The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-15
C.W.ANTRIM & SONS, Distributors.

confusing that not even the express
agents are able TO discover the lawful
rate between two points Tho direc-
tory Of express stations IS also to
state the delivery limits in each city
within which the express company
gives service upon It's tariff rates.
II is found that the large number OF
double collections OF express charges
arises out OF the fact that a package
which has been prepaid does not bear
suiiic'ent evidence OF this fact &C
cordingly the report presents a set OF
labels and way bills In different colors
which the carriers arc rtou.rea 10
use. ana In tho event that tho paoakaee
does not bear any label the shipment
Is TO be delivered TO the consigneo
without collection Of any charges. the
carrier bearing the burden OF discover
ing where the mistake lies.
The present system requires tho
statement OF about zoo times as many
rates as the system proposed by tho
commission. However. rs each agent.
under the new system. viii be obliged
10 know only tho rates that apply be-
tween his station AMI each OF the
other blocks. he will have 10 consult
only $50 rates to find the proper
chaTse from his station TO every other
station within the United states.
Through this system the common
rate area on short hauls is reduced
from an area OF about $500 square
miles. which is tho average area OF
each main. bloclS-to an area OF about
$50 square ;nncs The present express
rate methods embrace much larger
common rate arcns.
For Instance. the rate por houndred
from Boston, New York. Philadelphia.
Baltimore. Washington and Richmond
TO Seattle Takoma. Portland. san
Francisco. san Diego Reno, Sacra-
nento and many other points embraced
in the region west OF the Sierra and
cascade Mountains. IS now the same
$3.50 Under the commissions sys-
teiu the rates VIII vary with the dis
lance between any two points. from
$3.50 TO Sll hundred pounds
Uniform Reduction.
While there has been an almost uni
form reduction in charges upon parcels
weighing fifty pounds or less. tho
rates on packages Weighing more than
lily pounds nave not been Materially
reduced In some Instances the com
missions proposed rate basis shows
n slight Increase OF the charges on
heavy packages. This indicates the
belief OF the commission that the rates
iof the express companies per 100
pounds are not, on the whole. SERIOUS
~ excessive. This Is particularly
manifest from an analysis OF the rates
for distances OF 200 miles or less.
which are scarcely distributed on the
heavyweight traffic.
BY the terms OF the commissions
order. the changes in the regulations.
methods and practices of the express
companies. the Redistribution of ex-
press matter, the changes in the Bill
ing OF packages, and other adminlstra-
tive reforms nre required to be put
into effect practically Immediately
The rates proposed. however, VIII not
become effective before some time
next autumn. The commission has
fixed October 0 as the date for the
beginning of a hearing of the repre-
sentatives of express companies and
shippers as to why the rates pre-
scribed by the commission should not
go into effect.
rates substantial agreement has been
reached between the commission and
the companies. The latter express
their willingness to conform their
business operations to any require
ments the commission might make;
but they expressed anxiety concerning
any serious reduction OF their rates
lest 1t might seriously affect their
revenues.
Commissioner Lane makes a vigor-
GUS attack in his report upon the So
called scale OF graduated charges by
which tho express companies now de-
terminc the rate which shall apply to
n package Of n given weight This
scale Is held by the commission to be
unreasonable, discriminatory and ar
bitrary Tho report says:
at Is the product of years OF