Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1913-01-10

have made more than 1000 variations
from the schedule of rates in the
course of single days business. The
custom of collecting twice for pack
ages, once at the start, and then again
upon delivery, has been widespread
This practice is now largely checked
by q system put into force by the com.
mission, requiring the his ory of each
package to be set forth in plain view
Oh the package.
Parcels post legislature is all right
so far as it goes, but it will afford but
small relief. 1t applies only to pack
ages weighing less than eleven pounds,
and the average express package, as
shown by experience, weighs in the
neighborhood of thirty-five pounds
Besides, the rates under the parcels
post law are really no reduction over
present charges except for the lightest
packages.
RAILROADS SHOULD HANDLE EXPRESS.
"Ihe railroads should do the express
as we'll as the freight business. A
freight package is package carried on
freight train. An express package
is simply a package carried on pas
senger train. Both trains are operated
by the same railroad or railroads, and
there is no reason why the transporta.
tion companies who really do the busi-
ness should not be the only agency in
connection with it.
~ realize that it has been urged that
the government should purchase the
express companies. But that would be
absurd, in my judgement. 1t would be
foolish for the government to purchase
the transportation contracts belonging
to the express companies. They would
still have their other property, which
is slight, with the exception of their
permanent giltedged securities, to dis
pose of in their OWL way. They have
already worked the public too long
and the government is under no obi.
CATION either to perpetuate their mon.
oploy or to become the purchaser of
their real estate, safes, teams, wagons,
harness, etc.
~ would have the railroad companies
perform the express service as they
now perform the freight service, and
would place the entire subject under
complete control of the interstate com.
merce commission, with authority to
compel only reasonable rates for the
service. We will then save from one
half to two thirds of the present ex.
orbitant charges. and express rates in
the United States will then compare
favorably with express rates on the
continent, just as we compare so fav.
orably in the matter of freight rates.
"The parcels post service is most
important SO far as it applies to rural
mails. But express companies do not
reach into the country, and there will
always be need for rural parcels post.
This must be closely co.ordinated with
the express business on the railroads
under the direction of the postofhce
department and the interstate com
merce commission. Express stamps
should be devised covering the railW aJ
portion of the service. A shippe,
could then place two stamps upon hit
shipment if it included transportation
over both railroads and rural mai
service, a stamp for each service. Thit
would bring the quick transit of pack
ages down to its minimum Of cost snd
would work conveniently in the inter
est of the shipper and the public gener
ally.
"My bill on this subject is now be
fore the committee, and shall try te
have hearings at this session, and pres,
it for final consideration"