Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-08
MAKES CHARGES
AGAINST RAILROADS
Their Methods of Conducting
Customs Brokerage Business
Attacked.

Montpelier, Feb. l.-Scnsational CHARGES
against various railroads. including the
Central Vermont, Rutland, bostCn n
Maine Canadian Pacific ana Grand Trunk
which are engaged in customs BROKERAGE
business at Iilchford. lliEhSatc, st
Adams. Beccher Falls and Island Pond,
wore made by Representative Daniel ".
steele Of Iiighgatc and Curtis 5. Emcr,t
for nine years collector Of customs at
Newport and for tie last two years "A
customs broker in that town. ~ the hear
ing this evening before the House cor
porations and franchises committee Of
the Vermont Legislature ON the bill in
troduced by Mr.. Steele. Wr.ch would
make it unlawful for any railroad or en-
press company to carry on any customs
house brokerage business either directly
or indirectly or to receive any of the
omoluments of fees of such business.
Both MIR. Steele and Mr.. Emery n
length" arguments, conteUdcd that the
conduct Of the railroads in cutting the
rates of tho customs brokers and in deny
ing to other brokers tho privileges "hiCh
they gave their own employees who acted
as dummy" customs brokers by securing
licersn in their own name tended 70
create monopoly and was an unfair dis
elimination Of ono shipper in favor Of an
shipper.
Tho Central Vermont railroad twas said
Is the only one which has secured a corr
noration license to carry on a customs
brokerage business. They also argued that
none Of the railroads had any charter
rights to carry on this business, but did
SO on the ground that it Was n right in
cidcntal to tho performance Of their du-
tics as railroads
MIR Emery also stated and offered 80
| testify under oath that ". y. z. stick
ncy Of Rutland, an attorney for ono of the
railroads. had told nim that the rail
roads should not he engaged in this the
customs-br business" Tho pas
sage Of the bill was advocated because
under the present law these gcn,lemcu
stated that they had no proper mcthod
! of redress
The railroads and express companies
who were represented by an imposing
| array Of legal talent including w b. g
Sticknoy of Rutland, John w. Redmond
/ of Newport, Charles f. Black Of St
/ Adams, r. r. Alfred of Newport ano
H. G. Shurtleff of Montpelier, argued
! that the performance of tho custom.
brokerage business, i, g.. tho clearance o
goods from tho customs authorities ant
| forwarding Of them, was a part of then
/ duty ana helH so ny inc nltc0 Stal''
Supreme Court decisions giving the rail
roads a legal lien ON goods shipped, fol
the advance payment of customs duties
It was also stated that the goods were
delayed at the ports Of entry while wait
ing for the customs brokers. not th'
agents of the railroad, to arrive. Whel
INTERCEPTED by Mr.. Stickney as t
whether any people not interested in thu
customs brokerage business had urged th'
passage of the bill, Mr.. Emery NAMED
only one firm, the Price Brothers, wh'
were represented by an attorney at a l9l
Legislative hearing. when the passage o
a similar bill was sought. Several agent
of the railroads acting as customs brok
ers corroborated the statements of tn
attorneys. Former Gov. Edward c
Smith of St. Adams. president of tn
Central Vermont. attended the hearin
which lasted until very late hour.