The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-06-29
BOND-HOLDERS MAY
JUNK" BIN. TROLLEY
IF DENIED RELIEF
Representatives of Traction Company
Presented Proposed New Franchise
to the City Council-Latter
Defers Action.

| DelerS Action.
At the request of the traction COM
pany, another conference was held last
night between the representatives of the
electric railroad and the Barre city coun-
ell, with view to securing assent by the
/ latter to a proposed new franchise, which
would, among other features, give the
regulation of the company to the state
public service commission After two
hours discussion, the council adjourned
without taking action, the idea being to
hold a meeting shortly to consider the
! matter. The traction compay was rep
resented by Vice-President Sands, Coun
sci Gleason and Manager Larrabee.
The officials of the traction company
went over the arguments which had been
presented at the several previous confer
ences, advancing the claim that both
the city and the company would be ben
Gifted by the adoption of the proposed
franchise. Vice President Sands ex-
pressed ii as his opinion that the bond
holders of the railroad might accept the
franchise in view of the fact that it
would offer more favorable conditions for
the operation of the road. When some of
the city council expressed the idea that
the traction company has never paid ex-
penses, Mr.. Sands corrected the state
ment by declaring that during the past
six months the road had been doing a
little better, having been able to meet
expenses. However, the bonds could not
be met next November unless the COM
pany could raise the money. but il was
the opinion expressed by the traction
officials that the bondholders might agree
TO an extension of the bonds if more fa
vorable terms were accorded the road.
Alderman Alexander expressed the opin
ion that if the company should make a
five-eent rate for passengers from Barre |
to Montpelier there would be a large in |
crease in patronage Later, Alderman |
Reynolds said that a ten-cent fare from |
Barre to Montpelier would restore the |
road to popular favor in Barre, favor
which was lost when the company jacked
up the rate and particularly the charge |
for workingmen's tickets. AT both Of
these suggestions the traction officials
smiled incredulously and declared that
both fve-cent and ten-cent fare had
been tried and the road was no better off.
They claimed that the comparatively |
small size of Barre and Montpelier pre-
'luded the possibility OF carrying many
more passengers than now carried.
AS already stated, the meat of the pro-
posed franchise was the removal of the
arbitrary control of the road by the city
Inder the present hard and fast fran
hise and the placing of the company un'
Ter public service commission dictation;
md the paragraph covering that transi
ion was as follows;
III. The foregoing terms and regula-
ions are subject TO modification and
hange by agreement between the city
ouncil and the company; but in case eli.
her party shall propose any modification
II change to sections A. l3, l6, 10, 2l and
3, and the other party fails to agree
hereto in writing within 80 days from
uch proposal, the party so proposing
nay petition the public service commits
ion or such other body as at the time :
as power to regulate or supervise street I.
ailway companies, to make such order .
nd decision as to the subject matter of : :
uch proposal as, after due notice and /,
ull hearing, seems to such commission
r other body just and proper; and such :
rder and decision shall be final and
hiding upon said city and company"
A suggestion was made mot as
hreat, it was stated that the bond
olders might decide to rip up the road
nd Junk the equipment at whatever
rice it would bring if more liberal
-anchise could not be secured from =
ARE, Berlin and Montpelier. City At :
,rney Wishart added that he had re-
'ntly talked with John Flynn, one of I
ie bondholders, and the latter had ex :
-essed the same idea. The city council :
d not seem TO be stirred by the posi- =
lity, although they promised at -
clock to take the proposed franchise ', y
1der advisement, and the conference ad- = =
urned. -