Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-11-12


there was no need Of a commission TO SET
tie disputes and regulate the affairs of
railroads. Railroads had always settled
disputes between themselves without any
commission and ii was best to leave it to
them. The people seemed to want il and
| If the Legislature were determined to pass
II commission law, care should be taken
not TO engraft upon it certain pernicious
measures which some of the bills contain
ed
The provision giving the commission
power to examine the books accounts
etc, of the railroad and to demand COPIES
of private papers of the corporation, Gov
Smith, said was II dangerous thing
which could benefit no man but enemies
of the railroads outside of the State The
Central Vermont is one of several com
peting lines and large part of its bust
ness depends ON its success in underbid-
ding and competing with such roads
as the New York Central and the Penn
sylvania road. There would he nothing
more pleasing to these lines than to know
the terms and contracts made by the Cen
| trail Vermont with its patrons Informal
ton obtained would be used by specula-
tors to raise and lower the value of stcuri-
| ties, for speculative purposes. Information
50 obtained is garble | and used for pur-
poses injurious to the railroad and the
people. The Central Vermont would not
object to true statement of its affairs
! =
person liberty to take a partial statement
and make it public.
As to rates, GOV. Smith said that the
complaints made by the people were only
| because the subject was not generally I'M
| derstood If the facts were known If
would be seen that the Central Vermont
road actually carries Vermont freight for
less per ton per mile than 1t carries
through freight Many asked why the
road did not have graduated tariff" A
strictly graduated tariff would be unjust
to the farmers and oppressive to the people
generally. A rate of 20 cents per ton at
White River junction would give $1l per
carload at Rouses Point and IS per car
load at Burlington. 1t would be unwise 10
have a strictly graduated tariff and the
rates established by the road were the re-
suit of the experience of the most skilled
men in railroad affairs a small rate was
made at some lower point on the road
and increased in Il decreasing proportion
at higher points so that shippers at the
latter place could afford to ship. Thus
the rates made brought the distant
points together and helped the producers
all through the State. As to through rates
from Chicago, Il car of Chicago freight is
taken by Central Vermont engine at st.
Johns and the only cost incurred is haul
ing that car while in the case of local
freight the company had to maintain sta
tions and take charge of such freight
ton until il was carried to its destina-
ton, and this extra expense when reck-
oned up was so much that it actually
costs the road more per ton per mile than
it did for through freight. A short haul
bill would shut off all through bust
it to competing lines, giving no
benefit to the people, but rather
it would be disadvantage to Nermonters
for 1t is fact that the amount of produce,
etc, brought into the State is four times
what goes out. A short haul bill would
be an injury to the farmers, and it was
these facts which Congress stumbled upon
when short haul bill was before them
The present law of the State is more com
plete and summary than any commission
BILL a uniform system of keeping &C
counts would be impracticable, and the
provision that the expenses of the com
mission should be paid by the roads was
unjust The Central Vermont pays 500
600 annually to the State which was one
quarter of the total State tax. Was this
not enough The State ought to pay her
own officers and not lay additional bur
den on the railroads, who had not been
niggardly in their relations with the
State.
There was not the same reason here for
a commission that there was in MaSsa-
chusetts. Massachusetts adopted com
mission because that State was a large
some officers were elected to look after
the interests of the State. Thus the com
mission OF that State was given the right
70 examine the accounts of railroads.
ms does not apply to Vermont roads.
NO argument had vet been shown that a
railroad commission ought to be establish
ed IN Vermont. No claim has been made
nor complaint entered against railroads
when could not he met by the means al !
ready provided.
Col. a. f. Walker and Mr. Higbee spoke
II answer to Gov. Smith. Col. Walker
thought there was no cause for apprehen- |
sion concerning the effect of certain pro
visions of the proposed commission bills |
ny Gov. smith. The people demand
COMMISSION and that was reason enough |
Tor 1t. He thought that commission
ought not to fix rates, certainly not max
mum rates as proposed by some of the |
bills. 1t should be minimum rates that
the com mission should fix, if they fixed |
any. He thought that it would be possible
to make law that would be beueiicial to
both the people and the railroads. Feel |
lngs OF anmosity in Il matter like this |
were out of place and he thought there
was no such feelings on the part of the
friends OF Il commission.
Mr.. lligbee also thought that com |
mission was demanded toy the people and |
the Legislature could not 20 home with |
out enactlng one, and sustained the pro |
visions Of his bill
Chairman Marsh announced that this |
would he the last hearing on the commits |
SION bills, and that the committees would |
now consider the matter more in detail.
THE RUTLAND HEARING.
The hearing on the division of Rutland |
was continued last evening in Represen- |
tatlve hall. George w. Wing, Esq, spoke |
against division of the town for nearly |
two hours.
Col. Joyce in behalf of Proctor, closed |
t he hearing, answering the charges |
brought against Gov. Proctor, and max
ing telling speech
The committee will hold "a session to-
morrow with closed doors
NOTE AND COMMENT.
Vermont is breaking new ground in |
favor of woman suffrage, but in Massa |
the cause will, ii is believed, be |