Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-08-09
EXPRESS Rates
TO Be REDUCED
Sweeping Reductions Amounting
TO IS Per Cent Have
Been Ordered

will cost the companies fully S26, 900. 900
year approximately Is per cent. Of
their gross revenue, were ordered by
the Interstate Commerce Commission
Monday to become effective on or be-
fore October Is. 1913.
Notable reforms in practices also
were ordered.
The most important change prescribed
by the order is by way of modification
of the present graduated scale Of par
Gel rates. One hundred pound rates
for short distances either have been left
unchanged or slightly reduced; for long
er distances they have been lowered;
for 80 pounds or less all rates have been
practically reduced. For packages of
more than four pounds going more than
200 miles and less than 1000. the new
express rates are generally lower than
the parcel post rates; for more than
2O00 miles the rates are practically the
same.
The report and order of the Commits
sion prepared by Commissioner John II.
Marble, are virtual affirmation of the
findings of former Commissioner Frank
lin X. Lane. now Secretary of the Inter-
ior.
BY prescribing so-called block sys-
TEN, dividing the United States into
$50 blocks, averaging $500 square miles
as originally proposed by Mr.. Lane,
900, 600, 900 different rates now published
by the express companies will be reduced
to less than $50. 900 and the Interstate
Commerse Commission believes that the
system points the way to solution of
the existing maze of freight rates.
The general impression in official
quarters is that the express companies
will attempt totest the constitutionality
Of the Commission order.
The requirements of the order of
June s. 1912. that label shall be at
tached to each parcel is modified to the
extent that. in case of shipments of
perishable property. consisting of two
or more packages. the label need be
attached TO only one package.
The express companies had filed
statements indicating that the losses of
revenue under the proposed rate would
be intolerable and argued strenuously
that the establishment of the parcel
post had deprived them of quite 30 per
cent. Of the revenue they formerly re-
ceived from parcels of i pounds or less.
They contended that the express busi-
ness could not survive the losses from
both sources.
"This is equivalent to saying, COM
ments Commissioner Marble in his re-
port. that inasmuch as shippers have
been given the convenience and economy
of the parcel post. the express carriers
must. on that account, be allowed to
charge higher rates than otherwise
would be reasonable. That is to say.
the Commission is called upon to take
from the shippers of the country all the
benefit that they receive from the par
Gel post and give it to the express COM
panies in the form of higher rates upon
the remaining business.
The new system of rates is not only a
simplification of existing rate structures
and methods. but in the opinion of rate
experts. lays the foundation for future
practice in all rate revisions.
While the Commission has not con-
sidered the practicability of the block
system to the making of freight rates,
il is known that the question may be
taken up almost at any time. With a
standard freight once established be-
tween blocks instead Of between points
and all other rates stated in percentage
Of the standard. the mystery of the
present complicated maze of freight
rates. in the opinion of the Commissions S
expert. would be solved.
The basis of the classification pre-
scribed by the commission is that all
articles of merchandise of ordinary value
are to be carried at first-class mer-
chandise rates. Articles OF fo0d ana
drink. with few exceptions are second
class and are to be carried at Is per
cent. of the first-class rates.
The rates for newspapers and period
icals as well as for bread and such ar.
ticles. for which specially low rates are
now charged. are substantially the same
as the present rates.
A permanent committee has been
appointed to revise the routes of ex-
press carriers to eliminate the circuitous
routes which are now cause of con-
siderable complaint on the part Of ship
pers.
With regard to the parcel post and
Its effect upon the express companies,
the report says:
with regard to the small-package