Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-07-09
Cbe ttstman
MONTPELIER, VT,
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1873.
The Vermont Central Railroad.

To his Ercellency, JULIUS CONVERSE, Gov
ERSoR OF VERMONT:
The special committee to whom was referred
the ollJwing joint resolutions
:. Whereas, grave charges have been pub.
Icly preferred that money has been used to
influence legislation and subvert Justice in
tbjs state, which charges seem to involve the
Truste, and Managers of the Vermont Gen.
trsl and Vermont & Canada and leased
lines of Railroad, as well as several gentle
men Of hig official position in the Legisla-
ture and other branches of the Government
Of the State, in A. D. 1869, and at sundry
times before and since that time and where q
certain corporations of Car companies, whose
charters are under the control of the Legis-
Iature to alter, amend and repeal as the pub
lie good may require, have been organized
At 4 run in connection with the aforesaid
railroads, and are represented by various
persons as involving corrupt practices to a
large extent; and whereas the aforesaid cor
pJratioDs and railroads and the officers in
charge thereof, are creatures of the legisla-
tive and judicial branches of the Government
of the State, and as said charges involve the
fair fame OF the State to such an extent as to
Justify and demand searching investigation
into their character and management; there
fore,
Res0ired By The Senate and House of Rep
resentdttreS: That a committee Of thrt
SenatoIs and three members of the House be
appointed respectively by the President OF
tie Senate and Speaker of the House, to in-
aure whether or not it is true that in A. d.
1869, or at any time before or since money
was paid directly or indirectly by any
trustee. receiver, manager, officer or agent
IS A. a. ~;
State to any member of either House of the
legislature, for the purpose of Influencing
legI latlOn; whether or not it is true that
under any power derived from either branch
O the Government OF this State, any person
connected with the Aforesaid railroads or
companies, has practiced frauds or pecula-
tons and finally to investigate fully all and
singular all the matters above referred to-
and said committee to have power to send
for persons and papers, and to employ coun-
sci TO prosecute the investigation to lis full
66t extent and to make report to the present
session OF the Legislature.
Also to inquire whether any members or
officers OF either House of this General
Assembly have written or aided in procuring
TO be published, the articles in the BUstJu
IrGCeIfer touching any measure now pending
before this legislature. Also whether any
members or officers OF either House of this
General Assembly are IN the pay and EN-
ployment of any individuals opposed to the
passage of any such pending measures -
also to pursue their investigation after the
adjournment of the General Assembly, and
make their report to the Governor on or
before the first day of July next" in pur-
sutnce thereof respectfully report:
Tua. they proceeded during the last days
OF the recent session of the Legislature, to
take such testimony as they could consis-
tenty with their other aud ordinary duties
OF legislation. By referring to the preamble
and resolutions, 1t will be seen that the
charges we're characterized as grave, and OF
such a nature as to demand a complete
and full Investigation. The committee ere
authorized to employ counsel to prose cute the
lnyes lgatlon; and it was apparent that
nothing short of a full investigation was de-
manded and expected, and as 1t was equally
evident th at it would be attended with con-
siderable labor, the committee avalled them
selves Of the authority and mployed Charles
y. Davenport, E>q., of Brattleboro, who
with the consent of the committee employed
A. 6. Stafford, Esq, of st. AIbans, to assist
him III the performance OF his duties.
On the 9th OF April last the committee
4llcG III OG AlBtuS, duu puESueu bDelT
for several days, and all of their doings, to-
gether with the testimony taken are herewith
transmitted to you aud made a part Of this
report
LEGISLATIVE CORRUPTION.
One branch of our inquiry and the one
which more than all others occasIoned thi.
lnyeStgatIOn, "a5 IN reference to the legs-
tive corruption to which the public atten
ton had been called by the publication
OF the - Hatch Voucher" 50 calie1, in the
Boston TrarelGer AMI other newspapers.
Tnls voucher purported to be statement o
special account rendered by - ID. Hatch
December 6, 1869, against the Trustees and
Managers of the Vermont Central and Yer
mont Il Canada Railroads, aud receipt 70
the payment of the same. The sum charged
by Hatch was one thousand dollars, and il
his account rendered he stated it was fol
expenses at Montpelier, session Of 1869, il
resisting adverse legislation, ami in prepara
ton for and opposinI application for parable
road from Burlington to Canada line, etc.
etc. -; and in his account accompanying
this general statement, 1t appeared that a
OF near the close OF the session he had paid
several prominent members of the LeglSla
ture each the sum of $50 and had also pait
money to attorneys not members OF the Leg
stature. The balance OF the one thOusant
dol,a's, beiug the sum of four hurdred an
thirty dollars, was for his own bill a
the Pavilion, and sundry expenses during
tie Session OF 1869 y
By the terms of this voucher it will be
seen that money had been paid to member,
to resist adverse legislation, and unless ex
p.aIned, the Legislature of Vermont for 1869
OF at east certain prominent members, wouie
rest under the implication OF having corrupt
Iy received money to influence their oficIa
acs. and the Trustees and Managers woul(
stand charged in the public estimation witt
having paid rLoney tor that purpose. A
copy Of this so called Hatch Voucher and lis
ACCOMPANY yng 1t will be iound in the Appen
dix marked Exhibit Z" A. and against tn,
Names OF each of those gentlemen ON the lis
Who were members of the Legislature il
1863, and r, ceived money from Hatch is
eIphcF. The committee find the IS list o
names was made by Hatch as a memorandum
in 1863, and comprised the names OF gentle
men who had been employed professionally
10 the interests of the Vermont Centra
Railroad, together with those who wer
thought to be friendly to Its interests, an
We nod no evidence tending to show that an,
Ga this list who had prior to 1869 receive
money from the Vermont Central Railroad
di 20 for any but legitimate and Lawful
purposes. All those who received money Ii
looJ' as appears by this voucher, were at
toFLeys, except one, who was not a member
ana received the sum of twenty dollars
which it is claimed was paid him for troubl
ue had been put to in adjusting some diti ;uI
u's with the railroad which TACT we IND
De as claimed. The attorneys who were nc
members. except Col. Veazey, were at Mont
peiler during the session of 1869 in the II
'erests OF the Vermont Central, and we lin
20 testimony which in any way indicate
'nat they attempted to influence legislatio
III an improper manner, or were there for an
'uch purpose. By referring to the TESTING
by, page l it will be seen that Col. Veaze