Arizona republican., 1920-12-21
LEADING EXPRESS. COMP PANIES GIVEN
 PERMIT TOMERGE
 NATIONAL LINES
Interstate Commerce Com mission Grants Extension Of War Time Express Merger For Public Good
Republican A. p. Leased WireI

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-Authority was granted today by the interstate commerce commission for permanent consolidation of the transportation business and properties of the Adams American Wells-Fargo & Company and Southern Express companies into the American Railway Express com pany. The commission said that it was its belief that the public would best be served by one consolidated company serving all lines with equal rates.
 The permit granted by the commits sion was based on an application filed by the four express companies last March. Hearings were held by the committee in August.
 The commission divided on the ques- ton of permitting the express consoh- dation, effected by the railroad ad- ministration as a war measure. to be made permanent, Commissioners Me Chord and Meyer dissenting from the majority and presenting a minority re- port written by the former.
 The consolidation, the dissenting re- port asserted, ''creates a monopoly, y and destroys every semblance of com petition"
 The other members of the commis- sion declared they were of the opinion and find that the public interest will be promoted by the consolidation"
 Tt will now be practically impos- sible,T declared the report written by Commissioner McChord flor another company to enter the express business in competition with the consolidated express company. We can, of course, regulate the rates and certain prac- tices of the American Railway Express company. but we will have no control over its attitude toward the public. We cannot require it to render to the pub lie that efficiency, courtesy and fair dealing which competition compeis.
 "It is my view that the time had come when the carriers should give serious consideration to the conducting Of the express business themselves. That business had reached such pro portion that 1t is now parasite on the freight traffic of the railroads"
 Commissioner McChord also dis sented from the majority opinion Tn that the commission had the power to prescribe under what manner the con solidation may be effected and not grant it's petition for a consolidation.
 The report of the commission recited that with the outbreak of the war the express companies included in the present consolidation were formed into the American Railway Express com pany and took over the express busl- ness of the country as the agent of the  director general of railroads and tha while 23 states appeared to protes algainst the continuation of this com bine. the protests were based on m adeouate service performed by tn joint express companies, which tn corsolidated company admits was pool due to labor conditions. The commls sion accepted the contention of tn companies that service was performe more efficiently under the combine rnanagement than could have been pos sible under separate management. Tn commission ruled that suits pendln against the various companies must D settled bv the courts and not by tn interstate commerce commissio
 While "deploring" the treatment aC corded by certain express compam' to claimants of damages and the pra' tice of only accepting service ln sur at their offices in New York, the con mission held it could not pass upe that phase of the claim.