The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-07-27
MONTPELIER
Motor Bus License Fee Under consid-
Grafton BY City Council.

Montpelier and Burlington and Mont
pelier and st. Johnsbury attended
meeting Of the city council last nigh
at the request Of City Attorney Geors
Z. Hunt to give their views on the pro
lposed Montpelier motor bus ordinanc
| which would affect long distance pusse
passing through this city. j. War,
Carver Of Barre represented the Whit
River Junction, st. Johnsbury an,
Hardwick bus drivers at the meetin,
and the various points of the o.di
nance were argued between Mr.. Car
YER and the drivers on one side ans
Mr.. Hunt and the members Of the coun
ell on the other. The drivers stand, al
expressed by Mr.. Carver, was that a s.
license tax such as obtained in Bur
lington was enough and Mr.. Carver
further expressed the opinion that ths
whole matter should be left to the leg
islature to regulate Mr. Hunt and TIE
council urged protection of responsible
drivers by eliminating irresponsible
competition and stated that while TIE
legislature should handle the mater
an existing situation must be met be-
fore the legislature convenes The
Montpelier ordinance, recently amend
ed, provides for license fee OF 81 per
passenger seat, the requirement of a
bond OF $500 per passenger seat no. TO
exceed 5000, the right of the city
to inspect any bus at its own expense,
n nj 80 80
sengers to the regular carrying eapac-
ity. The ST. Johnsbury driver stated
that if Montpelier charged greater liz
cense fee than Burlington, he would
have to route his bus through Barre
and the White River Junction driver
expressed a similar idea
Mr.. Carver began with the state
ment that with the class Of men and
the kind of cars which constitute the
bus lines operating through MontpelisT
the city should try to encourage the
bus drivers to enter the city instead
Of trying to keep them out. He stat
ed that he had tried TO find out from
the Barre city council when that body
was considering an ordinance, who was
responsible for the drastic provisions
proposed, which the Barre council
turned down. He thought that the
traction company might be responsible,
but found this was not the case. Mont
pelier should encourage the bringing in
of people from other towns who desire
TO trade. Comparing the attitude OF
Montpelier and Burlington on i bus
ordinance, he stated that Burlington
was successfully doing everything pos
sible 70 accommodate the bus trade.
The license fee in that city is 81 year,
solely for the purpose Of knowing the
names of the bus drivers and where
they can be found. Describing the
busses lined up in the city market
there, bringing people to the city 20
trade, he said it was not difficult to
see why Burlington encouraged the
bus drivers. In Barre also, the 81 H.
cense fee Is enforced, he said, and the
bus drivers are willing to pay IT, They
bring in daily from four to ten people
each, often from towns through which
the railroads do not pass. The bus
drivers are operating substantial ma
chimes and are sober and capable in
their driving. In addition, they already
have to pay federal and state fees on
their bisses.
why have 81 fee on every pas
senger seati" Mr.. Carver asked, and
said that Barre charged fee solsly
for license purposes not for revenue.
Mr.. Hunt stated at this point that
wanted fee only for IL
,ense purposes DO you want it, and
IAN You afford itg" Mr.. Carver replied.
II Montpelier can make such res.iic-
lions, so can every other municipality
through which the bnsses pass, Mr.. |
Carver said. He was told in Burliug-
on, he said, that the city council did |
not consider IL their business TO bond |
he busses running outside, and stated |
hat City Clerk Corley doubted the aa-
hority of the city TO pass such re-
In regard to the policy of the mat
er rather than the legal rights, Mr..
,arver said that inspection was as
much in the drivers interest to look |
fter as the city'z He did not think that
he public demanded or the city was
allied upon to impose Insurance pro.
iAons, and continued by stating the
acts which tend to remove the profit
rom the bus drivers business, such as
hort season and upkeep The enforce
tent Of the Montpelier ordinance would
rive the bus drivers elsewhere, he said.
nd stated that two of the drivers lad
old him that even in its amended form
he ordinance would force them out Of
The discussion turned 10 the many
uses running between Montpelier and
ARE last year. Mr.. Hunt stated that
here were about dozen and that
lany of them were of a type need
~ regulation. II was stated that
My two buses are running this year.
Alderman Carpenter stated that the
l. Adams Swanton bus, said to be a ,
bod one, carries liability insurance, !
nd that the council believed II best ,
} take steps 20 enforce the carrying ,
insurance before an injury occurred
, show the necessity Of it. Mr.. Car
sr pointed out that the electric road
oes not carry such Insurance Mr.. Car
inter stated that the proposition vas
different one. and Mr.. Carver spokc
an instance in which man who in
red one arm on the electric road had 7
zen unable to secure any recompense.
The charging of 81 per passenger seat I
J a fee would be excessive. Mr.. Car 4
7 said. Mayor Lille stated that the ,
-ivers would receive protection from r
'mpetition IL the ordinance was on y