Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-11-05

books. senator spear san tne Oh law IN
this respect is not changed by this bill
Senator Foster favored the bill. Senator
Smith favored some parts of the bill, but
could not vote for it in its present cOndi
ton. The Senate then passed the bill.
THE FIRST RAILROAD HEARING.
The railroad committees of the two
houses held Joint hearing in the senate
chamber last evening to consider the sub
jet of railroad commission. Mr. Writers
of Milton, Col. A. b. Jewctt of st Johns
bury, Mr. Noble st. Adams, Mr.. Clement
OF Rutland and others were present to
represent the interest of the railroads Mr.
lligbee of Charlotte addressed the com
mlttee. He said that Il commission had
been demanded by the people, and the
only question to discuss was IL to what
sort of a commission the committee would
recommend. He gave an account of the
working of commissions in other States.
and especially of the one in Massachusetts,
which he considered the best and appl-
cable for use in our State His dill had rs
its basis the Massachusetts system and
differed from it in only two points, which
were, first the mode of selection proposed,
and second, the measures for enforcement
His bill provided that the commissioners
be elected by the Legislature, and he
thought that that was Il better way than
appointment by the governor. As TO the
method of enforcement he said that upon
reflection he had decided to follow the
Massachusetts law, which provides for no
compulsory or arbitrary measures. He
would therefore like to withdraw the
provisions in his bill which imposed a
penalty for neglect or refusal on the part
of railroads to comply with the decisions
of the commission.
NJ. c. w. Writers of St Adams, APP
peared for the Central Nermant railroad
and asked those advocating the bills to
explicitly state the grounds of their COM
plants. Mr. Eligbee answered that he
was not prepared to allege any specific in
stances. He wanted a commission to pre-
sent them to, if he had any. Mr.. Writers
thought that no railroad company would
oppose a fair and reasonable commission.
There are five bills before the committee,
and he insisted that some good reason
should be given for the passage of any of
them.
Col. A. F. Walker said that he thought
that since our legislative sessions were
short and held only biennially, some def
mite method of enforcement of the com
missions recommend atoms ought to be
provided. In answer to inquiries by
Messrs. Writer'S, JeWett, Noble and Glenn
ent, Col. Walker said that he thought the
provisions of the Ripley bill were fair
toward the railroads and better adapted
to the needs of this State than purely
advisory commission such as exists i'll
Massachusetts.
Col. Jewett said that so far as he knew
the railroads did not object to a commits
sion, but that they did not want one which
would hamper them and decrease the
value of their securities. The Legislature
should take care and not enact such
stringent laws that it would be difficult
to obtain money from foreign investors to
use in railroads in Vermont. Vermont
railroads have been well conducted
under the old system. The needs
of this State are peculiar and we
should not follow the stringent law of
Illinois and other States. a good commits
sion like that OF Massachusetts he would
second, He favored IA purely advisory
commission.
Mr.. Noble said that the present laws of
the State provided "a remedy for every
grievance except the matter of grade
crossings. \ commission law would leave
the present laws of the State in force and
all that was needed was an advisory com
mission to investigate the workings OF
railroads and recommend to the Legisla-
ture the laws necessary ito remedy what
ever grievances might arise. He was in
favor of legislation on the subject of grade
crossings. He did not not understand
that the Massachusetts commission mad
never found 1t necessary to resort to the
courts but the railroads complied readily
with their recommendations 1t was for
the interest OF the railroads to do so. The
railroads were not opposed to Il commits
sion but would welcome the right kind of
a law which would be an aid rather than
hinder their business. An advisory com
mission like that of Massachusetts was
what was best for this State, and there
We're bills before the Legislature which
proposed such system.
After some further discussion the hear
ing was adjourned until Thursday even
ing at O'Clock.