The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-11-20
FREIGHT CONDITIONS
 WARF LY DENOUNCED
BUSINESS MEN OF THE STATE MEET AND AGREE ON
 ACTION.

Grievances of Some of Them-ResOlu-
 tiOn Adopted Calling for Suggestions
 for Improvement From All Local As-
 sOciatiOns in the State-Traflic Man.
 acer Somers of the Consolidated In-
 vites Committee to Discuss Matter
 With Him-ROad Handicapped by hm-
 prOvements Now Under Way.
 Hartford, Nov. 19.-Eighteen of the twenty-four local branches of the State Business Mems association were repre- sented this afternoon at the conference of the special committee appointed to discuss freight conditions. The opin- ions expressed during the nearly three hours session were practically unani- nous in criticism of existing freight conditions. The basis of complaint was delay in delivery, lack of efficient help in freight depots and breakage.
 Nearly every member in attendance related personal experience of freight delay and annoyance, and the hearing came to a close with the passage of a resolution which, it is expected by the members, will bring the situation clear- ly before the railroad officials.
 The resolution calls for suggestions for freight improvement from all local associations in the state, and these are to be presented to the following com- mittee, with instructions to present them to and discuss them with E, E. somers, freight traffic manager of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad President Atwater, of the state association; Secretary Bishop; J. H. Alvord, Winsted; M, w. Manwar- ing, Bridgeport; c. A. Cook, Ansonia; J. A. Allen New London, and Eldridge Geary, Danbury. It is expected that this committee will be called together again in about ten days.
 The New Haven representatives in attendance were divided in their views. One thought that the merchants there had little fault to find. Another thought there was abundant ground for lcriti- cism. Danbury was lenient In it's opin- ion because of hopes that recent prom ises of improvement would be fulfilled. The other exception was Glastonbury
 One of the New Britain representa- lives said that the management of the road was trying to do all possible to better conditions, adding that nearly every railroad in the country was ham dicapped in it's service owing to the general prosperity. He also thought more efficient help and better wages would go a long way toward eliminat- ing the trouble.
 A New London merchant advocated the establishment of a bureau of claims.
 A Guilford merchant told about q quarter of beef, consigned to him, trav- cling about for week during July, and which when finally delivered had to be buried.
 The carrying of barrels of kerosene oil on top of a carload of meat was also criticised.
 One other member said that if Pres ident Mellen and others would stop spending so much money on bridges, etc., and devote some of it to the freight service, there would be less cause for complaint.
 A Southington representative claimed that there was a general lack of system throughout the service.
 A letter addressed to President At water from Traffic Manager Somers was read. It touched upon circum- stances incidental to improvements now under way on the New York, New Ha- ven and Hartford system which had tended to handicap the road in the freight service. He declared that the intention of the road was to handle the freight in a reasonable and fair man. ner, and promised adequate freight fa- cilities at all points. It concluded by inviting the committee to discuss the matter in person with MT. Somers.