The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-08-31

from Rutland to New Haven Junction
OF 20 cents per gross ton.
This is the lowest rate on coal boy iar
that Vermont ever heard Of. Al the
same time the public at large have had
to pay rates Of Sl.2O ton for Goa
from Rutland to New Haven Junction.
Ia some instances as matter Of fay
or, that 81 20 rate has been reduced a
little but never, so far as disclosed,
below 81 10 ton.
So Clement has had for his own per.
sonal benefit a freight rate on coal
practically Sl0O per ton lower than
any body else could get. This has been
unlawful and an outrage upon the
people Of the state. II has enabled
this Democratic candidate TO fatten his
own purse at the expense Of the people
who consume coal.
The Republican state committee
have In their possession two letters,
written by the genera freight agent Of
the Rutland railroad, evidently at the
direction OF Mr. Clement, while Glen
eni was president OF the road. They
are interesting reading 10 the people
OF Vermont because they show how
Clement violated the law and how he
worked for his own personal benefit
These letters are To Vermont coal
dealer. First is letter from the gen
eral freight agent of the Rutland rail
road, dated June {, 1896. II reads as
fol ows:
"Dear Sir: Your favor of June Sd
to our president, L. w. Clement, has
oeen referred 10 me and in reply beg
to advise that the present rate on coal.
carload lots, Burlington TO Shelburne
is so cents per gross ton: to Ferris
burg, 70 cents; To Nergennes 50 cents;
| to New Haven Junction, :. 90. Trust
ing that the above rates will be salts.
factory, ! remain
Yours truly.
h. Il. Aldrich,
General Freight Agent. "
SO while Clement was hauling coal
on his own secret rate for his own
benefit from Rutland to New Haven
Junction, which is fl miles for 20
cents ton, he was charging this 9TH
err coal dealer 81. 90 per ton for hauling
it 26 miles. There never has been a
more Migrant, unjust, and unlawful
discrimination in freight rates than
that in the state of Vermont.
Another letter that the committee
have is dated June g. 1896, is address
ed to the same person and gives rates
on coal from Rutland to the following
points per gross ton: to Proctor, 80
cents; to Pittsford, 10 cents; Brandon,
So cents: Leicester Junction. % cents.
Middlebury, ST.. 10; Ferrisburg, Sl.l5;
Shelburne, Sl.2O; Burlington, 80 cents.
The letter goes on to say "This Bur
lington rate is very low and we shall
expect you to keep it confidential"
The letter is signed "E. b. Aldrich'
General Freight Agent"
1t will be noted that Clement did not
give this other coal dealer any rate
from Rutland to New Haven Junction,
out charged Sl.l0 from Rutland to
ilddebury distance of 81 miles,
while he was getting rate for his own
private benefit of 20 cents from Rut
ami to New Haven Junction which is
q miles. 1t will be noted that while
the law provides that no railroad com
pany shall charge more for hauling
:oal from point to way station
han is charged for hauling it through
that way station to a point beyond,
yet in violation of that law Clement
charged Si.l0 ton for hauling coal
from Rutland to Middlebury, "a miles,
and only 80 cents "a ton for hauling it
from Rutland through Middlebury to
Burlington, which is 81 miles. He
was violating the law Of the state Of
Vermont. No wonder that he does not
want any penalty put Oh to that law.
1t will be noted too, that he wanted it
"KEPT CON FIDENTIAL" although
the public have right to know what
freight rates are. And this man who
has proftted personally by the un.
lawful rates, which he got for himself
and was giving secret rates to other
people and breaking the law in doing
it. asks to be elected governor of Yer
mont. Brattleboro Phoenix.