The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-08-06
:Ip;|R'ESSREVENUE
CUT S26,OOO,OOO
Commerce Commission Orders
Gut ilRat5s and New Methods.
CLOCK system OUTLINED
The Carriers Are Out 16 Per Cent Of
Their Cross Revenue Under the De-

Their Cross Revenue Under the De-
cision.
Washington, Aug. 5.-Reductions in
express rates, with will cost the COM
panies fully $26,0O0.00O year-ap-
proXimately 16 per cent OF their gross
revenue-were ordered by the inter
state commerce commission.
They are to become effective on or
before Oct Is, 1913 Notable reforms
In practices also were ordered.
The most important change pre-
scribed 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 low
cred; for fifty pounds or less practl-
cally all rates have been reduced.
For packages more than four pounds
going more than 200 miles and less
than 1000 miles, the new express rates
are generally lower than the parcel
post rates; for more than 5000 miles
HE rates are practically the same.
The report and order prepared by
John II. MARBLE, Of the commission,
are virtual affirmation Of the find
ings of the former commissioner,
Franklin X Lane, now secretary OF
the interior.
By ibing a so-called block sys-
TEN, dividing the United States into
$50 blocks, averaging 300 square
miles, as originally proposed by Mr..
Lane, g1@.D"O, 0GO different rates now
published by the express companies
will he reduced 10 less than 10000,
and the commission believes that the
system poin's the way to solution OF
the existing maze OF freight rates.
The general impression in official
quarters is that the express companies
will attempt 10 test by legal means
the constititioa2';ty of the commits
lsion's order,
| The requirement of the order OF
June 5, 1912. that a label shah be at
tached I, each parcel. is modified to
the extent that in case of shipments
lbf perishab;e property, consisting OF
two or more packages, the label need
be attached only 10 one package.
| The companies hal fled statements
indicating that tie les es of revenue
would be iD,olerab!e and argued that
the establishment o. the parcel post
had deprived tnci,l c. quite 50 per cent
Of the revenue theT formerly received
from parcels OF eleven pounds or less.
They contended that the exp ess bust
ness could not survive the losses from
both sources.
'"This is equivalent to saying" sets
forth the report, that, inasmuch as
shippers have been given the convent
eIce and economy of the parcel post,
the express carriers must, on that ac-
count be allowed to charge higher
rates than otherwise would be reason,
able"
The basis OF the classification pre-
scribed by the commission is that all
articles of merchandise of ordinary
i aae aAe to be Carried at first class OF
ordinary merchandise rates.
Articles OF food and drink, with a
few exceptions, are second class, and
are to be carried at 70 per cent of the
first class rate.
The rates for newspapers and pc
riodicals as we'll as for bread and such
articles for which specially low rates
no ware charged, are substantially the
same as the present rates.
A permanent committee has been
appointed to eliminate the circuitous
routes which are cause of consider
able complaint at present.