New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-08
EXPRESS COS. MOVE TO
FIGHT CUT IN RATES
The American Invites Other Big
Concerns to Conference
Here To-day.
TO FORMULATE PROTEST
nHcial Says Reduction Really
figures from 25 TO 80 Per
Cent, Instead of 16.
as Announced.

-,e American Express Company. II was
,--,ed Yesterday has issued a call 10
y. ether important express companies
In headquarters in this city for con-
,.-e,ee to-day on the recent order Of the
,.,.-state Commerce Commission reduc-
- svpress rates on interstate business.
.-,ording TO the commissions calculation.
s,,roxinately S26OoooOO yearly. Those
NO have been invited TO attend are the
,.ssdents and general traffic managers
- me United States Express Company.
v,ns Fargo & Co.. the Adams Express
comrany and the Southern Express
company
According 10 Francis F. Flag. vice
.,ssiiert % the American Express Com
rsry there is Just the bare possibility
hal the proposed conference may not be
hid to-day because Of the absence from
,ss city Of some OF the leading officials
; ~ the concerns mentioned, but he stated
nat II is pUrposed 70 get them together
4, The earliest possible period. owing TO
l,hA shortness Of time intervening be
,rsen now and October g. when the In
,,rstate Commerce Commissions order
vii. 60 into effect. unless an extension OF
the Is granted.
D. + Roberts. president % the United
lsates Express Company. stated that an
Informal conference was held by the Of
seals OF that company Wednesday. at
which Il was determined that p thorough
analysis be made Of the proposed schedule
o, rates. which would be made public as
soon as completed. This analysis. &C
co-ding 10 Mr.. Roberts. would be made
he basis OF any action that the United
states Express Company might decide
or later
No definite conclusions have yet been
reached ny any OF the express companies
regarding the manner in which they will
meet the commissions new ruling. but Il
vas generally admitted that a protest
viii b formulated and forwarded to
Washington setting forth the reasons
why more tine should be granted 10
comply with the ruling
The American Express Company has
rot done anything yet" said Vice-Pres!-
dent Flagg, because the commissions
order was not received until Wednesday.
7 notice the commission says. however.
that the reduction in rates amounts 20
s'per cent. This is not true. In reality
the reduction figures between % and 80
per cent. In fits calculation the commits
son took into account the advances al
Owed in certain isolated cases where the
rates are OF an intrastate character.
From past experience I believe that the
states viii not permit these advances to
80 into effect"
In some states. such as California and
WISCONSIN. the rates ordered TO be pu-
into erect by the Interstate Commerce
Commission have already been put IN
force Dv the state commissions. and 30
these. cases the interstate rates will make
10 material difference. The greatest
problem facing the express companies.
however. rs this. namely. how 70 har-
monze the interstate rates with the intra-
state rates
Should the various state commissions
as.ide not 70 meet the reductions inn
posed by the federal commission, II was
pointed out that they would have as
PRECEDENT for such a move what is known
a. LNf Shreveport ldAt Nc+1N $4,000 $50
which II was held that local rate may
rot be higher than d through rate over
the same route and under substantially
the same. conditions of service. The gen
eral impression in express traffic circles
Is that the shippers will lose no time 10
stir up the state public service commls-
SINS 10 obetain for local shipments tho
same advantages that will be accorded
through shipments.
The subject Of state reductions OF eX-
press rates % meet those made on inter-
state business was discussed at the an
n1al convention last spring Of the ma
usnsI association of state public ser
wee commissions, and for this reason
tie probability OF concerted action along
these lines would not be a surprise TO the
express companies despite the fact that
Il would work serious hardships. and con-
ssquently meet the most vigorous opposi-
ton