The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-11

estimation with having paid money for that
purpose. A copy of this 80 called Hatch
Voucher and list accompanying II will be
found in the Appendix marked Exhibit a."
and against the names ofeach Of those gen
tlemen on the list who were members of
the Legislature In 1869, andreceived money
from Hatch is a CIPHER The committee
find that the 'list Of names was made by
Hatch as a memorandum in 1869, and
comprised the names of gentlemen who
had been employed professionally in the
interests of the Vermont Central Railroad,
together with those who were thought to be
fir iendly to its interests and we find no evil
dence tending to show that any on this lis
who had prior to 1869 received money from
the Vermont Central Railroad, did so for any
but.legitimate and lawful purposes. All those
who received money in 1869, as appears,
by this voucher, were attorneys, except one
who was not member, and received the
sum oftwenty dollars which it is claimed was
paid him for trouble he had been put to in
adjusting some difficulties with the railroad
which fact we find TO be rs claimed. The
attorneys who were not members, except
Col. Veazey, were at Montpelier during the
| session of 1869 in the interest of the Yer
mont Central, and we find no testimony
which in any way indicates that they attemt-
ed to influence legislation in any improper
manner, or were there for any such pur-
pose. BY referring to the testimony, Page
| /, it will be seen that Col VeaZcy earned
| his money and could in no way be charged
with any corrupt motive or practice. This
| disposes of all those whose names appear
upon the voucher, except such as were
members of either the Senate or House in
1869. In respect to those gentlemen, we
do not find that any of them received the
money believing it was paid for any servi-
ces they had performed or were to perform
for this railroad In their official capacity,
hut on the contrary supposed that the reason
assigned for their employment was as stated
by Hatch for the purpose ofretainng them
in legitamate and proper manner, and
placing them under obligation to render
| for the railroad, such professional services
as they might be called upon thereafter to
perform.
We are not equally fortunate in being
able to find that this money was paid solely
| for reasons assigned, that it was entirely for
the purpose of having counsel In different
PARTS of the State to look after the interests
of the road by attending to the business
that might arise in their immediate locali-
ties, in their professional capacities as law
yers. If such was the fact then the distri-
| button of their retainers was exceedingly
iniudicous and ill-advised or at least the
| claims for " lost baggage, " overcharges OF
freight" and other and similar claims were
more numerous and troublesome in those
localities where energetic young lawyers
united to their professional qualifications
considerable political activity and influ-
| ence
We do not find that any particular meas
ures before the Legislature were passed or
defeated in consequence of these retaincrs
or that legislation has been improperly ILL
fluenced thereby, but we believe it to be
our duty to condemn the practice of en-
blowing more attorneys in different parts of
the State than would he necessary to trans
act their legal business, as one calculated
to impair the confidence of the public gen
orally in the purity of our legislation.
Although it is fair to presume that in the
employment of these attOrnies it was cOh-
templated at the time that the road might
receive some assistance from them in pro.
fessional capacity, still we find that the
chief object and purpose was to secure
their friendship to the interests of the road
and its managers. We do not believe that
they retained attorneys, believing that 10y
means of the retainers they would secure
their cooperation and assistance in leg
islatve matters against their honest convic
tons, but we do think that they HOPED
and expected to find them friendly to theil
interests unless manifestly inconsistent
with their official duties. In short, they
expected more of them in general way by
helping to create and maintain public sen
timent favorable to them than from any
professional services they might he Gale,
Upon Ia perform.