The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-11-17
ASK SHIPPERS FOR
RATE FIGHT DATA
STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION
WILL PRESENT EVIDENCE IN
WASHINGTON HEARING
Express Shippers Of Montana Can
Help by Forwarding Information
for 3O-Day Period as to Shipments;
Hearing win Probably be Held
Later in Montana.

appeals have been made to Mon
tana express shippers to aid in the
preparation of data to be presented
oy the state railway commission to
oppose proposed increase in rates,
according to notices sent out to the
commercial clubs of Montana.
The hearing will open in Washing
ton on November 20, and will be an
investigation of interstate rates and
charges for the transportation Of ex-
press traffic in and between express
zones for the purpose of determining
whether such rates and charges, or
any of them, are unreasonable.
The letter sent out reads in part:
Several days ago we received
from the attorney for the American
railway Express company, a copy of
the petition for an increase in express
rates filed with the interstate COM
merce commission on October 20. The
petition does not state the amount of
increase wanted, but it does mention
the fact that for the year 1922, a
deficit of approximately $13,0OO,OOO,
not including return on investment
OF the express or railroad companies,
is anticipated. It is very probable
that this petition will be consolidated
with the case set for hearing Nov
ember 20. The petition has not yet
been formally filed with this board
for intrastate consideration.
May Bring Hearing West
THE fact that hearings are to
commence in Washington does not in
dictate, We are informed, that all are
to be held there. On the contrary,
because large number of the COM
plants which resulted in the order
for the general inquiry came from
zone No. 4, the intermountain terri
tory, hearings may be held in the
zone, although this is one of the mat
tiers to be considered at Washington.
We are confident in view of the scope
of the inquiry, that one or more hear
ings will be held in Montana, pos
s1bly some time in December.
Express shippers in Montana gen.
orally, are aware that this board did
not, after formal inquiry, grant the
petition of the express company in
November. 1920, for an increase of
26 per cent in Montana intrastate
rates and in this connection we might
add that the discrimination proceed
ings brought by the express company
before the interstate commerce COM
mission in November, 1921, have not
yet been decided by the commission.
"The cases pending before the in
terstate commerce commission will
require the support of all Montana
express shippers to prevent an in
crease in the present rates, and to OBJ
tain continuance Of those rates or
q reduction therein.
Appeal for Data
Through you and with your kind
assistance, we hope to obtain certain
data which we believe to be essential
to q proper presentation Of the case
for the Montana shipper. In this res
pect, we desire information for a 80
day period showing the number of
shipments received by express, points
Of origin and weights, and the same
Information for shipments forward
ed, also whether such shipments were
delivered and picked up by the ex-
press company, or whether this SER
vice was performed by the consignee
or consignor in Montana. Similar
data, excepting delivery and pick up
service. is desired to parcel post ship
ments.''