The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-02
RAILROADS ACCUSED
For Methods of Conducting Customs
Brokerage Business.

Sensational charges against various
railroads, including the Central Vermont,
| Rutland, Boston & Maine, Canadian Pa
cifc and Grand Trunk which are engaged
| in customs brokerage business at Rich
ford, Highgate, ST. Adams, Beecher Falls
and Island Pond were made by Repre-
sentative Daniel w. Steele of Highgate
and Curtis II. Emery, for nine years col
lector of customs at Newport and for the
last two years a customs broker in that
| town, at the hearing last evening before
the House corporations and franchises
| committee of the Vermont legislature or
the bill introduced by Mr. Steele, which
would make it unlawful for any railroad
or express company to carry on any Gus
toms house brokerage business either di-
rectly or indirectly or to receive any OF
the emoluments or fees of such business.
Both Mr.. Steele and Mr. Emery, in
lengthy arguments, contended that the
conduct OF the railroads in cutting the
rates of the customs brokers and in deny
ing to other brokers the privileges which
they gave their own employers who act
ed as dummy" customs brokers by Sc
curing license in their own name tended
W Nttdtt q iIotlbpblN dHh was Oil
discrimination of one shipper in favor OF
another on the theory that broker is
shipper
The Central Vermont railroad it was
said is the only one which has secured
corporation license to carry on a customs
brokerage business. They also argued
that none of the railroads has any char
ter rights to carry on this business, but
did so on the ground that il was a right
incidental 10 the performance of their
duties as railroads.
Mr.. Emery also stated and offered to
testify under oath that w. b. G. Stickney
of Rutland, an attorney for one OF the
railroads, had told him "that the rail I
roads should not be engaged in this 1.-THE I
customs BROKERAGE business The pas I
sage of the bill was advocated because (
under the present law these gentlemen .
stated that they had no proper method of
redress.
The railroads and express companies,
who were represented by an imposing ar
ray Of legal talent including w. b. c.
Stickney Of Rutland, John W. Redmond
of Newport, Charles F. Black of st. Al.
bans, r. f. Alfred of Newport and III. c.
Shurtlef of Montpelier, argued that the
performance of the customs brokerage 1
business, l. e.. the clearance OF goods from
the customs authorities and forwarding
them, was a part of their duty and held
so by the United States supreme court
giving the RAILROADS a legal lien
on goods shipped, for the advance pay
ment of customs duties. It was also
stated that the goods were delayed at
he ports of entry while waiting for the
customs brokers not the agents of the
.ailroad to arrive. When Intercepted by
Mr. Stickney as TO whether any people
lot interested in the customs brokerage
business had urged the passage of the
,ill, Mr.. Emery named only one firm, the
Price Bro theirs, who were represented by
IN attorney at 1915 legislative hearing,
when the passage of a similar bill was
ought. Several agents of the railroads
cting as customs brokers corroborated
he statements of the attorneys. Former
Sov. Edward G.. Smith of st, Adams,
PRESIDENT of the Central Vermont, at
ended the hearing, which lasted until a
cry late hour.