Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-09
VERMONT FARMERS PROTEST
Commissioner Brigham Voices Objcc-
tion NJ interstate Commerce Com
mission Hearing.
lFrom the Boston Globe ,

That the raising of milk in Vermont Is
Improbable and that the lea sed car eys
tenn of shipments has tended to create
n monopoly In the business OF shipping
milk and cream from Vermont TO Boston
and other New England cities, was testi-
| fled to yesterday by Eoert 8. Brigham.
commissioner of agriculture in Vermont,
| at tho interstate commerce commission
| hearing
| Commissioner Brigham submitted a
memorandum Of protest from more than
| 1850 Vermont farmers and dairymen,
signedby himself G. F. Smith. master OF
the Vermont state Grange and represent
ativc of the Vermont DairNWcn's 1850
citation and by w. y. caJy OF the "xecu-
| tive committee of the Vermont state
Grange
| lie testified that statements filed with
| the Vermont secretary Of state to fui
| fill the requirements of tho Vermont
! dreaming bonding law show that IN" total
business done by milk firms located in
Boston and vicinity In Vermont in 1914
amounted to 81. 27l .4G5.1S. OF this amount
he said s20i5.25ss5. or ~ per cent. of the
whole. was done by two corporations.
and more than ~ per cent. by four cor
porations.
| OBJECTS TO INCREASES.
| lie declared that anything that would
| tend to increase the cost to the farmer
of getting his milk to market would
| seriously affect the dairy Industry in
Vermont. because at present Vermont
farmers are losing money producing milk
and they are only able TO support them
selves and their families BY working long
er hours than the average workman. by
producing crops and feed at lower than
market cost and by using capital without
interest charges.
| He declared that the present leased
| car system of transpoi ting milk and
cream into the Boston market is unfair
and discriminating. thai the Vermont
| farmers or even small associations of
farmers arc practically excluded from
| shipping milk or cream 10 small dealers
| or large consumers in any city because
| of the leased car system, that this sys-
tenn. IL allowed to continue. will perpctu-
ate monopoly in the milk and cream
business In Vermont because /, brings
| about q condition of service and trans
portation available only to the large deal
ers against which the small shippers
cannot compete.
lie said the farmers arc already paving
a combination of the local rates on milk
and cream. while the farmers in Maine
and New Hampshire enjoy lower rate
although they may be farther away from
the Boston market He gave figures OF
rates in confederation.
COMPETITION TO BOSTON.
Cross-examined by NJ. Carter Hail. coun-
| ~aI Fnr e. ln IA h.
did not know Of single milk shipping
station in Vermont where more thar
one New York milk dealer picked ur
milk, while at the majority of the sta
tons three, four and sometimes five Bos
ton contractors took on part OF theii
supply
Mr.. Hall dey eloped the fact that milk
is shipped from Vermont to New York
by an open-car system, but that this
system has not proved any more advcn
ia geous than the New England LEASED
car system. lie tried to break dow
Commissioner Brghams testimony tina
the leased car system, used for mill
shipments from Vermont to Boston, hac
tended to create a monopoly
Commissioner Brigham said that while
he had produced figures showing th
amount of milk shipped by the Boston
contractors he did not have full knowl
edge OF the New York situation. IL
was asked to file a statement showing
the shipments from Vermont by Ney
York dealers.
+ Mr. Brigham had testified that TIL
e. opcn-car system vas desired by the Yer
= mont farmers for shipping to Boston. r
; Mr.. Hall he said none Of the Vernon
= shippers made direct shipments 10 NeN
York under the open-car system II
said that while prices paid to the farmer
by the Boston dealers We're the same
> there was actual competition betwee
j., several Boston contractors.
:. DISSATISFIED WITH PRICE
!, Cross-examined by John i, y. Cusicl
o., counsel for the Whiting interests. MI
: Brigham stated that Vermont farmer
=, are dissatisfied with the price they ar
X getting. Nermonters, lie said, heliev
the quality of service takes precedenc
over economy; that il thee Is a chang
in rates, the burden should be borne b
the dealers Questioned by ". a. Ora,
stein, he said the open-car system
New York had not created competiiio
= among the New Yorl. contractors
Assistant Attorney General Sc agrav
asked if he knew OF any actual compel
:, ton between the Whiting, Brigham al
. Hood companies.
My study Of prices paid in 1914, AS n
ported to me by my inspector" said NJ
- Brigham, does not reveal any seriol
competition between these companies
Asked il ii was not true that solicitor
kept ont of the other fellows territol
. as much as possible, he said he did n
a know.
81 TO Mr.. cusick he said. concerning con
T., rptitin1 that tho Rrip "a cOmpapy /.