The Washington times., 1912-02-28
EXPRESS CHARGES
SHOW INCREASE OF
$3O,OOO,OOO YEARLY
Commissions Attorney Says
Companies Have Gained
/ Tremendously.

Estimate that the express companies
OF the country now charge the public
SO,Oo00O0 mpre year than five years
ago was made by Attorney Frank g..
Lyon, of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. at the third day of the re-
sumed express companies investigation
before the Commerce Commission today.
Walker ID. Hines, attorney for the
companies, promptly challenged the cs-
innate, and Mr.. Lyon invited the eX-
press companies to supply figures neces-
sary to make the matter an exact COM
lputation. They did not accept the in
vttation.
The companies agreed with Commits
sioner Franklin K. Lanes invitation to
pass upon a combination way bill, re-
ceipt, and label, a rough draft of a
tentative form being submitted by Mr..
Lane as basis. Mr.. Lane insisted on
tho acceptance of this rough draft as
working basis
Not because, he sa(d, Il am welded
to this exact device, but because It
Is necessary that a start be made. Some
thing must be done to prevent the
overcharging and double charging by
the companies, and to aid the com
panies in checking on their own serv-
ants. have no doubt that the COM
panies are as eager as the commission
that practical form be devised"
Expert to Help.
Mr.. Lane named w. A. Ryan, an ex-
pert of the Commerce Commission, to
represent that body on a committee to
will name their representatives tomor-
row. The Lane waybill, receipt and
label has four parts, one of which Is
a receipt to the shipper, one is to be re-
tanned by the express company, one goes
to the railroad company and the fourth
is to be pasted on the package sent.
Provision is made for stamping in the
amount of the charge made and paid.
Attorney Lyon began the days seS-
sion by filing his 18th, 13Sth and 14Oth
exhibits, the principal one of which
was a tabulation of business done by
tho Adams Express Company on the
18th of August, 1909.
Mr.. Lyon then submitted table
showing increases in percentages of
payments by express companies to the
railroads In the years 1906 and 1907. The
Chesapeake and Ohio thus increased
from 40 to per cent, the Burlington
from az to 571s the New Haven from
40 to 49, and the Pennsylvania from 4C
to 56 per cent.
IF on the old basis revenues of the
express companies operating on these
Lyon, 'thcy amount now for the mile
age named to $l2 26S, 1856. Estimating the
total mileage of the country at 21S,00t
miles, this rate of increase would make
the express companies the country over,
taking every year $50, 100000 more than
four or five years ago.
Challenged Figures.
Mr.. Kinds challenged the fairness OF
the inference. at is misleading" he
said, because Mr.. Lyon himself admits
that all tho express companies have not
increased their percentages paid to the
railroads"
Mr.. Lyon replied that the express
companies might furnish the figures
lacking If they desired. and have an
exact computation made.
M. Dalliba, general agent in Paris, OF
the American Express Company, and the
local agents of the company at London
Hamburg, and Paris will be witnesses
before Commissioner Lane in a few
days, according to announcement this
morning.