The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-11-28

votes, had led to the supposition that these
forty-eight votes for the prohibition candi-
date must have been reckoned in with Mr..
Welling's vote. The votes were taken to
the town clerks Office and, as they were
left in a room easily accessible, the bundle
could without difficulty have been distracted
in the night. The statements of Mr.. Batch
elder were substantiated by the testimony
OF Mr.. Gibson and Mr.. yelling of Benning-
ton.
THE railroad committees of the senate and
house held joint hearing Wednesday, in
the supreme court room, on the bill, intro
duced by Mr.. Howard, abolishing the So
called market-day rates. Mr.. Howard
opened the discussion with vigorous
speech in favor of the bill. He said that the
freight to Rutland Is lower than to Fair
Haven, although the former place is sixteen
miles beyond the latter. Each Tuesday
the citizens of Fair Haven are allowed to
go to Rutland for half-fare. This has re-
suited in sending all the cash trade of the
town to Rutland. Although Fair Haven is
market CENTER the railroad company has
refused to the town a market-day rate.
Neither can the people of Rutland come to
Fair Haven for half-fare. This is building
up the large towns at the expense of the
smaller, and some legislation should he en-
acted to protect the latter. The rates should
be the same on each day in the week. The
petition from Fair Haven in favor of the
First, poor workmen who do not travel at
all, second, business men who will go any
way, third, men who are wealthy and have
nothing else to do than to seek the lowest
market. If the market-day rates are not
abolished now the result will be to close all
the stores in the small towns. The low
rates will then be done away with, as there
would be no object for their continuance,
since the people could not trade at home
and would be obliged to go to the large
towns any way. Colonel Clarke of Rut-
land followed Mr.. Howard and spoke
briefly in opposition to the meas
ure. He said that no injury was done
to any one by the special rates. The mer-
chants of Fair Haven are in favor of it.
The chief advantage is that once week the
producers can go to large trade center and
meet greater number of buyers than they
could at home In answer to Mr.. Towards
argument that the company would not give
Fair Haven special rate, he said that he
supposed they did not consider the village
of sufficient importance. Mr.. Howard in
formed the committee, in answer to Ques-
ton from Chairman Boyden, that the towns
of West Haven, Benson, Poutney, White
hall, Hubbardton and Castleton would
center toward Fair Haven, if it was given
market-day rate. Mr.. Howard inquired
how these towns which had sent in remon-
strances came to learn of the measure so
suddenly and take such an interest in its
defeat. Colonel Clarke acknowledged that
the remonstrance heads had been printed
at his office and circulated at the request of
" Rutland people," Colonel Clarke's re-
marks were seconded by Messrs. Bill of
Franklin, Dow of Enosburgh, Stebbns of
Sheldon, Stevens of st, Adams, Marvin of
Berkshire and Hale of Montgomery who
stated that their towns were in favor of re-
tanning the market-day rates. Captain
Howe and Mr.. Goddard of Ludlow, who
represented nine-tenths of the citizens of
that place, and others were present to tes-
tify of the evil effects of the rates on the
smaller towns and entered a plea for the
passage of the bill.