New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-02
TALK IS CHEAPER,
AND FOOD MAY Be
Saving of 10 Per Cent on
Phone Bills Can Go to
Kitchen Account.
CUT IN RATES
NOW IN EFFECT
Lower Express Tariffs Operative
To-day, Likely to Help Re-
duce Living Expenses.

Have YOU noticed any falling on IN inc
cost Of living to-day? Grocery and meat
bills may remain the same but seVerai
.paors" went into effect yesterday which
will mean some reduction In the current
s,n.nses Of a good many households. IL
e diflcult TO determine the price OF hour
and meat by legislation. but in this case
the authorities have done what they coulo
in the matter Of telephone ard express
rates. That helps some.
The order OF the Public Service Com
mission for a reduction OF 10 per cent on
all telephone bills in New York CITY nc
cam. operative yesterday. The order war
served on the New York Telephone COM
psny. The company promised to comply
without further dissent In some In
s+.noss the reduction will mean as much
a. q or 30 per cent. but the average VIII
strike about a 10 per cent basis. The or
der IN 10 remain IN effect until the ques-
eon OF tolls and rates is finally deter
nina after an appraisal Of the property
OF the company.
Thu 1nt.rstate Commerce Commission IS
responsible for the lower express rates
rhe companies have been preparing for
acme time 10 meet the new schedules on
Febyuery I. The new rates are brought
down 70 a level where competition VIII be
much keener with the parcel post par
+tc,,lsrfy IN the case OF the larger pack
ages over long distance hauls, where. IN
some instances, the rates are cheaper
than by parcel post The express com
panie. figure that an increased business
under the new tariffs will go n long way
toward overcoming the losses by reason
of marcel post competition and lower
rates.
Under tho old tariff II cost So cents 10
rend a five-pound package from New YORK
10 81 Louis. The Lew rate is 81 cents IL
formerly cost 50 cents 10 ship ten
mound package Of merchandise 10 St
Louis. The new charge is "A cents. Other
reductions are IN proportion. The express
business under the new order is divided
nary merchandise shipments, and the Sec
ond. articles OF food and drink. Second
class rates are T per cent OF the rate OF
merchandise. Among the articles excepted
are candy, liquor. terrapin and some other
things
The EXPRESS companies hope to build up
a big business in carrying groceries ana
food products. II formerly cost 50 cents
10 send ten pounds OF coffee or tea 10 ST.
Louis The new rate will be SO cents.
The reduction on all similar products
practically cuts tho old rate in two.
The parcel post will still have the ad-
vantage in the cost for small packages
going short distances As an example.
a fve-pound package by parcel post from
New York 10 Boston or Baltimore costs
u cents Under the new schedule the
same package carried by express costs q
cents ten-pound package going from
New York 10 Boston or Baltimore costs "A
cents. but the express charge now IS only
cents more. A twenty-pound package by
parcel post TO the Same destinations costs
a cents, while by the new express rate
II is s cents cheaper The express rate for
longer hauls on heavier packages is now
generally cheaper than parcel post.
Oficials OF the express companies be-
iisve that the majority OF the new rates,
as compared with parcel post rates. will
aid the companies to get business II was
pointed out that one factor in favor Of the
express companies was that their wagons
collect and deliver at the door This
would make a difference in small places,
where the heavier packages are not deliv-
ered BIZ parcel post