The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-24
RUTLAND AND WASHINGTON
COUNTIES PRODUCERS AS
ISOLATION.
saturdays Mceting-MemOria and
Resolutions Adopted.


,s A meeting of the above association wa
Il held at Odd Fellows hall, Poultney, Sat
IS urday afternoon, August 81. Owing t.
f the fact that the managers of the Delawar,
e and Hudson canal company had given no
ticc TO the slate producers that the tariff
t adopted by them July 20 would not remar
/ in force after August 20, the attendance
t was quite large, nearly all of the leading
slate producers in Granville, Poultney
Fairhaven and Hydeville being present
The president called the meeting to order
at 2:30. The minutes of the last meeting
were read by the secretary and approved.
Barnes Frisble, from the committee up
pointed TO prepare memorial to be pre-
scented to the next legislature, presented
Committee on memorial report form as
follows:
To the General A ssembly Of The State Of rermont;
OCTOBER SESSION, 1874.
Your petitioners OF the town of
respectfully represent that In our opinion the
|
ture should regulate the rates Of freight and
passenger tariff on railroads. While railroads
have become Indispensable in the business of
country, they have also become monopolles
After the Introduction OF railroads 1t was ex-
pectcd that rates would be regulated in due
time by competition, but combination has come
instead competition which seems to regulate all
other commercial affairs and trade does little
| In Ia of rat
railroads. We arc all dependent on the rail-
roads either for travel or for other transporta-
tlon of. our industrial products. There is no
escape from this dependence, or is there any
escape from paying such rates as the selfish In
| terests OF corporations may demand, unless
| rates can be regulated by laws. Experience
| has shown that building additional lines result
| In combination rather than competition, and
| that we are now and must for years to come be
subject to the cupldlty of railroad managers
unless power beside that controlled by self
interest can regulate railroad tariffs. We
therefore pray that your honorable body take
| this matter Under careful consideration and
establish such regulation as TO you shall seem
| just and reasonable both to the interests OF the
railroads and the interests OF the people
Barnes Frisbic stated that the memorial
IncScHtcu W as StntIu III It's tcTillS, Dul
if the association went in for reform it
must be general one. Tho legislature
would probably classify ireights, but the
principle would be general. 1t looked to
him that if they were in earnest in the
matter the slate producers should get up
memorial of their own, as the slate inter-
ests suffer more than any other, that bust
ness being dependent upon proper tariff
for its life. lie was in favor OF drawing
up a memorial giving facts and statistics
in relation to the slate business, and that
every member should circulate it extern
sively.
Pitt w. Hyde wished to know if the
memorial drawn up was intended us a por-
ton of the one advised.
Barnes Frsbie said that it was, but in adj
dition should show clearly that the slate
interest could not prosper under the present
tariff.
Mr.. Hyde favored the suggestion and
thought that it should be sent to the north
east corner of the state, where the grangers
were in sympathy with the movement, and
who had offered the association help.
Henry Fyfe thought that before present
ing the memorial to the legislature it should
be backed up by facts to show what the
grievances of the association were.
Barnes Frisbie said that the memorial
should be lengthy, setting out all the facts,
and copy should be in the hands of every
member of both houses.
Mr.. Hyde suggested that as the time was
short the same committee should be
authorized 10 correspond with the promi-
nent men in the oranges on the east side of
the mountain, and a copy of the memorial
sent them that they could adopt it.or draw
up a new one as they thought best.
j. II. Wiswell moved that the report of
the committee be adopted, and that they
draw up IA memorial giving the charges
and rates of the railroad, showing their
position, and that they see 10 their circula-
tion.
A. L. Knapp suggested that as it would
need q man of influence to carry it to the
legislature, and as money would be needed
for printing and some one would have to
be paid, the association should count the
cost and see whether they are able to pro-
coed with the matter.
G. ID. Spencer said that if a good strong
man should present the memorial the
legislature would pass any reasonable
law
p. w. Hyde thought that some asss-
lance would be procured from the marble
interests. A lawyer would probably have
to be employed, and that $4OO or $500
should be provided.
G. d. Spencer said that if the thing was
started right the entire press of the State,
| with the exception of the St. Adams
Adcereser, would be in favor of the move.
w. L. Clark wanted to know if this was
intended for the Delaware and Hudson
canal company, or for all the roads. One
| of the committee stated that it was in
| tended for all.
A. f. Knapp made his suggestion again
in regard to raising funds.
w. A. Clark said We have enleav-
oled to place facts before the company,
proving that it is as much for their inter-
ests as well as for ours to reduce the tariff
on slate, and we now know that to be the
fact, for we were selling more slate on the
reduced tariff than was sold on the old
tariff, and by our correspondence with our
Western customers we were led to expect
a good trade. But now we are worse off
than before, for our customers will not
dare to bid for Vermont slate, because of
the uncertainty of our freight tariffs, and
some OF us arc left in an embarrassed posi-
ton, for, as you all very well know, most
of our slate is sold delivered, and rs we
have closed contracts on slate delivered