Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-18

for distances of zoo miles or less,
which are scarcely distributed on the
heavyweight traffic.
BY the terms of the commissions oruer
the changes in the regulations. methods
and practices of the express companies;
the re-classfcation of express matter;
the changes in the billing Of packages
and other administrative reforms are re-
quired to be put into effect practically i'm
mediately The rates proposed, however
will not become effective before some
time next autumn. The commission has
fixed October as the date for the begin
ming of hearing of the representatives
of express companies and shippers as to
why the rates prescribed by the commits
sion should not go into effect.
COMPANIES FEAR A LOSS.
on every question except that OF rates,
. eubstantial agreement has been reached
between the commission and the compan-
les. The latter express their willingness
to conform their business operations to
any requirements the commission might
make; but they expressed anxiety con-
corning any serious reduction of their
rates lest it might seriously affect their
revenues.
Commissioner Lane makes vigor-
Gus attack. in his report, upon the So
called scale of graduated charges by
which the express companies now de-
termine the rate which shall apply to
a package of given weight This scale
is held by the commission to be unreal
4 ,i,,, ND r.
The report says:
ct is the product of years of shrewd
manipulation has no justification in
the minds of the eXpressmen them
selves, aud is the richest example yet
brought to our attention of a tariff
based exclusively upon the theory that
the charge should he what the tariff
will bear"
With respect to the standard of
rates, the commission says:
What then may be said to he the
standard of a reasonable express rate?
Our answer is. No one consideration.
These conclusions, however, we have
reached
CONCLUSIONS SUMMARIZED.
"l--That express rates should he made
primarily to meet the need of the great
body of our people and should therefore
be stated in terms that represent the
small packages which the express COM
by the 100 pounds as freight rates are
stated
"2-That in the fixing of its rates an
express company should not he allowed
to charge more Than a railroad company
If the latter undertook to. and did, give
the same service.
"3-That it is proper for the govern
ment to treat the express company as a
freight forwarder by passenger train. Civ
ing supplemental service at each terminal
and intermediate care.
"EThat an express rate may not he
based upon the monopoly right of the
express company to be the exclusive
forwarder over one or more lines of
railroad
"5-That the rate should not include
more than reasonable compensation for
the service given. even though such
compensation falls belo-- that which the
railroad exacts as a minimum for the car
riage of 100 pounds of freight.
NOT LIKE FREIGHT SERVICE.
"6-That 1t Is unreas enable to fix as
rapid a decline in express rates for long
distances Is made by the railroads In
their freight rates, express service in this
respect being more analogous to pas
senger than to freight service.
NAT III compromising the express
rate the ra'4road should ne allowed a
compensation Tor bu!kei freight move"
upon passenger tram as 10 when II Is
renewed oy contract lor al Iapillty FOR
loss or uamase ana Is without expense
lor ti!e FURNISHING Oh d receipt the piI!ihS'
'he pookheep!hs' ana great num'er OF
o'her general expenses