The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-01-19
Labor Committee Asks Street
Railroad For It Again
WAS CUT OFF RECENTLY
Local Company Stated That Since the
Passage Of New Railroad Rate Law
1t Desired Interpretation Of the
Discrimination Section.

During the past few days conferences
have been held between Central Labor
Union committee and Richard A. Hoar,
attorney for the Barre and Montpelier
Power and Traction company, relative to
the withdrawal Of the two and one half
cent workmen's tickets For some tins
this company, operating the electric rail-
road between Barre and Montpelier, has
made the practice OF selling tickets to
the workers in the granite plants All two
and half cents, instead of making them
pay the egular rate OF FIVE cents. These
tickets We're good only To cover transpor-
tation between the ends of the lines IN
this city to the northern limit. which
takes in all the granite plants.
The Vermont legislature last fall pass
ed new railroad law entitled. aTo req
ulate and eqnalize the charges by rail
road, express, parlor and sleeping car
companies for transportation and SER
vices, and the company cut of the
workmen's tickets until there should be
q satisfactory Interpretation OF the stat
ute. II is claimed that question arose
whether there was discrimination be-
tween granite workers and other pas
sengers OF the cars, the latter being
asked to pay five cents for trip from
the City Hall to Jones Bros, whereas the
holders Of the special tickets could travel
for half that rate. The company. not
knowing what Interpretation would be
made Of the discriminatory clause in the
law, decided to cut out the half tickets.
There naturally arose feeling of dis
content from those who had formerly
paid two and half cents for tickets,
The Central Labor Union appointed a
committee to wait upon the directors of
the company, and the following men,
James Cruickshank, |. T. Robbins, II. A.
Rugg, Frank Adams and James Mutch,
have already held several conferences With
Attorney Hoar with view toward get
ting back the privilege. Although moth
ing definite has been arrived at. 1t Is
confidently expected that arrangements
will be made whereby the workmen's tic
kets will be restored.
The withdrawal of the workmen's tie-
kets was the subject Of verbal griey-
anee against the railroad company and
presented to the city council at recent
executive meeting of that body. It was
one of several, including the taking off
of the workmens car at noon and night,
the n0n-issuing Of transfers and the
placing Of salt on the car tracks The
council referred the matter TO the street
committee and the mayor, but as vet no
action hns been reported,
The removal of the special workmen's
car has resulted in great deal of in.
convenience. During the winter months
particularly, a great many workers in
the granite plants who reside at some
distance from their homes are accustom-
ed to take the cars. This necessarily
crowds the cars to the limit of their
capacity and more, too. Sometimes pas
sengers have been unable to even get
aboard the lower steps Of the cars 50
great is the crush, and have walked IN
stead This happens only twice during
the day, just after the noon whistle and
after the four o'clock whistle,