The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-12

ANN'Nf'N-f
president OF the New York. New Havea
and Hartford Railroad company, at a
long conference last evening In the rooms
OF the Rhode Island Business Mems as
sociation between officials Of the road
and Providence merchants. The conges-
ton OF freights. the lack OF facilities for
handling them and the adjustment of
freight claims were threshed out and a
perfect understanding reached, only the
details remaining to be settled.
A.. The railroad committee OF the Rhode
Island Business Mems association called
the meeting and II was attended by about
30 representative merchants and teamers
and these officers OF the New York. New
Haven and Hartford railroad: Edward
q. Buckland, vice president; X. l.. Som
ers, traffic manager; r. !. Haskins gem
erai freight agent OF the New England
Navigation company; +. 5. Holbrook.
uenerai freight agent of the New York,
New Haven and Hartford Railroad COM
pasy; A. w. Martin, assistant general
superintendent; j. A. Droege, division su-
perintendent; @. c. Woodwork, general
agent OF freight department; George AL
len, local agent of freight department;
George l.. Winloch, assistant general
freight agent In charge Of freight claims.
and Nathaniel w. Smith attorney.
Among the business men in attendance
were Fred G. Lawton OF the Gorham
Manufacturing company, William "A. Wall
OF Brown & Sharpe company, Thomas w.
Waterman. Mayor Il. j. Mccarthy, G..
Fred Cooper OF Cooper q Sisson, Mr. Tet-
low, manager Providence Beef company;
II. Wildwood OF Wildwood Sons company,
Charles II. Weaver. Leander Belcher OF
Becher & Loomis Hardware company.
Sylvanus Warren, Charles II. Child of the
Standard Mil Supply company, George
w. williams of w Z. Barrett company,
NJ. n. Cartier OF NJ. n. Cartier q sons
company, Gardner c. Sims, Henry Nick
erson and NJ Collier. representing the
American Screw company.
Charles r. Stark, president OF the asso-
citation, introduced Capt N. A. Briggs,
chairman OF the railroad committee. as
the first speaker and Capt Briggs called
upon Thomas w. Waterman for state
ment of the situation from the standpoint
of the Master Teamsters' association.
This statement was prepared by a COM
mittee OF the Master Teamsters asso-
citation, comprising Sylvanus Warren,
Charles H. Weaver and Thomas w. Wa
terman. The principal grievances set
forth were:
The great delay In being waited upon al
the freight cashiers office on Canal street
when getting slips for freight. and the
shortage of receiving clerks at the No.
freight house on Canal street, necessttat.
ing waits of 10 minutes to an hour 10 gel
bills signed; also the blocking of doors
by freight that has been left to accumu.
late. until there is no chance to unload.
The necessity OF an electric hoist being
attached to the large crane in the west
yard, which would greatly expedite the
dispatching OF cars: a protest against tht
lctn ar "a Nffipa n nd thg taking
for days Of the foreman of the yard, de-
laying shipments and causing great loss
the shortage OF men to attend To the un'
loading Of cars at the west yard.
The necessity OF having to go TO India
Point station for cotton, when nearly al
Of the cotton shipped to the city Is USED
or stored in the centre OF the city. and
also the practice of having the slips FOL
the cotton kept at the Canal street office
nearly two miles from where the cottor
is delivered, as well as the lateness In
opening the freight house at India Point
causing a loss OF valuable time.
The necessity of building a platform
outside OF the Canal street freight houst
north of the centre office is urged. thai
double the number of teams now accom-
modated may be loaded
A demand for abolition of ''the crowded
and almost unbearable place we are sub
ject to go into at the Providence line
dock To get bills and slips.
The committee approved the discontinue
ance of the unloading car loads in ths
freight house, also the demurrage fol
holding goods in the houses more than si>
days, and recommended in increase In
charge, and that the time be reduced &c
four days any goods TO be left longer thar
that to be removed to public storehouse
The courteous treatment accorded the
teamsters by Messrs Allen and Wood
cot tftsao Of Ia
mentioned with the expressed belief thai
more clerks and q better class of mer
would eliminate a large part OF the trou
BILE.
Chailman Briggs said the railroad com
pany did not want 10 make It's freigh
shed n storehouse, and thought that the
ss-hour limit for holding Of freight was
sufficient.
A unanimous vote was taken in favor OF
establishing the @-hour limit.
Mr. Williams declared the greatest trou
BILE that his Arm had experienced was thai
clerks employed at the freight houses wer'
too often unable to read and talk plalr
English.
In reply Vice President Buckland, said
"a railroad cannot successfully put into
effect any rule without the cooperation
Of the merchants II IL should attempt tc
conduct such affairs entirely from its owr
standpoint and without regard 10 the
rights and desires and accommodations OF
the merchants II would become oppres-
sive Speaking personally. | believe u Is
tho business Of the railroad TO carry and
deliver goods as quickly as possible, not
to store them. II has been the policy ol
storing goods that has In a great measuri
caused the congeSted conditions OF which
complaints are being made. Something
must be done do not regard your re-
quests as at all dictatorial. What ] wisl
TO know is whether you merchants VII
stand back OF the proposed sS-hour rule
can promise you that we will take under
consideration whatever suggestions are
made here tonight and that such i'm
provements as we can make will be made
at the earliest possible moment.
MIR Brggs-Did I understand you cor
rectly at the time that called upon YOU
Mr. auckland, that claim agent woulc
be located In this city?
Mr. Buckland-1 do not recall such Z
conversation I do not think u would
be expedient TO esta blish such an agency
I'm this city, for the reason that all th'
papers must necessarily be kept together
at one office but can assure you tha
all claims will be adjusted as rapidly n:
Il is possible 10 do so.
MIR. Briggs read a report Of the worl
that has already been done by the rail