The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-09

OF car companies had been organized and
been in connection with those railroads,
and had been represented as involving cor
rupton to a large extent that these mat
tiers demanded investigation and it was
therefore resolved that II committee of
three Senators and three Representatives
should be appointed to inquire whether in
in 1867 or before or since, money had been
paid directly or indirectly by any trustee or
manager or agent of any railroad to any
member of the legislature for the purpose
of influencing legislation whether any
person connected with said railroads had
practiced frauds or pcculations to invcs-
tgatc fully all the matters referred to
with authority TO send for persons and pa
pcrs, and to employ counsel to prosecute
the investigation.
1t is charged that this investigation was
prompted by ill feeling towards Governor
Smith. 1t is also stated that the person
who was chosen chairman of the commit
tee was a bitter personal enemy of the
same distinguished gentleman. 1t is at
least remarkable that the chairman of the
committee of investigation should have
been selected from the same town in which
Gov. Smith resided. As fellow towns
man he must he on terms Of friendship or
antagonism not to he expected of Senator
from some other part of the State, and
could not therefore in either case he SO inn
partial selection rs might have been
made. Some color is lent to the idea of an
tagonism by the report that this chairman,
Senator ID. II. Bailey, of St. Adams, wrote
himself to Mr.. Davenport to prosecute the
investigation, and the latter, who had been
previously employed against the railroad in
chanccry case, has throughout acted
more like violent partisan than an attor-
ney of the State, merely desiring to asccr-
tain the truth.
The testimony, however, Invested of all
coloring, shows that in 1860 Mr.. Hatch
only spent at Montpelier one thousand dol
lars, including his personal expenses.
An average of the expenses for legal ser
vices during fifteen years, commencing i'll
1853. was about $4,000 per annum, the
total being SSS,000
These two items seem to dispose of the
question of legislative corruption. They
are unusually small, even for railroad COM
panies never accused of corrupt practices.
There was II secret service fund, but as
that proved to be used to employ detectives
| for the catching of thieves who had been
committing depredations, the uncarthing
of it added no force to the presumption of
adclibcrately accumulated corruption fund
The next point of inquiry was as to car
wheels. 1t was shown that the price was
raised from S16 to $24 and S25. But il
appeared also that the car company had
been required to make all wheels of new
material in the very best style, to deliver
them at the railroad shops, to keep them on
hand, to warrant them, and to take them
back if not satisfactory Besides this it
was proven that railroad iron is now higher
than it has been in five years. Two years
ago it was $50 ton, now il is $50.
1t was charged that Il royalty was paid
on these car wheels to w. c. and J. G..
Smith, and there was such testimony on
Saturday; but on Monday evidence was
introduced in explanation which left the
royalty to w. c. Smith alone, it having
been reserved in selling his in 1s in the
1 the (rpyarpnr had intppnct IN, ln 1,,,c;
ness, and had never received dollar from
it.
1t was charged that the Montreal and
Vermont junction railroad was put into
the Vermont Central freight line at 35
miles when it was really 43 miles. But
this was explained by the fact that the
Montreal line freights were paid in gold
and the Vermont Central in grcenbacks,
and the concession of nine miles was allow
ed for the difference.
Objection had been made that there was
more profit on the Montreal and Vermont
junction railroad than on the Vermont
Central, but the former is easier to operate
and proportionately less expensive, yet it
has not paid Z per cent. on the investment,
as estimated by witness.
Thus taking up the evidence and consi-
dering it, we perceive that the charges
melt away into insignificant results. The
legislature has cleared itself, as was doubt
less anticipated by that body when it unani-
mously adopted the preamble and resolu-
ton of investigation. This is the most i'm
portant point reached. With pure legis-
laturc we can survive much irrcgularity on
the part of individuals; but if the fountain
from which flows our laws becomes poi
soned, woe to the welfare of the State To
that body also we entrust the appointment
OF Judges to administer the laws. If this
| investigation had called upon us to behold
the Inauguration of corrupt legislation we
might apprehend bad judicial appoint
ments, and a descent to such depths of of
fetal infamy as have been developed in
some other States, leading to despair of
good government unless the people could
be stirred up to putting forth their over
whelming strength. Happily the investi-
cation has relieved lis of these doubts and
fears, and has thus by dispelling cloud of
injurious suspicious performed for the peo-
pie of Vermont an inestimabe service.