Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-08-17
p. w. Clement and His Coal Graft.

1t will be remembered that the investiga-
ton Of the Waterbury asylum revealed
the fact that one concern had had Sc
cret rate on coal for several years and
therefore had been able to crush out
competition, this one company having a
secret rate from Alburg, the distributing
point, to Waterbury, of from 20 to so
cents a ton less than anybody else had.
The Republican state platform declares
in favor of state law to strengthen the
national law for rate regulation and to
put a penalty upon the railroad which
grants the secret rate and the party who
receives it. 1t is the greatest evil in our
nation and our state today and the most
important issue before the voters. When
the Democratic and Independent conven-
tions met, under the control of the man
who was to be their candidate, they were
absolutely silent on this question. 1t is
now disclosed that the Rutland railroad
company, while Clement was its presi-
dent, or while he has been director, has
been the most vicious of all in its breach
Of the law and disregard of the rights Of
the public at large.
Clement and his family own the Bristol
railroad, a short line running from New
Haven Junction to Bristol. This rail-
road, of which Clement is the president,
does the coal business for the village OF
Bristol, all people there having to buy
coal from that railroad, which sells 1t at
retail. The Bristol railroad gets all its
coal from the Rutland railroad at New
Haven Junction. 1t has been discovered
that while Clement has been president or
director of the Rutland railroad he has
secured for his Bristol railroad, for his
oil "a Orl
from Rutland to New Haven Junction of
20 cents per gross ton. This is the low
est rate on coal by far that Vermont
ever heard Of At the same time the pub
lie at large have had to pay rates of
s1.2O ton for coal from Rutland to New
Haven Junction. In some instances, as
matter Of favor, that $1.20 rate has been
reduced little, but never, so far as dis
closed. below $1.10 a ton. So Clement has
had for his own personal benefit a freight
rate on coal practically s1.00 per ton lower
| than anybody else could get. This has
been unlawful and an outrage upon the
people of the state. 1t 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 general freight agent Of the Rutland
railroad, evidently at the direction of Mr..
Clement, while Clement was president of
the road. They are interesting reading to
| 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 a Vermont coal deal
err First is letter from the general
| freight agent of the Rutland railroad,
dated June 4, 1886. II reads as follows;
Dear Sir: Your favor of June Sd to our
president, p. w. Clement, has been re-
| ferred to 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 Ferrisburg, 20 cents; to
| Vergennes, so cents; to New Haven juno
ton, s1.OO. Trusting that the above rates
will be satisfactory, remain,
Yours truly,
Z. B. 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 Al miles, for 20 cents ton, he
was charging this other coal dealer $1.0(
per ton for hauling 1t % miles. There
never has been a more fragrant, unjust
and unlawful discrimination in freight
rates than that in the state of Vermont
Another letter that the committee have
is dated June 6, 1896, is addressed to the
same person. and gives the rates on Goa
from Rutland to the following points pei
gross ton: To Proctor, so cents; Pittsford
20 cents: Brandon, So cents; Leicester
Junction. 95 cents; Middlebury, $1.10; Fer
risburg, S115; Shelburne, $1.2O; Burlington
so cents. The letter goes on to say: "Thi!
Burlington rate is very low and we shall
expect you will keep 1t confidential" Thu
letter is signed "E. B. Aldrich, Genera
Freight Agent"
1t will be noted that Clement did no
give this other coal dealer any rate from
Rutland to New Haven Junction, bu
charged $1.1O from Rutland to Middlebury
which is "a miles, while he was getting
rate for his own private benefit of
cents from Rutland to New Haven June
ton, which is Al miles. 1t will be note,
that while the law provides that no rail
road company shall charge more for haul
ing coal from a point to a way station
than is charged for hauling it through
that way station to a point beyond, we
in violation OF that law Clement charge
$1.1O a ton for hauling coal from Rutlan
to Middlebury, "a miles, and only so cent
a ton for hauling it from Rutland throug
: Middlebury to Burlington, which is
miles. He was violating the law OF tn
) state of Vermont No wonder that h
does not want any penalty put on to tina
law. 1t will be noted, too, that he wante
1t KEPT CONFIDENTIAL" althoug
the public have right to know wha
} freight rates are. And this man who ha
5 profited personally by the unlawful rate
! which he got for himself, and was givin
7 secret rates to other people and brealSin
: the law in doing 1t, asks to be electe
; governor OF Vermont.
Another thing shows how much thl
candidate regards the law. This sam
Bristol railroad company, OF which he
/ president, has refused to comply with tn
{ requirements of the state railroad com
. mission, although the law says that raj
= road companies shall furnish data an
information required. On March, n. 100
the chairman Of the railroad commissio
wrote to the superintendent OF the Brii
! tol railroad as follows:
: Dear Sir: / desire to call your atten
: tion 70 your report Of the Bristol railroa
company to the railroad commission, pae
81. do not understand why you are UT
able to furnish any information require
in answer to the questions on that pag'
/ notice from examination that your roa
has never furnished any information
| the commission upon the subject Of trai