The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-03
BY TELEGRAPH.
Especial Dispatch to the Rutland Globcl
THE VERMONT CENTRAL IyyESTI.
CATION.
Examination Of Witnesses.
AN INTERESTING SESSION.

We have had II very interesting days
proceedings in the investigation hcro hy
the legislative committee. laborious one
also and feel tonight that il is not by any
means farce. The position in which
some of the leading Witnesses were left
last evening was perpleXng one to them
and counsel were engaged last night in
looking up the right of the committee to
inquire into the private affairs of these i'm
plicatcd officials
1t was an important question naturally.
in the case, and one which must he fully
investigated. The result of their dclibcra-
tions over night has been shown to-day in
some instances, very shockingly by testi-
mony given.
woRTIIlNGToN g. SMITH.
who declined TO give any account of his
present connection with the st. Adams
Foundry Company last evening, was re-
called to the stand this morning and gave
quite full disclosure. As stated that he
was paid at the present time
a royalty of two dollars on each
car wheel sold to the road. and on castings
a half cent per pound. This was by agree
ment entered into between himself and the
present foundry company, made after his
going out Of the concern He declined
producing his books, saying the foundry
company would show all the profits. The
committee decided they must have the
books. The counsel, after consultation.
annoudccd that an agreement was made on
both sides that II sworn statement should
be made up from the railroad books and
produced, giving all the information de-
sired.
The witness further testified in regard to
benefits arising from the purchase of car
wheels here to the management. and stated
also that the advisory committee of the
road were never informed as to his recciv-
ing said royalty
Edward A. Smith was next called and
stated he was half owner in the st. Al
1,anc f,npIr,
prices were fixed when he entered the
business, in 1860, Then the price for
car wheels was sixteen dollars. Since then
they have received as high as "a dollars and
40 cent. He stated that he had dupli-
cate of the contract with w. c. Smith,
but declined to produce it because he CON
sidercd it Il private matter entirely. The
question was not pressed, and the testimo-
ny continued. We make the best car
wheels manufactured to-day. We use
Salisbury, Iron entirely and don't think we
make any larger profit on the wheels at
"a dollars and 40 cents than we did at 16
dollars.
This afternoon and evening has been
taken up principally by Gov. Smith. The
committee have begun to hold evening ses-
sions on account of the great amount of
the work to be done and the limited time
of fifteen days to do it in.
The.Governor created some little excite
ment on the stand and appeared, think,
a little out of his element The counsel
for the State had taken occasion to ques-
ton him sharply several times, and insist
on direct answers instead of long eXplana-
tory replies, that the witness desired often
times to make. This raised the ire of the
Governor, and in an excited manner he de-
manded the rights of the committee to
make what sort of answers he chose, cX-
planatory or otherwise, and made quite Il
little speech over it, which was duly cheer
ed by his friends. The committee of
course had to insist ON the usual rules of
the court in such cases, and demand the
answer for it, and the explanation after
wards, to which he was obliged to sub
nit
This evening he has been Intercepted
concerning the payment to Judge Brown
of Ogdensburg the sum of S25 ,000 The
witness stated that it was Il retainer for
twenty-five years. He considered ii to
high, but should pay it again under similar
circumstances. He never paid any other
lawyer more than thousand dollars as n