Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-11-27
amendmen,ts proposed by ths Senate to House

llouse bill go hXlng the salary OF tn'
secretary of the board of education; reduc
, ing it from $1,000 to 1000, disagreed to; Z
increase the per diem pay OF members Of tn
board of education from So to 81, ayr &c
to yeas 90 NAYS p. Mr.. Hancock c
Worcester moved to reconsider the vo
whereby the House refused the third reading
of House bill IS providing for the equaliza
ton of freights on railroads, agreed to. In
response to inquiries, Mr.. Converse said the
committee reported against the bill for The
reason that he could see no remedy for the
grievances complained of by the petitioners
and that if he acted at all it would be in the
dark.
Mr. Ferrin said il is notable fact that
the rates for freight charged by the Vermont
Central road are such that freight can be
shipped from Boston to Burlington at the
price for through freight, and then re-shipped
back to Montpelier at the price for local
freight. and get the freight from Boston
cheaper than as though shipped from Boston
direct to Montpelier. This was clearly in
violation of the law Of the state as it now
exists but under this law there is no redress
The people on the line of the road are Cypress
cd in their business by such charges for
freight and there ought to be some legislation
to remedy this evil.
Mr. Hubbard of Stockbridge thought the
legislature ought TO pass this bill, and il all
other legislation is stopped. and we sit here
q week to perfect and pass this bill. he should
be satisfied We ought not to allow railroads
20 charge more for freight from Boston to
points in Vermont, than they do to Chicago
1t was all wrong and ought to be remedied.
Mr. Andrews of Berlin said are to apt
To refuse To pass bills just because the COM
mittee report against them. lie thought this
bill lust. and that it ought to pass.
Nj. Parker Of Wolcott said ne reported
gairst the bill from principle, and with Il
Just understanding of its merits He said
that railroads were mpelled to charge less
for freight ut competing points, in order to
secure business, and that the local freshts
must be IN higher To make up deticien-
cy. This ill alters the present law in that
it allows persona aggreved 10 recover back
hrice the amount Of the freight, instead of
luet the amount, as it now stands
Mr.. Mead said we must have the courage
to meet this question. and remedy the evil,
aud MT allow the attorneys of the railroads
ID defeat proper action on the part Of the
Legislature. when the people arc oppressed
and a-Grieyed by the rates Of freight now
charged
Mr. Wood OF Fairhaven thought that rail
road corporations are sharp enough 10 live
wen il this bill becomes i law. lie thought
its provisions Just and equitable 10 the rail
roads, AMI at the came time prohibited the
roads from making a discrimination against
ne man and one locality III favor of another
man or another locality. Ii not passed 1T
Jlis session, he thought another legislature
would - even further, and regulate the mat
ter in 4 way that perhaps the roads would
not like - well even n this.
Mr. Pelton opposed the bill on the ground
that ii passed it voald drive all through
freight out and around the State of Nermont
Mr.. Ross thought the railroads should not
be allowed 10 carry freight in such - manner
and at such rates a. viii break down the
business men Of one locality and build up
those of another. lie thought the provisions
of the bill in the right direction.
Mr. johnson OF Rockingham said the com
mittee reported on this bill with their eyes
'pen, and thought it UNJUST to the roads.
They could not live and make their charges
pro rata equal at all point
Mr.. Miner Of Manchester said he under
stood that this bill only affects freight that
stopped in the State. and not that which
passes through the STAGE IL must he evi-
dent that freight could be carried from Bel
lows Falls t. = Adams at less pro rata
freight than from Bellows Falls 10 Chester
1t must he we'll known to every one that long
bauis couid be made relatively cheaper than
short ones
Mr.. Cleayeland of Brookfed said, - ono
OF the committee he was disposed t. report
against it on account Of the provisions Of
the bill itself. If it means anything it com
Eels roads u charge the same rate for small
A. for large quantities of freight, and tor
heavy As for light freight We thought that
not just to the roads
MIR Park said we must he careful in our
cndrav1rs u remedy the evils If railroads thar
we 10 not make our condition worse rather
than better He thought that If this bill
t,-~~I - ~~~-s.Ii sie-s7 -, oil "ur rattrpeta-
within thirty days. He said il appeared
upon questions before the committee. that
railroad men had testified that the cost of
{ ansportng freight depended On tie grade
III the road and the kind Of freight. He
said that the expense U keep the road in re
pair was the same if confined t. local business
- though there was also through business
orer the same road. As u the charges for
freight 1t Burlington aud VI )ntpelier. there
was no sense in charging more u Montpelier
than Burlington, but this bill he thought
would not remedy the evil. lie said the
cost to the road was Just rs much 70 haul.
load and unload freight for a short distance
Is for long one, and that roads could not
afford to carry freight a short distance as
cheap, pro rata, rs they can long distance.
He cited examples where the charges under
the provisions vi this bill would close M
tie roads for the reason that it would drive
the through business of the line. NJ road
can be run on local business the through
business must be secured to enable the roads
to live. This bill would prohibit the roads
from securing the through business. We
ought not to prohibit roads from charging
more per n.l{e for short than long distances /
but the roads ought not u be allowed to
charge higher for Short distance than a .
long one. That would be right. Something
ought to be done; but the session was too
snort, and We have not time to perfect a bill.
lie thought committee ought t. he ap-
pointed t. consider the whole subject and
report such provisions would Just meet
this case. and thus have bill that shall be I
Just both u the people and the roads We
must not strike a blow at our railroads that
Will ruin them. for we cannot live without
incIn
AIr. Converse Of Woodetook i:,cetiouslv
replied to Mr.. Hubbard of Stockbridge, and |
with Mr.. Park in the opinion that |
we had not time 10 perfect this bill end !
That we should not take leap in the dark
Mr. Hall of Groton moved to lay the hill |
on the table and make it the special order for /
three 0 clock this afternoon, to enable mem |
bers u confer together as to some measures Z
Tor appointing commission To take THE /
matter into consideration and report at the !
next session of the Legislature : agreed to
AFTERNOON.
SENArE.-!>enate BiH-50. in addition 10
chapter u of the general statutes, relating /
to highways also, House bill 223, relating |
10 common schools and school laws; passed /
RePorts-From Judiciary committee. against
House bill 224, relating to legal voters in
town IN etiug, third reading refused l96,
amending chapter 60 of the general statutes,
relating to marriage, amended and passed
,lSo senate hill II reIatin,, 70 up1;nssbaJ