334 AGRICULTURE OP MAINK. 



Mr. Orcutt: I do not know whether the Interstate Com- 

 merce Commission has approved of the change in rates for 

 which the express companies made application. If these 

 rates were approved by the Interstate Co^imerce Commission, 

 I doubt if anything could be done to change them unless there 

 was a concerted demand by a large number of producers. The 

 railroad companies file tariffs for increase in rates or changes 

 in service. These are posted by the Public Service Commission 

 of each state and if no one objects they go into effect by the 

 approval of the Interstate Commerce Commission. If some 

 one does object they call for a hearing and the case is heard by 

 one of the deputy commissioners, and then they decide to 

 approve or disapprove of the increase in rates. If you will 

 write me I will be very glad to have our transportation agent 

 take up that matter and see if anything can be done. 



Ques. How can we find out that such notices have been 

 posted by the Commission you spoke of so that before the matter 

 comes to the Interstate Commerce Commission we could enter a 

 protest ? 



Ans. These protests are before the Public Service Commis- 

 sion. It is the Public Utilities Commission in this state. The 

 notices would be posted in or outside the office of the Public 

 Utilities Commission. Generally the people who are interested 

 go around to the Public Service Commission once in a couple 

 of weeks or once a month, to see what has been posted ahead. 

 That is for the local states. The Interstate Commerce Com- 

 mission issues a bulletin and I think if you write to the commis- 

 sion your name could be placed on its mailing list. This bulletin 

 schedules the cases which come to it. It may be true that the 

 Interstate Commerce Commission compelled the express com- 

 panies to change their rates, as the companies claim, but it 

 probably was on the application of shippers, and on account of 

 a readjustment, increasing in some sections and decreasing in 

 others. Some shippers probably made application for a decrease, 

 stating that the rates were excessive and a readjustment was 

 made. But generally the application to the Commission comes 

 from the companies. 



Ques. In Vermont they have what they call a baggage rate. 

 I have been for six years trying to get a baggage rate on the 



