The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-08-05
Ordered by the Interstate
Commerce Com
mission
NOTABLE REFORMS
IN PRACTICES, TOO
To be Enforced-New Rules
in Effect On
Oct. Is

Washington, Aug 5.-Reductions in
express rates which will cost the COM
panies fully $26,OoO,0O0- approximately
Is per cent. OF their gross revenue, were
ordered by the interstate commerce conf
mission yesterday to become effective on
or before Oct Is, 1918. Notable reforms
in practices also We're ordered.
The most important change prescribed
by the order is by way of modification
of the present graduated scale of parcel
| rates.
One hundred pound rates for short
distances either have been left unchanged
or slightly reduced for longer distances
they have been lowered; for 80 pounds
or less practically all rates have been re-
duced
For packages more than four pounds
going more than POO miles and less than
1000 the new express rates are generally
lower than the parcel post rates; more
than 5000 miles the rates are practically
the same.
One hundred pound rates for short
distances either have been left unchanged
or slightly reduced; for longer distances
they have been lowered; for 80 pounds or
less practically all rates have been re-
dueed.
For packages 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; more
than 5000 niles the rates are practically
the same
The report and order of the commits
sion, prepared by the Commissioner John
II. Marble, are virtual affirmations of
the findings of former Commissioner
Franklin X. Lane, now secretary OF the
interior
By prescribing a so-ealled block sys-
TEN, dividing the United States into $50
blocks averaging $500 square miles, as
originally proposed by Mr. Lane, 900
million different rates now published by
the express companies will be reduced to
less than $780, 900 and the interstate com.
merce system points the way to So
luton, as we'll OF the existing maze of
freight rates.
The general impression in official
quarters is that the express companies
will attempt to test by legal means the
OF the commissions |
order.
The express companies had filed state
ments indicating that the losses OF rev
enue under the proposed rates 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 received from |
parcels Of IL pounds or less.
They contend that the express bust I
ness could not survive the losses from 7
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
is called upon to take from
the shippers OF the country all the bene
fit that they receive from the parcel
post and give it to the express com
panies in the form of higher rates upon
the remaining business"
The basis of the classification pre-
seribed by the commission is that all
tiJiCitS vi iiItitiduulSt VI OTNlHuIY Ndlue
ire to be carried at first class or ordi-
nary merchandise rates. Articles of
'ood and drink, with a few exceptions
ire second class and are TO be carried
It IS per cent. of the first class rate.
The rate for newspapers and period
Gals as well as for bread and such ar
,icles, for which specially low rates now
ire charged, are substantially the same
Is the present rates.
A permanent committee has been APP {
pointed to revise the routes of express
arriers TO eliminate the circuitous
outes which are now cause of consid-
rable complaint on the part of ship
,ers.
The report says:
with regard to the small package
BUSINESS of the parcel post, it should be
loted that it win still be carried upon {
he railroads of the country So far as
he rail carriers are concerned, it is of no