Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-08-17
MEANS DEATH ID EXPRESS COMPANIES Recent Drastic Order of the Postmaster General Hav- ing Good Effect. c U T T I N G EXPENSES Package Business is Being Taken
 Away From Express Companies
 By Postal Department.
c U T TIN G EXPENSES
BY SIDNEY EPSEY

Washington, Aug. 16--The recent drastic order of Postmaster General Burleson lowering rates and increas- ing the unit of weight of packages to be carried by the Parcel Post is look mise of the Express companies. By the order of the Interstate Commerce Commission which established zone charges for packages carried by ex- press, the express companies estimat- ed that their revenues would be cut somewhere in the neighborhood of $35O, ,000,000 a year. Vigorous protests were made at the time and every eff fort was used in attempting to get the Commission to revise their findings. The order stood, however, and the ex- press companies reluctantly returned to their business, only upon scale which efficiency in business methods was fixed as the price of salvation E! The railroads helped out by giving them better service in the matter of transporting merchandise. Cuts were made in many departments of the business and salaries given to presl- dents of companies that in some cases exceeded S100,000 a year were Topped off to $25,000. Divisional agents, ex- ecutives secretaries and like snecures were completely abolished and the ser- vice greatly improved.
 With the small package trade going to the Postoffice Department through the parcel post, the real express bus mess of the country, estimated to av- craze about thirty three pounds to the \ package, began to form the unit of the express business. This has been ex- tended and experts in the employ of the Interstate Commerce Commission estimate that the express companies have more than doubled their business in this respect. Now however, Post master General Burleson has issued an order which will cut deeper into the revenues of the express companies. He has authorized scale of charges and weights. it is thought will con- ] gest the postOffices in the larger cities to such an extent that the regu- lar flow of first class mail will be impeded unless Congress comes to the rescue and approprates more money for additional buildings and larger personnel. lncidently, it will prac- tically take all the business of from fifteen to twenty pounds, carried by the express companies today at from ten cents to fifty cents, depending up on the distance, away from these con- panies.
 Tn Chicago and New York, it is said, the express business connected with the large department stores and mail order houses will be taken over prac tically by the Government. Accord ing to an official report of the Inter- state Commerce Commission the ex- press business up to eleven pounds per package in Chicago is sent al most entirely by mail. This business has so congested this office that Post master General Burleson will ask Congress for an appropriation to facil itate the handling of mail from that city. One of the largest mail order houses in Chicago, it is estimated, has more than doubled it's mail through that office since the parcel post be- came law. Now that more favorable rates have been decided upon, it is said that large increase in the vol ume of their business can be looked for. Every large city, it is expected will repeal the story that is told of | Chicago hence the postoffice budget for the next fiscal year is expected to be the largest that will be asked for for sometime to come. At least three new buildings in three large cities will be needed, at Chicago, an addition to the present postoffice, an- other building for New York and an other building at either Philadelphia or Baltimore.
 Naturally the question arises as to what will become of the express com panies. This is forecast by ar utter ance of Secretary of the Interior Lane when he was serving ds an Interstate Commerce Commissioners 'If the ex- press companies cannot do a profitable business under the orders of the In terstate Commerce Commission, It will be time for the railroads to take over business which is properly 8 nart of the transpoIAatiQn system oi