The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1913-08-05
RATES
GREATLY REDUCED

heuuctlOns IN express rates Wnlcn
will cost the companies fully $26,0Oo,-
600 year, approximately l6 per cent
of their gross revenue, were ordered
by the Interstate Commerce commits
sion Yesterday to become effective on
October /.
Notable reforms in practices also
were ordered.
The most important change prescrib-
ed by the order is by way of modif-
cation of the present graduated scale
of parcel rates.
Where Changes Are Made.
One hundred pound rates for short
distances either have been left un-
changed or slightly reduced for long
er distances they have been lowered. !.
for fifty pounds or less all rates have
been reduced. For packages of more
than four pounds going more than 200
miles and less than 1000 the new ex-
the parcel post rates; for more than
5000 miles the rates are practically
the same.
Prepared by Marble.
The report and order of the commits
sion prepared by Commissioner
Marble, are virtual affirmation of
the findings of former Commissioner
Franklin K Lane, now secretary of
the interior.
BY prescribing the so-called block
system. dividing the United States
into $50 blocks, averaging $500
square miles, as originally proposed
by Lane, 900 million different rates
now published by the express com
panies will be reduced to less than
$4,000, and the Interstate Commerce
commission believes that the system
points the way to solution of the
existing problem of freight rates.
Protest From Express Companies.
The express companies had filed
statements indicating that the loss
of revenue under the proposed rates
would be "intolerable' and argued
strenuously that the establishment of
the parcel post had deprived them
of 30 per cent of the revenue they
formerly received from parcels of IL
pounds or less. They contended that
the express business could not survive
the losses from both sources.
What This Amouts to.
HIS 10 t0utNdlCht W odyihSs
eoments Commissioner Marble. in
his report, "that inasmuch as ship
pers 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 on
to take from the shipners of the coun-
try all the benefit they receive from
the parcel post and give it TO the ex-
press companies in the form of higher
rates on the remaining business.
The new system of rates is not
only a simplifcation of existing
rate methods. but in the opinion of
rate experts, lays the foundation for
future practice in all rate revisions.
May Be Applied to Freight Rates.
While the commission has not con-
sidered the praeticability of the ap-
plication of the block system to the
making of freight rates, it is known
that the question may be taken up
almost at any time.
With standard freight rate once
established between blocks instead
of between points, and all other rates
stdttu III HCiNthtoSNS VI ehS Se"fs
ard. the system of the present com
plicated maze of freight rates, in the
opinion of the commission s experts,
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
or ordinary merchandise rates.
Food and Drink Less.
Articles of food and drink, with
few exceptions, are second class and
are to be carried at IS per cent of
the first rates.
The rates for newspapers and peri
odicals. as well as for bread and such
articles for which specially low rates
are charged, are substantially the
same as the present rates.
R. NJ Taylor is in town today from
Carson City.