The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-09-22
Most of Citizens Speaking at
Public Meet Opposed
Trolley $ Proffer
UNFAIF = EALING
S.NLY CHARGED
No Vote Taken, but Senti-
ment Supported Council
in Tabling Franchise

The net result of the citizens meeting
held in the opera house last night TO con-
slider a proposed new franchise for the
Barre & Montpelier Traction & Power
Co. must have been to confirm the city
council in the belief that they represent
ed the majority sentiment of the city
when they tabled the franchise proposed
| by the traction company, franchise
which would remove the regulation of
the company from the city's power and
place it in the hands of the state public
service commission. No vote was taken
pro or con, although one was suggested
but by far the majority sentiment of the
speakers, excepting the officials of the
traction company, was in favor of the
retention of the present franchise for the
remainder of its natural life, which is
nine years.
The meeting was not largely attended;
in fact, it was poorly attended, there be-
ing only about 100 voters out of 1000
present. The interest evinced. however,
was in inverse proportion to the size of
the meeting, and those who failed to at
tend lost the chance to gain some inter-
esting and instructive information and,
incidentally, to get considerable amuse-
ment. +. G.. Rowland was elected chair
man of the meeting Vice-President II.
T. Sands of the petitioning company and
Attorney f. j.. Gleason of the railroad
were the spokesmen for the railroad, Mr..
Sands outlining the railroads proposition
at the outset much as it has been pre-
scented at various meetings of the city
council and as reported frequently in the
columns of this paper
Judge H. w. Scott voiced perhaps the
sentiment against the proposed new
franchise in the most comprehensive
manner, although about a dozen others
added interesting sidelights The gist of
Judge Scott's argument against the COM
pany's proposal was that it took the
right out of the hands of the
city and passed it over to the public
service commission. At the same time
he thought that some concession should
be made to the company. such as in re-
lucing the operation schedule during the
winter months. Judge Scott was also in
,lined to doubt whether the proposed
$4,000 bond in the new franchise would
De any better than the $4,000 bond
which was supposed to exist under the
present franchise.
Speaking of bonds, it developed that
here has been a succession of bonds in
with the history of the road.
10 less than four having been executed
t various times, chiefly in the early
ears of the company's existence. The
rst bond for $4,000 covered the penalty
or non completion of the road within
pecified time; and it was superseded on
lay 81, 1897, by another bond, this time
or $4,000, covering indemnity to the
ity; and the second, in turn, gave way
o third on July /, 1897, for a like
The fourth bond, and the one
opposed to be operative now, was exc
ited on March II, 1898, and was for
$4,000. Judge Scott held that it was a
pod and sufficient bond, while Attorney
leason for the road contended that it
as merely an indemnity bond and did
Of cover all the points which the pro-
osed new bond would cover
An undercurrent of feeling ran through
lie whole meeting to the effect that the
lblic had not been treated fairly in the
after of the raising of fares; one speak
even epuht VI u OH luG Hdib
the railroad in jumping the fares from
e original charge of five cents 1t was
eely stated that the railroad has not
led to win the good will of the public,
at it had even alienated sympathy of
great part of the population of the
immunity but that if it should reduce
passenger charges it would come back
to popular favor and get back onto its
ancial feet.
In this connection it is interesting to
tie Vice President Sands statement
at the gross receipts for the last fiscal
ar exceeded any other year but that
e net receipts were nothing, no divi-
nds having been declared and no sal
les having been paid. Mr.. Sands pre-
lted figures to show that the cost of
Grating the Barre & Montpelier Trac-
n & Power Co. was about the maxi
I'm in Vermont and the wages paid the
ployes were the maximum per hour.
recover. the financial condition of the
ID was shown by him to be extremely
,r. with 100000 bonds coming due on
V. I, next, and the company up against
to know what to do, it being the hope
{ a more liberal franchise granted by
cllN. loEtAnti WIN -hehNptAAft anu
lin. would satisfy the bondholders so
t they would grant an extension.
Dther speakers during the two hours
ate were George n. Tilden, S. d. Al
John Bishop, Angus Mcdonald, d. J.
livan. Alderman Reynolds, City Clerk
mes Mackay, F. G. Howland, Fred W.
lcroft. H. A. Phelps, Alex Ironside.
W. Bisbee and John T. Callaghan. In
merating the speakers it should be
ed that NIessrs. Tilden and Phelps.
sident and secretary, respectively, Of
Barre Board Of Trade, disclaimed any
.ntion Of representing the Board Of
De in asking the city council to call
citizens meeting. Mr.. Phelps saying
he as a private citizen requested
council TO do so.
: previously stated. no action was
N bv the meeting. even Of a recon-
datory nature, il being thought best
cave the matter in the hands Of the
council; and when the subject
ned TO have been exhausted the meet
simply broke up as informally as it
come together. Those Who ventured
lpinion afterwards stated their belief
the city council would not change
tian on the matter as the result Il