The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-01-20
Attempt To Substitute
Minority Report
MADE BY SUPPORTERS OF
THE CENTRAL VERMONT
Chief Opponent of Boston & Maine
Plan on Floor Of House Admitted He
Was a Grand Trunk Attorney-B Bry
ant Supported Committee Report.
MontpeIier, Jan. 90.


Montpelier, Jan. 20.
BY a substantial majority in the Yer.
mont house of representatives the bill
giving the Vermont Valley road author
itv to extend its line from Brattleboro
TO South Vernon was advanced to Ia
third reading late last evening. The
test vote came on the question of sub
stituting the minority report (favor.
able to the Central Nermont) for the
findings of the majority of the railroad
committee. the house sustaining the
majority 12T to 6l This action fol
lowed fully five hours of strenuous, de-
bate, in which the local railroad situa.
tion was thoroughly threshed out.
The bill was taken up in the house
at $50 yesterday afternoon as a special
order, and was debated until nearly
$50, when adjournment was taken until
7.30, with the prospect of long even
ing session. 1t was the biggest number
on the legislative program for the ses-
sion.
Not for years has there been such a
railroad lobby around the state house.
So many lawyers were present on both
sides that the halls and corridors
looked at times like miniature meetings
of the bar association. Both sides were
onto their Job. With a majority report
that was unfavorable, the Central Yer
mont interests felt they were up
against it good and hard, but decided
to give the Boston & Maine a run for
its money, anyway, on the floor of the
house. Both sides were well organ
lied, and all the good speakers were
pressed into service.
It has been generally recognized
that the espousal by Brattleboro of the
Vermont Valley bill gave that cause
the advantage, and if the measure
finally becomes a law that road will
have Brattleboro TO thank for it as
much as anybody.
The question before the house, after
the bill had been read, was on the
adoption of the majority report. Pend
ing this, Mr.. Peck of Burlington
moved that the proposal of amendment
offered bv the minority of the commit
tee should be substituted. this relating
to trackage rights through the Brattle-
boro yards. Mr.. Peck spoke briefly on
the bill and said he would speak again,
but the chair informed him that if he
finished then he would have. to. take
his chances, as the chair would follow
rule "a which specifies that members
NAV speak only once on question un-
less all others have had their say. In
other words. he said the member from
Burlington had no mortgage on the
floor.
~ will trust to the fairness of the
chair, - said the member from Burllng-
ton.
''The chair will be fair, but he de-
sires the member from Burlington to
understand the situation, so that there
will be no misunderstanding later on. =
Mr.. Chaffee of Rutland followed Mr..
Peck and explained the views taken by
the committee, and the causes that led
them to make their report.
Mr.. Amey of Brighton followed Mr.;
Peek and made the main argument OF
the debate for the Grand Trunk. After
calling attention to the claim that TINS
subject was the greatest transportation
problem before New England today,
affecting the property rights of great
trans.continental railroad, he declared
that if the New Haven road was given
the right to take the Central Vermont
property it sounded the death knell of
railroad competition in New England.
The pass at Brattleboro was the Their
mopylae of New England. The Grand
Trunk was branching out for New Eng
land business. Mr.. Mellen, who was
seeking a New England monopoly. was
trying to block it. The. Grand Trunk
has secured a charter in Providence IS
and a certificate of eXigency in Massa-
chusetts. The Grand Trunk was the
only independent line in New England.
1t was the salvation of the industries
of New England. 1t saved to them the
differential rate. This fight was Wall
street against an independent line.
The Grand Trunk was seeking tide
water terminal at Providence for its
great transcontinental freight. 1t rec
ognized the presence of the. many IN,
dustries in New England, and expected
to send back its grain cars filled with
their goods. The Grand Trunk needed
all the land it now owned at Brattle-
boro for future use.
Mr.. Amey then explained engineer
ing questions that had been raised. He
said the Boston & Maine plan would
reduce the Central Vermont s property
at Brattleboro from % acres to
9 $40 acres. =,
Mr.. Amey paid his respects to Mr..
Crosby. He said the Boston d Name
intended h to bm put nm q eyer on on @ car for for
switching charges, all the profit that
he makes on car, and he has 600 cars
a wear. Mr.. Crosby made a speech here. |
He made speech in Brattleboro' but
they finally caught him. Now his eyes
are closed in slumber. He has gone be-