The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-11-03
MILEAaEs EoR ADVERTISING
Hearing Before Railroad Committee
Of the Legislature

OF blc Legislature
Montpelier Nov. 3.-There was an
other hearing before the Railroad
committee Of the legislature after ad-
iournment Tuesday morning on the
bill to permit the exchange Of rail
road mileages for newspaper adver-
Using.
S. HOLSTER Jackson of Barre
member of the Public Service Com
mission appeared to defend the conf
mission. He admitted early in his
remarks that the letter from John
! ". Redmond, chairman of the COM
mission, which was taken up at the
hearing before the committee last
week, was not known to the commits
sion until after it had been written
and sent out.
Commissioner Jackson also said
the commission had never made any
ruling that would prohibit the inter
| change OF advertising and mileages.
! His entire argument was in support
of the federal law and the ruling Of
the Interstate Commerce, Commits
sion.
But when his attention was called
to the statement in the letter of chair
man Redmond, I'VE have ruled he
said the commission had talked the
matter over and had come to an agree
ment of opinion. That is, Commits
sioner Jackson admitted what was
charged at last weeks hearing, that
Mr.. Redmond in the letter he sent
to Mr. Chaffee, chairman Of the com
mittee, was expressing his own opin-
ions and not those of the commits
sion.
f. f. Langley, publisher of the
Barre Times, and former printing
commissioner opposed the BILL be-
cause he preferred to do business on
cash basis.
c. A. C. Jackson explained that the
newspapers were making no attack
on the Public Service Commission;
that they raised no question because
members OF the commission had
passes and there could be no question
raised by the railroads whether they
were travelling on public or private
business, and said that when it was
! proposed that the pass privilege be
taken from the commission the news
papers opposed it and said 1t was toe
} petty matter for them to engage
in.
Z Mr.. Langley and Commissioner
Jackson had argued that the rail
roads saw in the ruling of the com
mission a chance to save some ex
pense and that they were glad to Gu
off thee advertising. Then, said Mr.
Jackson (be careful to observe thr
distinction between the commission
er and Mr.. If the restor
alton of the old privilege of eS
; change will II not restore the old eN
change between the railroads and tn
newspapers no harm can be done an
the situation will not be changed,
Commissioner Jackson admitte
the main objection to the bill wa
that it opened an opportunity to sui
sldize the press. He could not sho'
how substituting could result from tn
2 interchange OF commodities of
known and fixed value. His after
ton was called to the PROVISIONS {
the bill which provides that the g,
change shall be made on the basis {
r the published card rates of the new
" papers.
Of His argument was that the raj
ID roads would use more than the q
IN customed space. But when aske
" whether under the old conditions Il
IS railroads used more space than wou
he naturally be expected he could NJ
nd say that they did.
N r. W. McCuen, member from We
ee gennes. publisher Of the Vergenn,
- Enterprise, closed the hearing in
ia strong argument for the bill.