The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1913-08-15
EXPRESS TARIFF
REDUCTIONS MEAN
A LARGE SAVING
Lowering of Rate By Interstate Com
merce Commission Effects
All the Companies.
PARCELS.P0ST IN CASE A
SECONDARY CONSIDERATION

| NC ioWeIlHB Ol express rates oil
all companies engaged in such bust.
ness by the Interstate Commerce
+, Commission is of interest to ship
tpeTs all over the country and local
| business men are no exception. For
| the enlightenment of those interest
ed. the new schedule on express rates
| that goes into effect October 18th
next, is on file in the ofiicves of tho
Commercial Club and Traffic Man
ager, +. M. Quicker will be pleased to
explain any and all questions.
In 1912 The Commission began an
Investigation toward lowering the
express rates and the earnings of
all the express companies were scan
ned to determine whether or not the
tariff could be lowered without caus-
| ing a direct loss to the carriers. The
conclusion gained by the Commission
was that the companies could stand
substantial reduction and such is
the case as stipulated by the new
schedule just issued and which will
90 into effect in October.
The most important feature of
stating the rates is the block system
which bears similarity to the zone
system used in determining parcels
post rates.
Under the present method of COM
piling tariffs some 900 100000 sep
arate rates are published by the ex-
press companies Under the block
system of statement prescribed by
the Commission this number is re-
duced to less than $4,000 rates. It
is stated by representatives Of the
carriers that the block system is
/ practical and satisfactory. 1t is con-
sidered by the Commission that it's
simplicity will afford the means for
ascertaining satisfactorily and quick
ly any express rate.
The most important change In
rates made by the Commission or
der is by way of modification Of the
present graduated scale of parcel
rates. The 100 pound rates for short
distances have either been but slight
ly reduced or have been left I'M
changed, For long distances the
hundred pound rates have been
somewhat reduced BY the changes
in the graduated scale, however, the
rates for packages weighing fifty
pounds or less have been practically
! all reduced
/ A comparison of the rates prescrib-
ed with the parcels post rates now
! in effect discloses that the prescrib-
ed express rates for the packages over
pounds when carried for distances
of more than 200 miles and less than
5000 miles are generally lower than
the parcels-post rates.
For distances of more than 30a1
miles the parcels-post rates and the
prescribed express rates are practic.
ally the same.
The basis of the classification pres
cribed is that all articles of merchan.
i disc of ordinary value are to be car.
| ried at first class or ordinary mer
| chandise rates. All articles of food
or drink with few exceptions are sec,
ond class and are to be carried al
| rs per cent of the first class rate
Articles of extraordinary value must
be SO declared at the time of ship.
ment. The order provides for spec
ial rates based upon such extraor
| binary value.
| Under the present rule where two
or more packages are shipped by one
consignor to one consignee the rates
charged are on the basis of the ag.
gregate weight of both packages es-
timated at 20 pounds each when
weighing less than 90 pounds making
the minimum charge for two pack
ages in one shipment. that applicable
lnpon a weight of not less than 40
pounds.
II is directed BY the report that
f., this rule so be amended that when
the average weight of all packages
! in a combined shipment shall be
10 pounds or more the charge shall
be, upon the aggregate weight. II