, 1873-07-16

loascH Of tho rond, aa fast as tho dobt ao-
oumu1ated, and made o profit on this trnteao-
tion. In tho process OF tlolr manipulations,
thoy found It necessary to "Boo" tho Legig1a-
ture 30 as to hoad oil any unfayoreblo inventi-
cations or reports. Whom thls came to 10 pub
1ioly noisoa about, tho Legislature Uas COLI
strained to appoint committee to look into 1t,
and the report OF tl,at Committee is another
instance Of tho official construction Of what tho
reoplo call bribery.
Tho Committee find tint ono ]. D. Hatotl llad
nm account against tho Vermont Central Rail-
roal Company for $1,000, with tho atatomont
that 1t was distributed in sums Of $50
each to several Of tho leading mcmbors OF tho
Legislature. With this fact oloarly brought bo-
foro thom md with suspicious circumstances
surrounding tho whole concern, tho Committee
find that mono Of their follow legislators re-
ooivod money " for any but Legitimate and lawful
purposes." According to tho bo1iof Of tho Com
mittoo, tho mombers took tho money undor tho
conviction TINT Hatoh was " rotnining them in q
Legitimate and proper manner, md placing them
undcr obligation to rendor for tho railrond
such professional services as thoy might be
called upon thorcaftor to perform" but not
for my Horvicos thoy had performed or wore to
perform for this railroad In thor oilcial cnpaci
ty." Tho legislators Of Vermont must have
poor opinion Of tho intelligence Of tho people
Of Vermont II thoy expect TINT such q report
will sorvo to draw tho wool ovor their eyos. If
AwjIx
s5o each, this would DO enough to "rotatn just
twonty mombora Of tho Legislature. What mood
was tho Vermont Central Railroad Company sr,p-
posed to have for twonty y1awyors-if, indeed, they
werc lawyors-at ono place, and that place
tho Capital Of tho Stato except for thoir influence
In securing favorable legislation or nverting un-
favorable legislation ? Tho case Is too palpnb1y
ono OF diroct bargain and ealo, under tho circrm-
etanco, to admit Of reasonable and pationt trent
mont, and 1t is only necessary to cio it's features
to convince tho people TINT thoro was detor-
mination in tho Vermont Legislature to whito-
wash the Credit Mobilior Of their State, just rs
thoro was determination in tho United States
Congress to whitowash tho big Crodt Mobiiier
OF America. That they dared to carry out their
purpose in tho faco Of tho popular fury against
railroad Htcals, Ia another ovidonco Of tho con-
fdent assurance Of the political corruptionists Of
tho day.
Tho ring Of the Trnstees In tho Car md Tonn-
dry Companies was fully proved, rs was nlso tho
fact TINT tho Trustees woro making nonoy whilo
tho Railroad Company WAS losing But tho Com
mtteo found nothing unusual in ths proceeds
ing and did not 60 further than to express
yaguo nnd mild diaapprovat Of tho practice.
Thoy declined to look into tho history md ,,so
Of Mr.. ]. Gregory Smiths "Bccrct service fund"
1t was cortain TINT Buch n fund oxistod, and Mr..
]. Gregory Smith declined to toll wlnt uao llo
1nado Of it, Thoroupon tho Committee decided
to drop tho ,nntter, with tho following COM
ments:
In reference to this branch Of our inquiry We ave
only to add Tint shcrn IL mitch Of this fund TINT wo
nre unbo to nl for what purpose 1t aprropriat-
cd that wo abstain from full expression Of opinion in
regard to 1t, and while do not An that 1t has boon
corrupy used from my toatnlouy that ca.ne boforo
ua still from tho ncompletenesa Of tho testimony wo
do not boovo should bo warranted In finding It wag
or was not corruptly used without fuller iuyeafea-
ton, np wo willing to 1eavo It's further considora-
ton to those whose duty It will 10 to oxa,nno tho sub
jocs moro thoroughly tlan VIC have been able to do
This report Of tho Vermont Logislaturos Com
nittoo on ono Of the boldost railroad frauds of
tho day ought to be sorvicenblo in one WY at
least, viz It should teach tho people not to look
to party Legislatures for tho correction OF tho
railway abuBca.