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

Editor OF the Free Press and Times
As the Central Railroad investigation has
occupied much Of your space recently, viii
You allow subscriber to give his views
thereon. The accused parties are. first, j.
G. and W c. Smith, two gentlemen who
have held high official positions atthc hands
Of the people of this State. for many years.
the duties of which they have discharged
to the entire satisfaction of their consti-
tuent- There never has been a breath OF
suspicion that in these positions they have
suhorlinatel the public good to their own
interest. On the contrary, many Of their
public acts can be pointed out. where they
have laborei for the public good, in direc-
tion~ detrimental To their private interest
Next l. Joseph Clark, who for over forty
years las been in active business in this
county. His business interests have been
immense, and Inc has always been consider
ed a model of mercantile honor and integri-
ty. Probably no three men ever have done
more TO advance hematcrial interests Of Yer
mont than these. Keeping pace with the
progress of the age, they enlarged their
railroad enterprises. and were straining
every nerve to continue them, when a
powerful and wealthy combination of cor
porations attempted to break them down
to get control Of their franchise and i'm
proyements; to reap where they had sown.
Newspapers We're enlisted. One Of them, a
prominent New England paper, has for
eight months teemcl with articles design
ed to show that, not only was Vermont
railroad management corrupt, but that its
courts, its legislature. and its people, We're
utterly unworthy of confidence. and
destitute of integrity. The dishonesty
Of this paper you have often shown,
but never more forcibly than when.
a few days since, you gave US the evidence
that it had deliberately misprinted one Of
the laws of Vermont, with the evident in
tent Of thereby bringing dishonor and con-
tempt upon the people of the State. The
lawyers employed have been mostly of the
same class as the newspapers. One Of
them, when questioned in this city last
summer a. to why he was leaving the Re
publican party, said he didn't care a d-n
for Greeley; he was going with the Liberals
to break down Central railroad influence in
Franklin county. Another has recently
committed an offence that places him out
side the society of gentlemen. Last winter,
some of the security-holders commenced a
suit against the trustees. having for their
counsel Mr.. Davenport, against whom moth
ing Is to be said here Thee offered to
appoint a master, before whom testimony in
regard to the entire matter could be taken
this the plaintiffs declined to accept. and
ANONYMOUSLY left court, thus rejecting the
only legal and sufficient method of obtain
ing redress for their alleged wrongs But
1t seems this suit Is not over with we see
to-day this same counsel, ably and in
geniouSly laboring, really for the same
client. but now under the pay and cham
Of the State Of Vermont. through
its Legislative Committee. For the camor
from the sources above named was 30
great, and in some cases 50 pointed. that
the last Legislature ordered Committee of
This has been allowed, for
six months, to hang over the trustees like
black cloud-black because unccrtain-de- |
preciating their securities and embarrassing |
their operations, thus playing into the |
hands OF their enemies.
This committee could easily have perform |
ed its entire duty before the adjournment. |
There was no necessity for the employment |
IF counsel. There was no authority for it. |
It was without precedent in the history Of |
he State, until the last session But if the |
thought best to employ counsel,
hey should not have employed Mr.. Daven-
port. This course has dissatisfied every fair
minded man in the State The legislature
md the people wanted an investigation, not |
)etween the trustees and the security-hold- |
rs, as that duty belongs to the courts, but |
n any proper scope. 1t was desired to be
and thorough, but at the same
line dignifed and impartial. This it can
lot be, with the paid counsel of the bitter
'nemies OF the trustees, a. counsel, and the
lnly counsel for the committee. This coun-
el Is reported in your paper as saying If
make this investigation, | Will make 1t
ny own way" Thus. are not private par
les using this committee for their own ends,
hat Is, trying to dig up or draw out, without
Expense to themselves, something on
which to base an action at law, and. with
'eierenee to matters, with which the
state, as State. has no concern.
No one can believe that it was the inten-
ION OF the legislature to have this commit
zee take it for granted that the trustees
we're indicators, and to be treated accord
ngly. Yet it would seem that every indig-
llty that malice, envy, jealousy, or even
morbid curiosity could suggest, has been
Used IN this Investigation, but so far, with
,ut harm to the trustees. For the result of
hls SIX months incubation and preparation,
With skirmishing in the courts, is mass of
testimony, gathered. and given-much
VI 1t from intelligent and honest men, and
ome from the riff-raf' of incompetent and
discharged, and therefore sore headed en-
,loyes: from political weather-cocks; from
men who travel under assumed names; from
irunkards and from voueher-thieves. But
Ilmost the entire pertinent, credible pOr-
ion of it, was contained in Gov. Smiths
eports to the security holders in 1872, and
caves the trustees, in the minds of the
,eople, honest, clean, and capable men. As
he committee continue their inquiries, as
o whether ''the fountains of justice have
'een tempered with let US be ready to
Judge without respect to persons, but with
ut prejudice. Yours, X.
Nav 9th lST3