Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-07-15
EXPRESS RATES
REPORT IS MADE
interstate Commission Makes
Public Its Conclusions and
Issues Order.

WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE In
t~erstate Commerce Commission has
issued its report in the express in
vestigation. The report presents a
schedule of express rates to be ex-
tended between all points In the
United States. 1t includes the out
line of a new classification of ex-
press matter and a new and simpli-
fed method of stating rates and
calls upon the express companies 10
make extensive reforms, not only in
their rates. but in their rules and
practises. 1t is ordered hat by
October 9 the companies are to show
cause why the new rates and regu-
lations shall not go into force, and
opportunity will be given to shippers
to voice their objections in hearings
before the commission. The commits
sion's conclusions include the fol-
lowing:
Methods Suggested.
IA new and simple method OF
stating rates.
9-The tariffs must present but one
rate upon the same class of traffic.
3-There must be a new classified :
ton of traffic in which the standard
of first-class rate shall be that on
merchandise, a second class, consist
ing of articles of food and drink.
Our conclusion Is" says the re-
port, that 70 per cent. of merchan-
disc would yield a fair and reason-
able rate. Other rates may be made
to meet traf1ce needs and develop
industry. but all such rates shall be
based on conditions of service"
4-The rules of the express ON
panies are too many and too in
volved and need ever more drastic
revision than is suggested.
5-The express companies must
unite In direct through routes, reach
ing all cities and towns accessible to
each other by the shortest route,
measured in time.
6-There should be a precise state
ment published and fled showing the
terminal service thates given at locai
stations.
To avoid prosecutions for illegal
overoharges it is essential that double
collections shall cease, and to this
end a system of labels is prescribed.
A yellow label, which shows that all
charges have been paid; a white
label, when the charges have not
beer paid, and If no label is carried
on the package must be delivered
without charges and the error later
corrected.
s-The standard merchandise rates
have been found to be discriminatory
as between localities and
able in themselves.
Corrections Suggested.
For the correction of these evils"
says the commission, there has APP
peared to be but one remedy, the
construction of a rate system that
should cover the United States. This
has been a task of unprecedented
magnitude and difficulty. We have
sought for all possible light upon the
subject, both in Europe and in Amer
lea. Our effort has been to make
certain that ample compensation
shall be allowed upon a reasonable
basis for the full service given; to
the railroad for its passenger train
movement, and to the express COM
pany for ali tina it does, both for
the railroad and for the shipper.
There being no uniformity in rates
now, it has become necessary to in
crease some rates under the tariff.
These increases, however, affect al
most exclusively the rates on pack
ages of the higher weights.
"In order that the shippers and the
carriers may have abundant oppor-
tunity to anaylze these rates and pre-
sent their views to the commission
before they go into effect the order
made at this time will require the
carriers to show cause on October 9,
1912, why the proposed rates should
not be put into effect
suggests Block system.
The foundation of the remedies sug-
gested is a new method of making
rates. The United States has been
divided into $50 blocks, approximately
fifty miles square. Rates are pro-
posed between each of these blocks,
treating all cities or towns within
each block as common points. Each
of these blocks is one degree of longi-
tude in length and one degree of lati-
tude in width. To every express sta
ton within each of these blocks the
rate is the same from any other
given block. Thus the rate Is stated
as between blocks rather than as be-
tween cities.
Supplementing this block system of
making rates, which constitutes each
block a zone of origin or of destina-
ton. the rates are stated for each
package Weighing from one to n
hundred pounds. The express COM
panies will be required to publish a
directory of express stations which
will show the block number within
which each station is located, and at
each station there will be filed a
single-sheet tariff which will give
the ate from that station to all other
blocks in the United States.
This method of stating rates will
avoid the great body of complaints
arising out of undercharges and over-
charges, the present method of stat
ing rates being so confusing that nor
even the express agents are able to
discover the lawful rate between two
points. The directory of express sta
tons is also to state the delivery
limits to each city within which the
express company gives service upon
its tariff rates.
The express companies are also re-
qrired to enter into arrangements
with each other for the direct rout-
irg Of shipments. The companies,
under the direction of the commits
sion. are required to establish the
Quickest foutes between two points
irrespective of the fact that the ship
mont may originate upon the line OF
one express company and in order to
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