The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-02-03
Telegram by United Press.


Washington. Feb. s.-The most
sweeping reduction in express rates
ever maugurated went into effect this
week Before issuing the new rates
the interstate commerce commission
spent nearly four years in iavestigat-
ing the express business and Chair
man Edgar f. Clark, head OF the com
mission, today consented TO give the
United Press an interview in which he
described the events which eliminated
in the order which has just become ef.
feotive.
II was on June 8. 1912. said Chair
man Clark. that the commission.
through Commissioner Lane. now sec
retary OF the interior. issued its first
report in the investigation which has
been conducted into the matter Of ex-
press rates. practices. accounts and
revenues. This investigation was
prompted by large number of com.
plants against charges. practices and
regulations OF express companies. and
il was perhaps the most exhaustive
and searching investigation the com
mission has ever undertaken.
Full investigation was had and con
sideration given TO the financial af-
fairs OF the express companies, charac-
ter of their organization, relationships
they had with the railroads, the extent
and nature OF their property. the
character Of their service. basis Of
their rates systems. cost of their op.
GRAFTON, manner in which their rates
We're stated, the relation OF the service
given by the express companies to that
given by the railroads in different sec
tions Of the country for the same SER
vice. similarities and dissimlarities as
between the express service in the
United States and similar service in
foreign countries. etc
Thirteen defendant express com
panies in 1911 transported more than
100000 600 packages. They operated
over 21s.0l3 miles Of steam railroad
in the United States. over lS.SS5 miles
OF steamship and stage lines, and over
$3.50 miles Of electric lines They
paid to the rail, steamship and electric
lines during the year SG9,7SO,S95, and
their expenses We're something over
$64, 100000. The express companies af-
fairs and interests were interviewer
through ownership Of each others
stock
Aside from the complaints of ex-
cessive charges. the complaints then
before the commission referred more
particularly to double collections of
lawful charges, overcharges and un-
dercharges effecting dissemination be-
tween shippers arising out of an OBJ
scure rate system and ineffective ac-
counting, indirect routing of ship
rients, etc, etc.
Briefly. the commission required a
sweeping reduction in express
charges new system of stating rates
in tariffs. a new classification. use OF
prescribed labels for packages to
avoid double collection of charges,
proper provisions for revision Of bill
( ing so as to insure collection of the
lawful charges, routing arrangements
which in effect make all of the ex-
press companies one and insure rout-
ing via the more direct junction points
and lines, the establishment OF a di-
reetory of free delivery limits. the es-
tablishment and reduction OF insur
ance charges on shipments exceeding
$50 in value and revision Of regula
tions governing the transportation OF
shipments.
"On the matter of reduction in
rates. the express companies natur
ally made every effort to convince the
commission that the reductions pro-
posed were too farreachiag but at the