The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-02
Utilities Commission Makes
Sweeping Order Today.
General Sllcing Of IL Per Cent.
in This State.
NO CITIES Will Be FAvORED
Privileges vim Not Be Allowed
by Commission.
Saving. Of Thousands Monthly
to State Of Kansas.

General reduction Of seventeen poR
cent ON all general merchandise GR-
press rates, elimination Of the two-nno
rates and abolition Of special rates wa1
ordered today by the Public Utilit1n
Commission. The order followed .
lengthy Investigation OF all express
rates and charges and numerous public
hearings by the commission.
The general and sweeping order for =
II per cent reduction In general msr.
chandise rates, hits the express coua>
panies harder than any order from tho
Kansas commission in many months.
Following ON the heals o( this ordees
the commission In the same mandato
Gays the express companies must Do
away with their two-line rates ana
adopt general one-lfne rates GOVERNS
all express classification.
That isn't all. Favored Kansas towns
with special rates and privileges by tho
express companies. must stand on equal
basis and footing with all other towns
distance and facilities considered. Un-
Ger the order of tho commission, the
special rates must at once bo aboo110o4
by the express companies and unlSOrW
rates made to all Kansas points,
No Alternative Excepe IN Appeal.
There IN no alternative for the o1p
press companies except an appeal NO.
the order OF the commission. The a.
der Il made effective at once aud =
based upon the recent order OF tho
Interstate Commerce Commission at
fecting express rates.
In addition to its other orders, The
Kansas commission ordered that tho
exGl ess companies add q number -
commodities. to what are now knyW0
further reductions In rates.
/ The minimum charge ON merchAU011o
exp. eAs rates 10 lowered fFom = Scom1D
to "a cents, the>new r41o being one -
tAhsiehed by the Interstate Comueeno
CcmmiDaion. -
The mistmum charge ON ~seuaena
speciAiS 3hI fstnAin ct - eeht9 sRe
cdpt the rate on ice, Nh1Ch Waa re6upu1
| TO - csnt4 Commodities addad 10 t.
classification. Will come under the e.
tablished minimum rate Of Is cents.
| But the commission did not stoD
there. q
second-class rates established BY tho
Interstate Commerce Commissioo,
whore such rates provide q lower chafGo
than that made under the old COM
ties Commission.
saving of Thousands.
These sweeping orders mean the
annual saving Of thousand OF dollars 70
express company patrons in Kanoaa-
AS the order is Immediately effective
the express companies must cbIU8E
comply with the order or appeal Since
the Kansas orders, however, are based
almost entirely on the new tariffs e.
tablished by the Interstate Commerco
Commission. an appeal is hardly ex-
pected.
Since last November. the commis-
sion has been considering the expreD
rate question. A thorough investigA-
ton of express rates. rules and prac-
tices in Kansas was made. An ex-
haustive hearing was held in April
and the order issued today IL based
largely upon evidence introduced at
the April hearing.
In the investigation an expert exs
press rate man from the Interstate
| commerce commission in Washington
| was sent to Kansas to assist in gath
ering facts. He spent several months
| investigating the Kansas rates and
classifications. In addition to th1D
evidence, much information Wa0
| asked and received from the various
express companies. In the Informs
| ton furnished was a complete report
| from the ten largest cities in Kanaas,
| showing way bills received in thooo
! cities for a given week and the
| charges assessed on the old rats.
! Comparisons OF the old charges with
| the proposed new rates, were maAo
and upon this information. the order
1 of a seventeen per cent reduction in
the general rates was ordered.