Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-07-21
THE VERMONT CENTRAL.

Vermont Central railroad 10und nlmselI
unable to meet the obligations of the
road as fast as they became due, and
was obliged to let large amount of the
paper 90 to protest. The surprise oc-
casioned by this announcement led to a
partial investigation of the affairs of the
road, from which it was ascertained,
that large sums of money had been ex-
pended upon the original, as well as up
on many of the leased lines, then con-
trolled by the Central, and that many of
the leased roads were running the COM
pany in debt at rapid rate. To extri.
cate themselves from these difficulties,
the managers, and perhaps other parties
intorostod In tho road, sought relief in
the last legislature. A bill was present.
ed, which had been drawn with great
care by the counsel of the road, that was
claimed to afford relief, while it did not
do injury to any person who held stock
or bonds in this or the other roads effect
ed by the bill. The measure was OPP
posed in the legislature by a respectable
minority, who believed that the bill if
passed would give to the new corpora
ton, called the Central Vermont, such
power as would enable it to become one
of the greatest monopolies in the state
and country, while many of the owners
might be deprived of their rights and
suffer from the depreciation of their
securities. The bill was passed, and
a short time since the new corpora
ton was formed, and the Vermont Gen.
trail has become the Central Vermont,
now operated by newly chosen board
of managers. The old managers, how
ever, are mostly retained in the new
board, but the stock Of the new corpora
ton has mainly gone into the hands of
New York parties, and eventually we
fear, will be swallowed up by Wander
bilt or Gould, much to the detriment of
the interests of Vermont. While the
measure was pending in the legislature,
grave charges were made against the
managers of the road, which together
bod BE- o,o1
that appeared in the Boston Traveller,
caused resolution to be introduced,
asking that committee be appointed to
investigate" matters generally. The
committee was appointed, but being un-
able to complete the business during the
session, they have since continued the in
vestigation and made a report. The
committee was composed of six, three
members of the Senate and three of the
House. They are able and as the re.
port shows very tender hearted men,
For while they found that one Joe D.
Hatch. an agent of the road, did pay
out large sums of money to numerous at
torneys as retainer fees" some of whom
lived in distant parts of the state, bu
who were at the time members of the
Legislature, the committee could no
believe that these retainer fees had am
influence in their legislative proceedings
Hatch, however, charged the Central Co
with the money and called it so mucl
money paid 'to resist adverse legislation.
But the committee did find that
fund was kept and used for secret pur
poses; that passes were given to judge
and their families, and to other note
persons in the state; that certain of tn
managers had leased some of the road
that were run by the management.
and thereby made large sums, of money
that the managers and officers of tn
road furnished car wheels and casting,
and also built up car factory and use
the factory belonging to the road,
make cars to let out for hire to the Ger
trail and other roads, and that this bus
ness was profitable; that one of til
managers appropriated a certain sun
out of the funds of the road to he]
build an observatory at st. Adams, tn;
this might attract visitors to this place
that certain influential lawyer, wi
was counsel for the Ogdensburg ros
had been paid $4,000 for some servi
or other, and afterwards received So, sc
salary; that the court of CHANGER
which appointed the trustees and Writ
ally controlled the affairs of the roa
did not compel the active managers
the road to "show their hands for son
years, and that large sum of mon
had gone where no account could be h;
of it, and yet this humane commit
did not find anybody to blame in the
transactions, and could not learn that t
state, or the owners of the road suffer
in consequence.
The committee knew from the abu
dant testimony before them, whether t
road had been run in the interest of t
owners or not They knew whether t
practice of sending attorneys and agel
with large sums of the secret service ful
to Montpelier at each session of the |,
islature, was calculated to favor .,
legislation or not; they knew whetl
the court had conducted its business
diciously and promptly, and col
have merely given the people fac
without evasion or palliations. q
they could then have argued