The sun., 1919-05-07
ADAMS EXP. MAKES
OFFER FOR CLAIMS
To Settle for Goods Received,
but Not Recorded at Sixty
Cents on Dollar.
LOSSES MAY BE 100000
Other Companies Have Not
Made Similar Proposals,
Say Officials.

Slippers who hold claims against the
Adams Express Company for lost
strayed or stolen parcels of express and
are willing to take Il gamblers chance
rather than wait longer for their money
can collect 50 gents OH dollar and be
paid Immediately. Announcement to that
effect was made yesterday by G. W.
stockton OF Stockton & Stockton, general
counsel for the Adams Express Com
rauy The offer is for claims in cases
IN which il can be shown that the COM
pany received the goods and that there
IS no record of delivery, or investiga-
ton to show delivery has not been com
pleted. 1t is estimated by officials of
the company that 1t faces an accumula-
ton Of 100000 loss and damage claims
on shipments made prior to July /,
1918, when it was included in the Amer
lean Railway Express Company merger
The greater number of the 100000
claims against the Adams Express Com
pany that have accumulated are held by
shippers in New York, Philadelphia,
Pttsburg and Boston, as tho company
engaged largely in the short haul ex-
press business, serving the Long Island.
New Haven and Pennsylvania railroad
systems. Most of the claims resulted
from the freight and express congestion
when shipping of the country was dis
organized and freight service broke
down.
There was perhaps no public utility
that was affected more by the war than
tho express companies" said Mr.. Stock
ton 'They operated on a very close
margin before the costs of virtually
every factor in the service arose and 1t
IS matter OF record that no increases in
rates were granted before the big merger
came IN July. 1918. The Adams Express
Company lost about $40, 100000 between
July /, 1917, and July !, 1918, a deficit
equal 10 tho capital stock. II II had not
been for a reserve slowed away in its
sock the company would have been
bankrupt. The company employed young
men who were hefty ana ririle. They
had TO move heavy freight. When the
war came virtually all of them were lost
10 the company through enlistment or
tho draft Commercial companies, able
TO pay higher wages than the express
companies, grabbed the others. The Gov
eminent took away our railway express
cars for its movement of troops and
military stores. When the freight ser
vice broke down we were deluged with
business, This had to be handled in box
cars which were neither heated nor
lighted. 1t was necessary to load and
unload frequently and this caused more
labor and greater losses from breakage.
The clerical costs SCARED and help. being
Inexperienced. billed express by the
wrong routes. failed to keep records care
fully and caused an avalanche of claims
to pile up against US. Owing to resultant
DISCRIMINATION we have been unable
to investigate claims promptly and
there are perhaps outstanding $780, 900
on goods shipped prior to July /. 1918.
Shippers have fiocked to our offices de-
string settlement. and We have explained
some Of the difficulties involved. The
claims are being investigated by local
agents Of the American Railway Express
and as it is inexpedient to have the
thousands of tons " records sent here,
,,,,,oI, 5o1or