The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-17
EXPRESS RATES PROBLEM
Continued on Page Eight.

themselves and which in some inst
ances are even lower than the inter-
state commerce commission rates.
CON Dec. II at the LaSalle hotel in
Chicago was held a conference Of state
railroad commissions, or rather a
meeting of the committee on express
service and express rates of the Ma
tional Association of Railroad Com
m~issioners, consisting of one railroad
commissioner from each state, which
I attended on behalf Of North Dakota,
and at this meeting appeared two
representatives of the interstate COM
merce commission who elucidated at
great length the plan adopted by the
national commission and showed it's
advantages, and attempted to con-
vince h members of the state com
missions that it's adoption would work
for uniformity in all express rate mat
tiers. -..
EVERY express company in the
United States was also represented
before this committee, and the com
panies also undertook to convince the
state commissions that it was for the
best interest Of all concerned that a
system similar to the interstate COM
merce commission scheme, and even
that the same schedule of rates be
adopted. For a while the expires
udu vigorously TSSlSLGu the
installation Of the schedule of rates
about to be adopted by the interstate
commerce commission because, they
claimed that 1t was confiscatory in it's
nature and would practically drive the
express companies out of business,
yet, now that it has been adopted and
they have all reconciled themselves to
the situation and purpose to make a
fair and mes trial of the new
schedule of rates. they are anxious
that the same schedule Of rates be
adopted by the states in the interest
of uniformity.
"The conference at Chicago lasted
two days, and many interesting facts
were developed in connection with the
states, and while 1T Is problematical
whether 1t will be possible to harmon
ize the express situation in all the
states, yet it is altogether likely that
the North Dakota commission will
adopt practically. not only the meth
cd Of the interstate commerce COM
mission In ascertaining rates. but also
the rates themselves.
"A conference will be held by the
North Dakota commission at Grand
Forks the early part of January, to
which are invited shippers and epre-
sentatives OF the commercial clubs Of
all the cities In the state, and also the
representatives OF the express COInpa-
MES, SO that the matter can be har-
moniously adjusted In this state inn
mediately, SO that whatever schedule
Of rates is adopted. the am can go
into effect on Feb. /. the date set for
the adoption of the interstate com-
merce commission rates.
""The effect Of the Interstate com-
merce commission rates will be to
greatly reduce the cost Of transporta-
ton of small packages for short dis
tances. For instance, all packages rn-
der fifty pounds for distance under
800 miles will be very materially re-
Educed. However, the charges on pack
ages Of over fifty and up to 100
pounds, and heavier than 100 pounds,
will be somewhat increased. The
question mostly interesting to the
shippers of North Dakota will be
whether to adopt the schedule as a
whole, and this permits the increasing
of express charges on packages of
greater weight than fifty pounds. AS
experience has taught that 80 per cent
OF express business consists OF pack
ages OF less than fifty pounds weight,
it is thought that the permitting OF a.
greater weight may not be q hardship
and might compensate the express
companies for the much lower rates
they will have to put UP with on
40 rEHh.+r