Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-27
A Severe Struggle on Between
Large and Small Companies.
EQUAL RIGHTS DEMANDED.
The Big Corporations Said to En-
joy Great Favofltism.
Gypsy Moth Appropriation Measure May
Meet Opposition, Though FavorabIy
Reported byAgrcuItural
Committee.
Especial Correspondence of the Spy9

Especial Correspondence of the Spy)
Boston, Feb. 26-There is quite a bat
tie between the large and the small ex-
press companies, the first skirmish of
%which took place Wednesday before, the
committee on railroads. The cause Of
the smaller companies has been taken
up by two of the house members, Mr.
Reed Of Taunton and Mr.. Grimes of
Reading. Both of these members have
introduced bills with the same object in
view, to give TO the smaller express COM
panies of the state similar privileges
with the strong and mighty com
panies which are known to the public
as the Adams, the American, the Ma
tional and the New York and Boston
express companies. The Reed bill pro-
vfdes for amendments TO the law of
1894 which gave authority to the rail
road companies in the state to contract
with those express companies which
they chose to, for the exclusive privi-
leges on their respective lines, and to
the exclusion of all other express com
panies. The Grimes bill provides for
correction of the same alleged evil, but
through a repeal of the law of 1894 be-
fore the proposed legislation goes into
effect.
The large companies were represented
at the hearing Wednesday by L. S. Dab
ney of Boston, one of the leading law
yers of eastern Massachusetts, The pc
titioners were represented by eX-Repre-
sentative Reed of Taunton, father Of
the present member from that city, who
introduced the bill. The proceedings
were intensely interesting, and demon
strate that the struggle is greater than
yyae ad Erlp 10 hills in
troduced. The hearing was not con-
cluded on the first day, but was carried
over to the coming week.
According to the representations Of
the petitioners, the powerful express
companies have practically exclusive
control on the railroads of the state.
The National Express Company has the
Bitchburg between Boston and Troy;
the American, the entire Boston and
Maine system; the New York and Bos-
ton, the entire New York, New Haven
and Hartford, with the exception of the
Providence division between Boston and
Providence which is held by Earle &
Prev; the Adams, the Boston and AL
bany between Boston and Worcester,
and the New England system; and the
American. the Boston and Albany west
of Worcester According to the state
ments of the friends of the proposed leg
islation, these companies are allowed to
SelQ express On dllN dIlQ dill pas
Senger trains over the roads where they
have privileges. The smaller express
companies have no privileges on eX-
press trains, with the exception of a
limited number at certain hours of the
day and on which they are obliged to
send express messengers to care for the
merchandise The number of these pas
senger trains does not exceed four or
five on any of the roads. All other ex-
press matter not sent on these trains
has to go on freight trains, and there
the smaller companies are at great
disadvantage over the large ones in the
time required for transmission of goods.
In spite of this handicap, the smaller
companies continue their struggle for
existence and business, but on quick
freight are practically out Of the COM
petition. Now they come forward with
a bill which they claim will not only
afford them relief, but will also result
in lower express charges and better SER
vice.
The committee on gypsy moth of the
state board Of agriculture has succeed
ed in obtaining from the legislative COM
emittee on agriculture report for an
appropriation of 100000 for the continu-
alton of the work of eXterlninating the
moth. The report of the committee
recommends an appropriation of $780,
900, in addition to the $4,000 already ap-
making the total amount at the disposal
of the committee for the current year.
a round 100000.
There was one dissenter to the report
of the committee on agriculture. This
was Senator George e. Putnam of Low
ell Several of the house members re-
served the right to dissent, but it is
doubtful if any Of them avail themselves
of 1t, and many Of the men who were
at first opposed to large appropria-
ton, admit a conviction that the work
is of greater proportion than they sup
posed, and that the commission should
have all of the money asked for, or
none.
But the battle against an enormous
appropriation is vet in its primary
stages. The report of the committee
on agriculture goes to the committee
on ways and means of the house, and
unless this committee establishes a new
precedent, there will be some trimming
before the bill is reported back to the
mouse. This committee has always
held that the appropriations for this
work have been too generous as recon-
mended by the committee on agricul-
ture, and has heretofore succeeded in
reducing the amount of the same, before
the enactment of the bill Although
the argument of the gypsy moth com
mission, that it should continue the
work on the lines of total extermina-
ton, or abandon the same, has had
some influence, it is believed that the
finance committee of the house, another
name for the ways and means, will
holq to It's usual position and insist upon
reouctlon in the appropriation.
ihefe is some dissatisfaction among
the members of the committee on agri-
culture at the manner in which the vote
on tne appropriation was reached It
was taken Friday after the greater part
OF the morning had been given TO a
nearing on the question of reducing
compensation for tuberculous cattle
from full to half value There were
only few minutes left before luncheon.
but Mr.. Bennett of Saugus insisted up
on vote on the gypsy moth, and by a
vote of to the committee decided to
Notefon the question. Then the vote for
the 100000 was cast Ii was understood
by some of the committee that there
was to be a tour into the infested dis
trict for the purpose of inspecting the
field work of the commission and that
there would be time enough for this.
in view of the emergency appropriation
of $4,000 made some time ago and
which the commission is now spending.
But the member from Saugus was firm
and held for a vote. 1t is doubtful if
the ways and means reaches its deci-
sion with such untidnely haste 1t is
possible that those members of the COM
nittee on agriculture, who desired to
visit the infested district, may have this
opportunity, while the bill is in the
hands of the ways and means commit
tee.
An interesting incident occurred be-
fore the committee on street railways
the other day, when Bentley B. War
rem went out of his way to reply to the
charges of the railroad ao,,,, iee;o,,o,.s