The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-03-24
.OVERCHARGED
JONES BROS.
Is Complaint Heard by Com
missioner Prouty
in BOSTON YESTERDAY
Following the Presentation Of Consider
able Testimony an Adjournment
Was Taken to May rs at the
Same Place.
i'm BOSTON YESTERDAY

Boston, March 24. Interstate Com.
merce Commissioners Charles A. Pronty
heard complaints against nine railroads
yesterday for an alleged raise in the
minimum rating In granite from 10000
to 10000 pounds made last summer.
The complaints were brought by the
National Association Of Granite Indus
tries through its president, Seward W..
Jones Of Newton, Mass, and Barre, VT,
against the Boston and Maine, the New
York Central, New York, New Haven
and Hartford, Canadian Pacific, Long
Island, Delaware and Hudson, Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western, Michigan
Central, and the Montpelier and Wells
River railroads
The case involves a complaint Of over
charges in freight rates, and incidentally
the claim Of discrimination against the
granite industry Of New England, and
IN favor Of the soft-stone producers Of
Ohio, Indiana and other points in the
West,
Minimum Carload Rate Too High
The chief complaint Is that the rate
for the minimum carload weight is too
high, Athe complainants alleging that
they cannot always load as much as
10000 pounds upon the cars furnished,
and that they have to pay just as nuch
for $4,000 pounds Or other weight less
than the minimum established by the
respondent roads, as If the load was
10000 pounds. The petitioners also
seek refunding Of the alleged over
charges.
Testimony was given at the morning
session by the senior member Of The
tones company, ia which he enumerated
he several instances OF alleged unjust
'harges.
Luther s. Anderson. superintendent of
he Quiney Granite company. and also |
.onneeted with the Fore River company
vas the most important witness of the /
lay He WAS called al an expert by /
he New York, New Haven Il Hartford I
Railroad company and gave much yalu- I
lble suggestion and information to the |
and the attsfneys.
He said that all railroads III the New I
england district were seeking methods
" which they could meet the demands [
i reasonable rights On the part Of gran
te men. Previous to 1895, he said, few
lat cars were built Of the capacity Of
5000 pounds, but now they were eon
tructed of the capacity Of 10000, 10000 I
md even Of 100000 pounds capacity.
Though the roads had no induecment
Q build such cars except for use BY the
asnite people.
Request for Continuance.
Mr., Rich, for the Boston & Maine
abroad asked for continuance Of the
earring until some future time. on the
round that no evidence had been pro.
uce % support the contention Of the
which was only for repa
alton for alleged excess of charges.
Commissioner Prouty replied that the
ole question raised nnder the pleadings
sas as TO the movement OF granite from
Iarre The real questionis az to wheth
7 the freight charges should be under
he sixth class rates. and ii so, If the
5000 minimum rule sholnd apply. es-
ecially in the case Of l04 shipments
ince Aug. 81, on each Of which the
'etitioners had to pay for 10000 pounds,
Though the weight was less
The Barre road. as he reminded coun
Ell, forbids the placing Of one piece Of
ranite upon another on its cars, while
ther roads require II to be done II
uch practice We're forbidden, he asked,
ow are the granite people going to load
be minimum weight on carr # it
ias not forbidden. then why should the
minimum rule be appliedg He believed
he prayer Of the petitioners should be
mended 50 as to ask the commission
} establish d reasonable rate. and that
should be confined exclusively to ship
tents from Barre.
The commissioner suggested that a
minimum weight be established for cars
varying length and width. instead of /;
ie same rate for all sizes Of cars, as
ow.
Al Httct W dhvHA opportunity W ~
ito the whole matter, and to conserve
le great interests of the granite com
lnies as well as OF the railroads, he {
lggested a continuance for two months {
I'd that Air. Jones, in the meantime. [
rnish full information upon all the i
1ints raised and to be raised. s
This was aeceaed to by all parties, /
ID the hearing was continued to May
), at the same place. [