Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-25

| fact that passengers and shippers every
where on its lines must unite In paving
this amount Of interest, viz $4,000 per
annum, a generous and graceful thing
on the part of the State of Massachu-
sets would be to cancel and return to
the Boston and Maine railroad the s5,-
0OO. coo of bonds and receive back the
common stock of the Fitchburg railroad
in order to relieve the Boston and Maine
railroad from the annual payment of the
$4,000 interest thereon.
The operation of the Sound steamship
lines by the railroads has resulted in
quicker, cheaper and more satisfactory
service between New York and New Eng
land; New England is practically unani-
nous in urging that the New Haven road
he allowed to retain and operate these
lines.
HARDSHIP FOR RAILROADS
It is the custom of the postoffico de-
partment to weigh mail carried by rail-
roads over the different routes every four
years, and base the compensation to the
railroads for carrying mails upon the
average weights thus obtained. The par
GELS post transportation was to become
effective January /, 1919 and with that
knowledge in mind the postoffice authori-
ties ordered weighing of the mails
to begin September II, 1912. and to cease
December II 1o12 and uoon tbo ayorayo
weights for that period the payments to
railroads for transportation of mails is
based for the four years succeeding July
|, 1913. The parcels TRANSFORMATION in
creased the weight of mails 40 per cent
ESTIMATED, for which trarsnortatior tho
railroads arc rccoivinr M ADEQUATE co,o-
ncnsatior such =, announcement 10 in
defonsiblo nm tbo mart of tho fedora,
government. and is great hardship up-
on the roads Just at this time when rail-
road receipts are decreasing and eX-
pehses Climbing We suggest that the
weights OF mails he taken for another
period beginning September 10, 1914, and
ending December Is 1914, and that the
compensation to railroads for mail serv-
Ice he based upon the average weights
so ascortained.
Inc passenger business should pay at
least its cost; every other department of
a railroad that shows deficit imposes
an added and artificial burden upon the
Shippers win IN" result that not only
the railroads but interdependent indus
tries are retarded in their development
me convenient arrangement for inter-
| 'hahgeaole mileage which has existed
may possibly be continued.
Inc elimination OF grade crossings. al
! thoush most desirable mas proved to be
a great burden upon the railroads and
mas been carried forward more rapidly
than the roads resources have warrant
ed Ihere should ne temporary sus-
pension of new undertakings Of this ma
tufe until the roads snail have recovered
| their hhancial equi1nilum'
SHOULD AMEND LAWS
| From these considerations II is our
| conclusion that so far as local condi
lions hermit the public service commits
sion laws of the several Now ErgIard
States should ne 81 amended nc 10 nro-
! vide for the appointmcnt of commissions
comprising members of tho qualifications
| herein above recommended with nav
! sufficient to command their services ard
! the devotion Of their entire time IN tboir
| nublic dutiee
| The diversity of interests and varvire
areas of tho sayarol c.o,o ,.i,, aa,,t,
less make entire uniformity Of raeu,a,i,r
impra cticable.
IL q y a.
! ed II would he needless IN ,,.go tho ,r,-
priety of interfering 70 tbo 1eos, do
gree. with tho oneratior and mo,.,o-
nent of the nainterarca o,,d t,oe,io 90
the resnectiva roads Sucb con,r,iss;o,,.
would interfere only whom II was felt that
the necessity was imnarotiva
II could ho reosonabl,. a>,,oo.oa .bo.
under the regulation of sucb bodies hoy-
ing a local interest and nrido AVID ,
knowledge of local conditions and 20
Environments railroad ,,oe,o,,,,,. ,,.,,,i,
no ca r.gulatod ~, .ba ,o,.or,, e,.a..., 49,,
10 avoid the pocessitv -, .ho r.oe,,,,.,. l.,
ternosition Of tho ir,ors,o., oa,,,,,o,.,,
) commission which cou,d mot how, mo-
intimate knowledpe which &c ossor,ioI 20
n ms, reputation
The subject cannot bo dis,,issoa u.;,b
some and restrictive and coreictir, VOC
ulation nv many of tho Sto+,s oo,..,,,i,e.r
tho issuos of railrood s,o,,rt,,o =. 49,,
connection tho reco,,r,ardo.io,, -, 49,
railroad securities cor,rois.ior t., ~
commended pror,isir, +ha+ ,,,,.,,,,,.,,
dation h,, Tho s+ato,oor+ ,.,,,,,,,,. ,,,,,r,,,
cd nv tho exnariono, 90 a.. -. 49,,
Maine railroad ~ wit ct, ,a r.,'aaa
,, g -.
below mar is nrobihitod fro,,, iss,,i,,c, s,cl,,
at loss than mar ~ ,,,oo,,s ,hot a. ,,,,,.t
raise oil t,s ,,o,,o,. h,, -. !. =, ,,
na,lod IN 90 moro ard 80 son,,. to-,
daht :. :. and tho hao,,,a ro w.
,,torost cborgo., az, 49, ,,-,, .,,,,