The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-08-07
EXPRESS RATES GUT
THROUGHOUT NATION
Commerce Commission Orders
Reduction Of s26,OOO,OOO.
FOODS GET MOST Benefit
Reductions Ordered by Federal Body
to is Per Cent. Of Gross Reeve
nue. = Companies Seek
More Time.

Washington. Aug. 5.--Sweeping re-
auctions in express rates, to become
effective October Is In all sections OF
the country. we're ordered by the in
terstate commerce commission. Revi-
sion of the business methods OF the
companies to safeguard the public"
and to give relief from confusion OF
rates also was ordered.
The reduction in rates range from
10 to 60 per cent. 1t 10 estimated the
changes in rates will reduce the in
comes of the express companies $685.
100000 year, or approximately IL
per cent. OF their gross revenue.
The cost of living being one of the
considerations to receive special at
tention, the reductions are largest on
food products.
The new rates are to be experiment
al for two years. Should it be dem
onstrated that the reductions are rea-
sonable the new rates will be perma-
nent.
1t is the opinion Of the commission
that the express companies can profit
ably compete with the government OH
heavy packages and obtain a sufficient
volume of business to compensate for
the loss on smaller packages, which
are likely to go by parcel post because
of lower rates.
The rates for newspapers and peri
odicals. as well as for bread and such
articles. for which specially low rates
are charged now, remain substantially
the same as at present.
Expect Companies to Sue.
The impression is that the express
companies will attempt to test by
legal means the constitutionality of
the commissions order.
The express companies had filed
statements indicating the losses of
revenue under the proposed rates
would be intolerable, and argued siren
uously that the establishment of the
parcel post had deprived them OF 80
per cent OF the revenue they former
ly received from parcels Of eleven
pounds or less. They contended that
the express business could not sur.
This is equivalent to saying" COM
ments Commissioner Marble in his re-
port that inasmuch as shippers have
beeL given the convenience and econ
omy of the, parcel post, the express
carriers must, on that account, be al
lowed to charge higher rates than
otherwise would be reasonable. That
Is to say, the commission is called on
to take from the shippers of the coun-
try all the benefit that they receive
from the parcel post and give it to the
express companies, In the form OF
higher rates on the remaining bust
ness"
May Ask for More Time.
New York. Aug. 5.-That the express
companies would be unable to comply
with the order for a general reduction
in rates by October Is and probably
would ask for an extension of time
was the opinion expressed by Duncan
L. Roberts, president of the United
States Express company, and other ex-
press company officials.
Pays $32 Rate on $3.50 Iron.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Aug. 5.-Reduc-
ton of express rates ordered by the
interstate commerce commission re-
suited from action begun by r. e.
Sundberg. member of the state senate,
against the express companies in
March. 1909. Mr.. Sundberg had been
forced to pay 1872 for carrying $3.50
casting from Minneapolis to Kennedy,
Mimi. his home.