The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-08-08
NPRESS---PAReELs
POST COMPETITION
BEGINS OCTOBER Is

UluINU UUIUULN ~
oeAsT,c RATE DECREASE BY
1HE INTERSTATE COMMERCE
COMMISSION.
PARCELS POST IS AFFECTED
.exnr.ss Companies Have Gouged
The American Public to the Extent
ot Millions Of Dollars Annually"
Says report Of Commission.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.-Actiye
competition letweea the express
,.omDanies OF the United States and
the government parcel post will be-
Dsr on october Is next The express
,rust was forced into this move by
rho interstate commerce commission,
which today announced drastic re-
auction of express rates to go into
effect on that date.
The commission in issuing the
mandate declared that the express
comoanies had for years gouged the
American public to the extent of mil
lions Of dollars annually in swollen
nrofts. The reduction ordered is
from 10 to 60 per cent, transportation
of food stuffs and packages under
fifty POUNDS in weight being largely
cbeapened under the new tariff.
The interstate commerce cornmis-
sion announcement forces the trust
from carefully planned "stancpat'
policy througr which it had hoped to
bring about an early resembling OF
Postmaster General Burleson's order
extending the scope Of the parcel
post a2d reducing rates.
AT tho Office of Postmaster Gener
al Burleson. general satisfaction
with tic commissions order was ex
pressed. It wxs pointed out that the
express rates under htetaiwenrffcao
express rates under the new tariff are
lower in man, instances in the zoo tc
3OO-mi,e zones than the parcel posi-
rates, and ttat over the 3,000-milt
limit the same rates maintain in eacf
organization. This makes plain thu
feasibility of an immediate and com
pete organization OF the parcel pos
looking toward reductions in the cos
of living through cheaper transporta
ton.
A now for.l of express receipt
more carefully guarding shippers
rights, yimpli6cation Of express tar
ifs AID a permanent committee com
posed Of members of the interstate
commerce commission and official
of the express companies to revis'
express rates are also provided TO
by thu commission.
According 20 the report the tota
revenue from express transportatio
of the nine principal companies TO
the year ending June so, 1912, wa
| $751;, 706.3S6, and for October, 1911:
selected as a typical month, II wa
SIS, 49s. 70S, or an amount more iha
one-tenth as great as the total levt
nue. FOR the preceding fiscal yeal
As to- the parcel post and It's effee
upon the express companies, the n
port says:
With regard to the small pacl
age business Ct the parcel post.
should be noted that ii will still b
carried upon the railroads of tn
country. So far as the rail carrier
are concerned Il Is of no consequent
to them whether they furnish ra
transportation for the express re
pondents herein or for the Postoffic
Department. The express con Pal
les, moreover will not experience
gross loss OF their earnings apo
these small parcels, but only OF tn
net difference between their ear
ings heretofore and the cost to the
of furnishing terminal service upo
these parcels The Commission
conclusion IL that the establishmel
of The parcel pots Is not justific
ton for any higher scale Of rate
than the one here shown to be req
enable.
The commissioners order Ii II
two years only. That period wi
give a5dndan. opportunity for tel
of these rates under varying cond
tons, amounting to a normal ave
age In no other way can the abs
lutely proper rate basis for respon
ents be finally determined. Re
pond2nts are also at liberty at ar
time to bring forward new facts I
a oasis for petition for modific
ton Of this or any other order"