The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-03-25
Violated Law Against Employ
ing Help Continuously
Over 16 Hours
HEARING TO-DAY BE-
FORE JUDGE MARTIN
Exceeded Time Limit by 40 Minutes
Between New London and Brattle-
boro-StalIed and Forced to Wait
Near West Hartford.

Fines of 1926 and $3.50 were imposed
upon the Central Vermont Railway com
pany by United States Judge j. l.. Mar
tin this forenoon for violations of the
Hours of Service act, a United States
statute relative to interstate commerce.
The hearing was held in Judge Martin 5
offices in the American building, United
States District Attorney Alexander
Dunnett of St. Johnsbury appearing for
the government and Attorney G. w.
/ Writers of st. Adams representing the
railroad company.
i The statute provides that a railroad
company shall not keep any employee
in service continuously exceeding 10
hours and provides a penalty in the
way of fine not to exceed $4,000, in
the discretion of the court.
Inspectors employed by the govern
ment, who are called ''spies by the
railroad companies, watch closely for
violations of the statute. Often they
are discharged union men who are look
ing for every opportunity to prosecute
the railroad companies, and sometimes
they have the sympathy of the employees
involved by the violations.
Mr.. Dunnett, representing the attOr-
ney generals department, alleged that
in February, 1912, a Central Vermont
train running from New London &c
Brattleboro violated the Hours of Ser.
vice act. On reaching Millers Falls the
train had 53 minutes in which to make
the run to South Vernon.
1t was alleged by the government
that on this trip some employees were
kept at work 10 hours continuously, bat
the train schedule showed that the 10
hour limit was exceeded by only 4C
minutes. Judge Martin imposed a fine
OF 1925.
The other ease against the Contra
Vermont, in which the same counsel APP
peared, was for a violation of the sam,
act in the same month. February, 1912
A train left st. Adams for White Rive
Junction and became stalled near Yves
Hartford. There was no telegraph sta
ton near and no way by which the train
4 could obtain permission to run on som
other train S time, consequently a lon
4 wait was necessary, whereby the 1C
/ hour limit was exceeded by two and
half hours. For this offense Judge Mar
j tin imposed fine of $3.50.
There was also a hearing on bill O
exceptions in the ease of Eugene Ston,
i whose home is near ST. Johnsbur,
against the Connecticut Valley Lunlbe
q company, involving breach of col
tract. Stone had contract 10 cut fC
8 the company large quantity of To-
q on the bank of the Connecticut rive
s about year ago. He was dissatisfe
q with the eompany's measurement
8 claiming that they were too small, ,
s. he threw up the contract and brougl
8 suit for damages, being given a verdi,
8 of about $4,000.
The defendant moved to have the We
5 dict set aside, but Judge Martin owe
q ruled the motion. The defendant tn,
q gave notice of an appeal to the Unit,
s. States Circuit Court of Appeals, al
s. the hearing today was for the purpo
Il Of agreeing upon a statement of fac
b TO he incorporated in the defendant
q bill of exceptions. Elisha May of :
Il Iohnsbury appeared for Mr. Stor
n and Alexander Dunnett appeared f
III the lumber company.