices in the
transaction of their business so as to /
enable them to render better treatment
10 their patrons. Certainly the zone sys
tenn cannot be regarded as new to them. /
They have always practiced that, in 1t /
way. and when they bring all their BUSH |
ness to proper system, eliminating
complex and expensive accounting and
thousands and thousands and thousands /
of confusing and misleading rates filed, /
they will, in the Judgment OF the com
mittee. find their business remunerative I
and compliance with the terms of this |
bill easy and satisfactory.
.'The designation OF an eleven pound 7
limit is nothing arbitrary at all, but is
suggested in order to conform to the
limit usually spoken Of i'm postal affairs T
The postal union limits the weight Of a
package to eleven pounds and the value \
to $50. 1t is assumed that provision /
will be made to apply the same limits T
TO parcels carried BY the government /
ON rural routes, so that this system can I
be easily adjusted and made conform /
able to this postal arrangement
"The government, having constitution /
al power absolute and plenaTy to regu- /
late commerce between the states, can
control the charges and practices of ex I
press companies as absolutely and com I
pletely as if the government owned all /
those companies with all their property T
and instrumentalities and paid all Of +
their agents and operatives. The power
of the government can be no greater
over what il owns itself than over what [
is owned by its subjects, so far as regu
Iation for public purposes is concerned.
BY reporting this bill, the committee
believes that it does its full duty in
presenting to the House a scheme which,
If adopted viii result in satisfaction to
the people as to the transportation of
their small parcels