New-York tribune., 1912-01-23
cos TO ANSWER
Interstate Commission Submits
4 Questions for Next Monday.
.T0 LEARN BASIS OF RETURN
Officials Are Also Asked if Mini
mum Rate Between All Points
Would Not Be Desirable.

III The express companies are now consider
ling, large number of questions bearing
( lupon their business which the Interstate
1 ll,onmerce Commission has submitted TO
aihem for answer next Monday at the re-
sumption OF the express investigation in
ithis city.
4 The first thirty-four questions which the
,ficials are expected TO answer deal with
he business in general. including money
orders and travellers checks, while twenty
4 5ve questions have been prepared concern
ing rules under freight classification No. q.
What should be the basis OF return for
Express service-on investment or as mes
.enger?" will be the first question Com
missioner Lane will ask in an effort TO
ind out how a reasonable return" TO the
isorporations engaged in the express Ousi-
1ess can be established.
What is a reasonable return TO the rail-
I 'oad a car mile for the carriage Of express
natter" is another question which is eX-
ibected TO clear up some of the uncertainty
/ hat now battles those who are trying TO
Atompute reasonable express rates.
4 Other questions dealing with the general
express service will be directed toward an
nauiry of how express rates are affected
by the competition of transportation by
water. means other than water, and by
( ,o-called market competition" An OPP
,oortunity will be also offered to the Off
lslals to give their opinion as 10 the desira-
lbility OF a minimum rate between all points
10 the United States on packages weighing
rom one TO FIVE pounds. six 10 eight, nine
o ten, ten TO fifteen. fifteen TO twenty and
rom twenty to fifty pounds, in multiples
hf ten.
\ The commission also wants to know
Whether it would be desirable TO have all
xpress offices in a city receive packages
or any destination. the companies trans
erring from one TO another in the city,
md whether shipments could be forwarded
jver the most expeditions route. regardless
IL the contractua relations between ex-
sress companies and railroads operating
between origin and destination.
Di Cash on delivery shipments will receive
/ lauch attention. and the money order bust
ess will be submitted 10 d close scrutiny.
lin interesting question in connection with
he latter will be how much money did
ach express company accumulate up TO
lune 60. 1910 from money orders and
4 \
emption within one year of the date Of
Z ssue.
! The status of the investigation Of cx-
ress companies by the Interstate Com
aerce Commission is fully described in a
ooklet issued by the Express Rate Con-
erence. composed of merchants associa-
I ons OF leading cities. The public hearings
n the complaints made by the conference
egan on November % and lasted four
I lays. They were held in the rooms Of
BE Merchants Association of New York,
Il No. "a Lafayette street
The Interstate Commerce Commission for
esveral months has had agents at work in
he offices of the principal express COM
tanles upon an analysis of their accounts
Ind records Their findings will be used
compile accurately the revenues and ex-
Henses of the express companies.