The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-07-18
EXPRESS COMPANIES
CLOSELY CONNECTED
Commerce Commission He's
itate to Call Them Trust but
Cites Relationship.

q washington, D.. c.. July 16.-Sweep-
hng reductions in express rates aver
aging, IN general, approximately is per
cent; drastic reforms in regulations
and practices, and comprehensive
changes in the methods of operation,
are prescribed in a report made public
by the Interstate Commerce commits
sion of its investigation into the bust
ness of the 13 great express companies
of the United States.
Dealing with the identity Of interest
between the various companies, the re-
port finds that while these companies
are separate legal entities, "it is of in
terest to regard this fact that by stock
ownership and otherwise they are so
1nterlaced, intertwined and interlocked
that 1t is with difficulty we can trace
any one of the greater companies as
Ne1ther wholly Independent in it's man
agement of the gency of a single rail-
road system. So that while these COM
panies operate separately n compete
with each other for traffic, the express
business ma be said to be almost a
family affair. An interesting genoa
logical tree, in fact, might be drawn
the larger companies. And while many
names nay be used to designate these
companies, it is within the fact to say
THAT, aside from the operations of the
tlHliioG anu ulSllllcllVely railroad eX-
lpress companies. the express business
tof the United States is managed by
mot more than three groups of inter-
tests"
IN Extensive Inquiry.
The inquiry was the most extensive,
and, in wealth of infinite detail, prob
ABLY the most thorough. ever prose-
icuted by the commission. 1t was con-
Quoted and the report was prepared by
Commission Franklin K. Lane 1t
has been in progress for nearly three
years. The report itself makes 900
lprinted pages. 1t involved an exami-
nation and comparison of practically
more than 100000, 900 express rates in
effect in this country, in addition to an
examination of millions of waybills
and al investigation through the books
of the companies CT their financial OPP
erations and business methods.
Commissioner Ian is of the opinion
a tho conclusions reached constitute
a long step ward the solution of
that gravest problem of the American
householder-the high cost Of living.
The greatest reduction Of rates pro-
posed is on small packages-that is,
on parcels which weigh less han IL
pounds. Rates on packages of more
than IL pounds were found to be more
reasonable than those on smaller par
GELS.
Briefly 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 ra-
ito to the increase of weight and dis
lance. at rates varying from three
tenths of a cent a pounnd to about IL
cents a pound. Twelve cents a pound,
according to the conclusions of the
commission. is approximately the high
est rate per pound for the greatest dis
tance possible for a parcel to be car
ried 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
cents. A three-pound package will cost
27 cents for 1000 miles and 81 cents
for 1000 miles. the existing rates being.
respectively, each As cents. A 10-pound
package may be transported 1000 miles
for AZ cents, and 1000 miles for II
cents, as AGAINST the existing rates of
rs cents and $1.25, respectively. The
cost of transporting a 25-pound pack
age 1000 miles will be rs cents. against
the present rate of s1.10, and for 1000
miles, $1.64, against the present rate of
1928.
Commissioner Lane believes that the
method adopted for the computation
and construction of express rates Is
scientific and will result in the exaction
Of entirely reasonable charges.