Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-30
EXPRESS RATE INCREASE
MEETS WITH FAVOR
In Railroad and Other Quarters i
Washington.

The granting of the petition OF ex-
press companies for a modification
OF orders by the interstate COM
merce commission, by which they
will be permitted to increase rates
on an average OF nearly per cent.
on all packages Weighing less than
100 pounds, is regarded very favor
ably in railroad and other quarters
in Washington. II Ia taken as evil
dence of a new era In the history Of
the interstate commerce commission
and as indicating a commendable
disposition to correct past errors.
Express rates under present con-
ditions are made up ON the basis Of
three factors: An allowance Of 20
cents for collection and delivery of
each shipment, which does not vary
with weight or distance; a rail
t ter allowance Of Is cents per
weight, but not the distance; and
the rail transportation rate for 100
pounds, which varies with the
weight, the distance and the zone.
The effect OF the change will be
ton and delivery to the extent of 9
cents for each shipment and reduce
the rail terminal allowance at the
per pound.
As the weight increases the 5 per
cent. increase allowed for packages
OF hve pounds or less Is gradually
decreased, SO that on shipments Of
more than 100 pounds there will be
no reduction from present rates, and
on some packages OF eighty five
pounds and more there will be no re-
The scale allowed by the commits
sion above five pounds on first class
traffic Is as follows:
On packages of from 8 to 20
pounds, a per cent, increase. 80 to
40 pounds, 2 per cent; II to 90
pounds. l per cent.
The commission makes this except
ton:
Certain weights will, however,
differ slightly from the figures given,
due to the disposition Of fractions,
and not all shipments of over IS
pounds will be increased"
The commission says further:
Whore the above is representa-
tive Of the increase on first class
traffic, second class shipments will
amounts. as the second class rates
rates. Substantially no sa' com ns otasy
rates will be affected by the pro-
posed increased. Under the plan pro-
posed the distance a shipment is
hooACo AeAo AAO veal ing upon Inc pro-
posed increase in rates, except in so
far as they may be affected by the
casting of Of fractions of one half
cent. or the addition Of one cent
when the fraction exceeds one half"
The commission finds in It's report
that the revenues OF the leading ex-
press companies decreased about
9.21 per cent. in 1915 from what
they were the year before, while
operating expenses decreased only
SO per cent. The net operating rev.
1913 to deficit Of S1,1S2,s11 in
enues decreased from $1,253,42s in
1915. The commission found that
In 1915 the express companies han
died 2,225.92s more shipments than
in the year before, with a decrease
in revenue of more than S13,500. 900.
The average revenue per shipment
Of the Adams Express company, for
example. decreased nearly IL cents
on each shipment; that Of the Amer
lean Express company more than 1-2
cents; that of the Southern Express
company nearly 9 cents, and that of
the Wells Fargo company nearly 6
cents.
"while the financial condition of
| certain of the express companies Is
more favorable than that of others,
1t clearly appears that as a whole
they are operating at a loss" adds
/ the commission.