Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-02-09
Several Residents of Mont.
pelier Sue the Elec.
trio Road.
ALL WANT FIVE CENT FARES
Were Elected From the Cars In Formal
Manner-City ttorpey Carleton De-
mands Better Service For semin-
AIRY Hili-Bsrre Also Afterth
Electric Magnates.

Montpelier, Feb. G-The Electric Rail-
way company is accommodating about all
the legal business that it will desire to
attend to for some time to come To-day
NJ. w. Nheelock, V. l.. Slayton, r. II.
Tracy and w NJ. Ordway boarded the IL
"A. m. car to Barre and after paying the
INST five cent lnstalment and demanding
transfers they refused to pay the second
bve cents and were get off by Conductor
Perry in tho snow when Just over the
Barre line. They Immediately boarded the
next car for this city and went through
the same programme again and were
again elected on upper Barre street by
Conductor Martin. The quartette then
walked into the city and brought seven
suits against tho conductors named abova
for assault claiming so damages in each
ease. The force of attorneys in the city
and tho sheriffs were kept busy in the af-
ternoon making out and serving the pa
pcrs.
To the abo;e number another case was
added. that Of L. VI. Harvey. who was
bounced in the Saturday expedition.
against Superintendent Smith and all are
set for trial in city Court next Monday.
1t is understood that each case * rom
appealabc as tho amounts sued for in
each instance does not exceed the so limit
provided for by statute.
Tho gentlemen who We're bounced yes
terday stated that one of the employees Of
the road Informed them that orders had
been issued To the conductors to eject all
passengers who refused to pay the ten
cent fare as in the instances quoted. r.
y. Hoar. attorney for the rcHd. asked yes
terGu. for "A continuance in the case Of
W. y. shay against superintendent Smith
but the request will not be granted unless
the cour' 50 rules.
There is one element about the situation
which is very amusing and that is the en-
ployees are as urbane and chivalrous as
rlltN Nt.b IL
from the car and it is accepted in the sanIe
vein by those elected for it is we'll under
stood that they are following instructions
from the company
City Attorney Carleton was not quite
satisfied with the way the order regarding
the running of the Seminary hill car was
compiled with as there are waits Of about
~ minutes on each trip and he has noti-
fed Superintendent Smith that this car
must be kept in motion a certain sec
ton of the franchise provides that Il car
cannot be kept standing for any length
of time so as to block the highway. What
the result Of the war between the city and
the road Will be can only he surmised but
posses ION is said to he nine points in law
and Montpelier was here first.
BARRE PEOPLE WILL ACT.
Barre VI. Feb. 6.--As the days 90 by
and the public become more convinced Of
the i'll treatment they are receiving from
the barre and Montpelier Traction com
pany, in the advancing of the fare the
indignation grows and it is proposed to
follow the action of the citizens of Mont
peler and make several test cases.
The contract under which the company
secured the right to run through the
streets of Barre provided that the rate OF
fare should not be over five cents to any
part of Barre. and that the COMPANY
shot d give transfers to any and all lines
owned hy it, This. local lawyers claim,
Is a direct agreement to give a five cent
fare TO Montpelier and it is understood
that number of leading citizens will
try this week TO ride from here to Mont
pelier city for five cents and If removed
from the ear will bring suit against tha
company.
Another test which is also contemplated
is taking the South Main street car some
where in North Barre and when it reaches
the junction of South Main and Washing
ton streets have a demand made on the
conductor for transfers for Washington
street. 1t is not expected that these will
he issued, and when the Washington
street car comes one half hour later II il
proposed TO undertake to ride. If eject
ment from the car follows action will be
brought against the Traction company
for damages.