Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-11-27

NutAuNl " u ANAN NhAA AhN A0NhmA7|tNHNa'
named in the Central Vermont Railroad
bill, now pending before the Legislature,
or any one Of said commissioners, did seeE
the appointment of said commission fol
the purpose of great personal gain; IT iti'
true that any one Of said commissioner
did before his appointment say he could
make half million Of dollars by such ap
pointment, and that he would give 500
900 for said appointment, and that there
upon change was made in the names Of
said commissioners, and said party receiv'
ed the appointment as commissioner.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
The committee met at halfpast seven
o'clock, large audience attestiDg the in
terest which is taken in this matter, or,
rather, the curiosity which this investiga.
ton has excited.
The Chairman, Senator BAILEY, an-
nounced that the committee had decided
not to hear the testimony of Governor
Smith at this time, but to hear only those
who had been directly implicated by the
newspaper attacks, Monday evening next
was finally fixed upon as the time Tor
hearing Governor Smiths testimony.
Col. VEAzEY stated. in addition to his
previous testimony, that his whole servic-
es consisted in procuring the Insertion Of
advertisements in new papers of bill to
Incorporate railroad he thought, from
Rutland to Burlington. Had had nothing
more to do with it, auc had never thought
of it since.
Gov. HESDEE.--Was Lieutenant Gov.
eruor in 1893, aud had no voice il legis.
lotlon whatever, excect TO give u casing
vote in case OF tie 10 the Senate. la
April or May, 1863, had 5, me talk with
Mr.. Hatch about being retained for the
Central railroad. Told MIR. Hatch that
he had no objection to icing retained pro
vided it did not interfere with his obiga.
tion to the Portland 4 Ogdepsburgh road
OF which he was director. With that
understanding, he was retained. After
the close of the session he went to Mr.
Hatch, who paid him, aud he gave re,
ceipt thel eior. During the session Of
1869 no one III the interest of the Cen
trail road said Il word to me ffecting any
matter of Legislation lp regard to the
Lake Shore Road, uy opinion was, that
ii was in opposition to the interest of the
Portland u Ogdensburg road to have the
bill pass | consulted with Mr.. Horace
Fairbanks and others interested in the
latter road, aud they agreed with me.
saw some Of the members from Lamoille
County, and finally asked Mr.. Burt tt
withdraw the bill, but he refused. The
bill was defeated in the House, aud die
not come before the Senote. Mr.. Hatch
did wrong in this case in heading his ac
count to resist adverse legislation" tol
| did nothing under that retainer, to war
rant it. took the money as a retainer
for legal services solely. The retainer
lasted for one year. Nothing was said
about the amount, but | charged upol
my books 500 at that time. have new
or performed any services under said re
tanner for the Central road Had beer
previously retained by the road, aud sub
sequently. Am retained now. The un
Outstanding under which | was retained
was that was to attend to their bushes,
in Lamoille County | received retain
err in tho fall of 1870.
KITTREDGE HAsKINs 1t was intimat
ed to me in 1868 that the Central roaC
wouldretain me to do their business II
Windham County, as they had no attor.
ney there. Came to Montpelier durin.
the session Of that year, end was retained
by Mr. Hatch, provided that my retainer
did not Interfere with my duty to the Vt
a. Mass. road, by which | was then re
tained. was retained to attend to the
local business in Windham county Du
ring the session of 1869, Gov. Smith tel
egrsphed me to come to Montpelier.
came and found under consideration bill
TO charter a road from Burlington t
Swanton. | staid in Montpelier fou
days, but was not needed. and returne,
home without doing them any service
Mr.. Hatch paid me $50, retainer and ex
penses while in Montpelier. Have no
been retained, bat have occasionally acte,
for then since. Had no communicat 10
regarding Legislative matters with th
managers or agents of the Central road
Was not called upon while in Montpehe
to 'inhuence legislation" in any way, an
did not do so.
The committee then adjourned.
On Thursday evening the first witnes
called was 10. d. HATCH of Burlington
Mr.. Hatch commenced by stating that
was the former custom Of the company t
employ only principal counsel in the state
Tn ,se were formerly Lucius b. Peck c
Montpelier, and Andrew Tracy of WOOD
stock but as the business of the road il
creased, and claims for loss of baggage
injury to freight, Ne, multiplied, the
changed their practice, and by the dire,
of the managers Of the road, he had ell
. ploycd counsel in different parts Of tn
state to attend to the Interests of the con
pany in that section of the state Tn
!, change was made six or seven years ag'
In October 1859, there appeared in III
papers notices of an application that wa
to be made to the Legislature to charte