Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1913-09-18
REDUCTIONS ARE
EFFECTIVE OCT. 15
WILL RESULT IN GREAT SAVING
Express Companies Must Put Into
Force Many Rate Changes
BY That Date.

The action of the Interstat Com
merce Commission recently in order
ing a sweeping reduction of express
rates to be put into effect between all
points in the United States attracted
much interest and comment at the
time and rightly so for the reason
that it is of concern to practically
every man, woman and child in the
land, to say nothing of the firms and
corporations that utilize this agency
30 frequently in the transaction OF
business.
These changes will become effective
October Is unless the Commission
allows the express companies ad-
ditional time for the preparation of
the schedules or the express COM
panies resist the Commissions order
which is hardly believed to he likely.
That the operation of the parcel
post has taken away large slice of
certain class of business heretofore
handled by the express companies
cannot be denied but the express
companies have been undertaking to
recoup by developing other lines.
..- The action. Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission in ordering sweep
ing reductions in rates followed COM
plants filed. with it by a number Of
leading commercial organizations
New rules have been promulgated by
the Commission in a recent decision
on the subject of express rates and
practices, a few of which are here
with reproduced
Th aaoption of the block system
of stating rates.
The establishment of uniform
classification of simple character.
The publication of joint directory
OF express stations, fixing the location
of every such station by block num-
ber.
The publication Jointly of the pick
up and delivery limits at every sta
ton.
The adoption of new form of eX-
press receipt, the terms Of which are
clear, specific and reasonable.
The adoption of a rule fixing sec
ond class rates to apply on articles
of food or drink Except where other
wise specified in the classification and
ruled at % per cent of the first-class
rate with certain additional provisions
not possible of extended mention.
The adoption of rule for aggregat-
ing weights on two or more packages
forwarded by one shipper at the same
time, upon one receipt to one con-
signee at one local address. fixing the
of the rate upon the act
ual weight of each such article when
above 20 pounds. This is in reality
a rate reduction in weight, on which
the reduced rates in the table apply,
the two constituting a double re-
duction.
The addition of rules providing for
valuation charges. C. o. D. shipments,
returned shipments, prompt settle
ment of claim and prompt disposi-
tion of undelivered and refused ship
1t will be seen that on packages OF
100 pounds, for short distances the
Commission has made few reductions;
In fact, in a few instances rates on |
packages ranging from 30 to 100
pounds have been slightly advanced. |
The material reductions have been |
made on packages of so pounds and
under, and by the rule governing ag-
weights mentioned above
which constitute this preponderance
of express ira. C. and is where the re.
lief was most needed.
The Commission has so simplif1ed
the express ira. C that any person