Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-05-09

dangerous one.
The National Car Co. stands on the sam,
ground. No wonder the old Vermont Cen
trail staggers on the brink of ruin, and thai
the pride of the Smith family. this develop
ment, extending from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, has to pass into the hands OF 1renoI
W. Park and his associates.
Mr.. Davenport here read from the report
of railroad commissioners of Massachusetts,
In regard to car companies
These extracts prove that high minded
men out of the State, think as high minded
men in the State do. If all these contracts
are 50 beneficial to the road. how is il they
are $40, 10000 in debt, and that these men
have made so much money while the securi-
ty holders have not? The men on the other
side VIII not answer this; but, instead.
expect they Will give me first class setting
up. Perhaps deserve it.
Under the head of private peculation.
Mr.. ID. said the evidence was less remark
able for what it showed than what it did
not. Gov. Smiths explanations were as
clear as mud to him. On this head. he had
only to say that this is the only charge
/ against the trustees not proven beyond A
reasonable doubt
Upon the next charge of legislative cor
/ ruptlon, 1t Is your business to inquire
whether money was paid for corrupt pur-
| poses, not whether it was received for such
purposes. You then see that the trustees
had secret service fund, something un-
known in any other road, and the figures
show that $50, 600 was taken from this fund
of which j. &. Smith received $4,000. He
refuses to tell what he did with it. because
he cannot show an honest use oft. Itwas
used, not to corrupt courts, but to buy men
enough to carry the legislature. This slimv
Hatch has distributed this money around
the legislature. We have Hatch's recent
Tor ) 900 of this money. used in opposing
adverse legislation. This recent Putnam
cannot be charged with purloining. Put
nam, Tor his own purposes, took list of
the men Hatch bought, as a butcher boy
buys meat-men who sold all there was of
manhood about them. | hope; for the
honor OF the profession. these twenty-five
lawyers will walk up and tell for what pur-
pose they received these retainers. Some
can perhaps explain. Reading the names
from the voucher, Mr.. Davenport said no
blame attaches to Col. Veazey. He has full
ly explained tho proper purpose for which
he was retained. d. Tarbell is little pet
tliogger over the mountain. II. II
Powers was not then a member, and if his
so retainer had gone into the books of
Powers x Gleed, there would be no ground
for suspicion in his case.
Reading the other list of ATTORNEYS. Mr..
Davenport said no explanation is called
for from Messrs. Denison. Underwood
Rand, Fifeld, Edmunds, Taft and Noble.
Their names are on the books a. the rerular
recognized attorneys IF the road. and they
need no apology. John W Stewart is now
free from suspicion, out when, in 1863. he
received 500 for lobbying, he needs to ex-
plain. Neither Ilendee. W. G. Ferrin.
Dickerman, Hinkley, Weber. Parker or
tuyt IL. heeler are on the books: though
know the last 50 well that | know he has
never received money for an improper pur-
pose lie belongs TO a class that never
take money for lobbying, or in any but a fair
and legitimate way.
Geo. y. Dale Is not on the books. nor
c. Noyes, nor X. llaskins, nor p. X. Gleed.
nor Pmgry, nor Wilson, nor Grandev.
regret to see some Of these men latch's
victims; for such believe them to be. A.
to them 1t may perhaps be explained but
as to Hatch and the men who employed
hun, there Is no possible explanation If
the exposure results in the future in making
lawyers more careful and in securing a
higher standard of professional ethics,
shall be glad. | may be asked. # all this is
50. what are you going to do about it?
not know but ! hope the committee will at
least express their opinion on the subject of
giving free passes to our Judges / hope
they Will urge the passage Of a bill, such as
| once had the honor to draw, making it
penal offence to give Judge OF member OF
legislature free pass.
It's competent also for the committee to
frame bill to abridge the powers of the
Court of Chancery. lie believed the result
Cd las q h., /. e
the people for an extra session to remedy
these evils. There was no party question
here; democrats and republicans stood side
10y side in these lists. Bascality makes men
equal, and II may be developed in presi-
dent of Bible Society. as much a. in an
nhdel. lie wanted TO see political party
with but one plank in its platiorm-thou
shall not steal
Thanking the gentlemen of the commit
tee, now yield to the gentlemen on the
other side
Mr.. Davenport spoke nearly three hours.
At the close Of his speech, Mr. Fifeld said
the character Of the extraordinary TRADE
they had listened TO, compelled them to take
a little time to consider the question of
reply The hearing then adjourned to
p. IN.
TUESDAY EVENING.
Mr.. Fiiield stated 10 the committee that
he and his associates still held to the view
that this was an investigation, not a trial
Ii had been argued as if it was prosecu-
ton, by the Attorney for the State, and in
a very surprising manner But this com
mittee Is composed of three lawyers and
three intelligent business men. lie believed
that no comments he might make would
make much difference with their decision,
nor with the facts before them did he
believe Mr.. Davenport argument would
affect their opinion. And ne was content TO
leave the ease in their hands
Mr.. Underwood have had no time 10
consult with my colleagues on this matter.
The testimony has been fully taken down.
am willing to leave it to the committee to
Judge Of its bearing; and ! do not wish TO
resist such assaults as have been made here
Mr.. Davenport have nothing 10 add
except an apology to the committee and to
Gov. Stewart. | had had no time to read
his testimony since last fall, and had an
impression that he did not appear before
this committee. ! find, however. that he
did and that he stated that he could not
and would not 90 to Montpelier to lobby
but was willing, if desired, to appear a.
counsel before a standing committee.
Consequently, in CHASING him as lobby
lSt, ! did him an injustice, which | regret,
and ! desire the reporters to note my re
traction. 1t is possible | may have done
similar Injustice to others. If 50. they will
have an opportunity TO explain but | have
done intentional injustice to no one.
The hearing then ended, and the commit
tee adjourned.
The LEGAL EXPENSES OF TIE VERMONT
CENTRAL.-Ihe legal expense account of
the trustees and managers Of the Vermont
Central was brought before the investiga-
ting committee on saturday, and in it APP
pear the following items
In lsGj. L. 5. Taft, S25, George G.
Hunt, 1913; Andrew Tracy, S5s2. 70: l..
Underwood, $1,000; George F. Edmunds.
Sl,07l; Z. Collins. s., s9l so: /. Under
wood, 81 900; f. Blake, $3.50; L. Under
wood, Sl0O5; J. NJ. Pinkerton, S7,5l6: +.
Howe. 81 200, and general legal expenses
&, 25953 In 1850, II. r. Beardsley, $685.
s. ; j. @. Abbott, 500; T. p. Redfeld
S22I L. Earle, Sl2G.5c c. F. Edmunds,
81, IA; Mr.. Sohier, Sl.O7l.5O; l.. Under
wood. 81 900; G. F. Edmunds 81 ,OOl.55.
In 1867, l.. Underwood. Sls3; Benton q
Wilson. 800; Brigham & Water
man, S25 b. n. Davis, $500; A.
Tracy. S777.60; L. P Poland, SG7I 80:
A. J. Soule, $500; Kinney and Collins,
S257.50; 7. 5. Hahn, S3ll B. F. Ffed,
81 $40 Benton x Wilson, S3675: Deni-
son A Henry, S3i.s5; d. c. Denison,
So. 20; J. II. Brainerd, SCOTS; d. c.
Denison * IL. H. Denison, Sl32; Andrew
Tracy, FS93i66 ; Geo. F. Edmunds,
$685.; G. &. Hunt, SlO6. In 1863,
Dewey d Noble, Ss7S.s7 Dewey a
Noble, I,03l.72; II. II. Talcott, S43,46;
L. p. Poland. $500; J. G. Abbott, S252. go;
Daniel Roberts, 5000; Benton a Wilson,
SllO. Il. Barlow, 800: B. F. Fifeld, ST.
659.25. In 1870, c. W. Willard, $500;
Dewey 4 Noble, 81 ,256. ID; do. SlOl; L.
p. Poland, 800; J. IL. Brainard, S6,07S;
f. r. Hard, 81 $50; Edison a Rand, ST.
2OG.j3; Dewey. Noble 4 Smith. $llO.ss;
do, 81 ,262.52 do, Sl,sl9.G3; l.. p.
Poland: $3.50; I. p Redfeld, $3.50, In