The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-11-10
ASK SHIPPERS FOR
RATE FIGHT DATA
STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION
WILL PRESENT EVIDENCE IN
WASHINGTON HEARING
Express Shippers of Montana Can
Help by Forwarding Information
Tor 3O-Day Period as to Shipments;
Hearing VIII 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
by the state railway commission to
oppose a 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, 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,
deficit of approximately 100000,
not including return on investment
of the express or railroad companies,
is anticipated. 1t 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
sibly some time in December.
s 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
&c 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 a continuance of those rates or
a reduction therein.
Appeal for Data
Through you and with your kind
we hope to obtain certain
1ata which we believe to be essential
70 proper presentation of the case
Tor the Montana shipper. In this res
1ect, we desire information for a 80
lay period showing the number of
shipments received by express, points
If origin and weights, and the same
Information for shipments forward
ID, also whether such shipments were
delivered and picked up by the ex-
'ress company, or whether this SER
ice was performed by the consignee
II consignor in Montana. Similar
lata, excepting delivery and pick up
ervice, is desired to parcel post ship
nents."