Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-04
SHIPPERS TO GET SERVICE
| ON EXPRESS AGENT TODAY
ADAMS and Southern Representa-
tive Will BE in Richmond and
Accept Legal Notices.
HUNDREDS HAVE CLAIMS
Companies Which Have Withdrawn
Their Representatives From State
Will Have Man i'm City for Few
Hours for First Time Since Com
SOlidatiOn.

Nirginians who have claims against
the Adams Express Company. whic;'
s shS% n hs co 1sen aSi The com
p:tnieS under Federal control. Will
have their first, and possibly las,
chance TO get legal service on an
! officer of the company in Virginia.
Announcement that john Il. Iiock
I aday, an officer in both companies.
| will be int 101 South seventh street
/ all day - accept legal service OF ali
B claims aiding against the compa-
( mics. has pccn made by the state Cor
/ poration Commission.
1 AS there Is no official of either
company in Virginia, nor has Their"
been for some time. il is claimed by
IN. IN Corporation Commission 'h i;,
two concerns have been unable 10 coll
lect. !, is said they wcro told flies
OF the companies had been lost or
misplaced. The Interstate Commerce
! Commission is now considering a Pc
iition by which all the companies
may continue rs one unit. as i'll war
time.
Companies Severely Criticized.
Severe criticism of the express
companies in question. coming not
only from Virginia, but from all over
this move for consolidation before
the Interstate body. the Virginia
commission having opposed II on the
grounds that claims against the two
companies should be prid before,
their identity is lost in the larger
organization.
The companies in question became
part OF the American hallway EN-
press Company by act of the PreSi-
dent when war was declared. the
conSolidation being effected June ],
1918, when the government took over
the operation Of the entire system.
Prior to that time many claims were
made for loss and damages. amount
ing. officials OF the state Corporation
commission
ands OF dollars in Virginia alone. Be
sides these. many cash on delivery
claims. which the commission as
Upon the wartime union OF the
Adams. American. Wells Fargo and
Southern companies. ii was agreed
the main body. This WAS done for
some ,imc. but il is now asserted
THAT some time ago the Adams and
Southern companies withdrew their
books and claim records from the
Federal organization, and took them
to New York. Since that time no
settlements of any consequence have
have been made. the Corporation
Commission declares.
Claims Expire In Two Years.
Their policy since withdrawal OF
their claim books is called one OF
all claims against both companies
are null and void two years and a
day after loss is suffered, the losing
which made impossible recovery on
any claim. Further, IL il claimed
that all agents of both 'SIpa'Srs
We're withdrawn from the !~,te lid
that no legal service could be got
ten on any person who was an Of
fetal of the company.
Taking up the cause OF the ship
per. tho state Corporation Commits
sion went To Washington and opposed
consolidation of the two companies
with the American Railway Express
Company until payment of claims
was arranged.
Mrs. IIockaday. who is also an Of
fetal OF the American Railway Ex
press Company, was in Richmond last
Alexander Forward and other officials
Of the commission and finally agreed
to return today To accept all services
against the Adams and Southern by
| thousands OF dollars worth of claims
VIII be flied against the company to-
day here.
Many Papers Sent for Service.
Up TO Saturday the state Corpora
ton Commission had received dozens
81 service papers from all over the
served or turned over to the proper
parties for service. These were sent
TO the City Sergeant OF the Sheriff.
( Kcqucsts We're also made that the
vice Tor certain of the claimants, who
were anxious TO recover losses.
Mr.. liockaday expressed himself as
very much opposed to the policy Of
tn" company in alleged evasion of
claims against it to members of the
commission. He will he in his Office
from y. NJ. until i. NJ. to accept
service.
L. = Goodman. manager OF the
I traffic department OF the Chamber OF
Commerce was one of the witnesses
who testified against the company at
Washington. when the consolidation
proceedings came up. expressing him
self strongly at tho hearing on the
policy Of the company.