Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-07-09
Report of Railroad Committee.

port. The charges were very severe and
the findings are very mild. The first
charge was, that money had been used to
influence legislation and subvett justice in
this State, by the managers Of the Vermont
Central road" The committee find that
81 no measures before the Legislature were
passed or defeated, in consequence Of the
action Of the paid attornies Of the road,
and that legislation had not been improp.
crly Influenced by any retainers the trus-
tees bad paid to its ageu's.' They acquit
all the gentlemen who had been charged
with being bribed, "of having received
money for any but legitimate and lawful
purposes" They also express their re.
rret that the managers of the trust =" had
employed energetic young lawyers, who
united to their professional qualifications
political activity aud influence"
They think, we suppose, that the managers
should have employed less influential legal
talent and that they bad some design in
retaining capable and suitable men, which,
If the committee had had more time
and ability, they would have been glad to
dis over and report 10 default Of being
able to find any corruption, however 9th
on the part of the gentlemen retained by
the trustees or on the part Of the trustees
themselves, they content themselves with
warning the managers not to do so again,
or, if they must employ lawyers, retain
those stupid members of the legal profess
sion. who to their disabled virility unite no
considerable political activity or influence,
The second charge was, that certain car
companies had been organized to run in
connection with the aforesaid roads, and
involved corrupt practices to a large ex-
tent"
The committee find "that the Vermont
Central did not have cars enough to meet
the demands Of its business and that they
had no funds to use in the construction Of
cars" and that it did procure and hire Of
certain companies sufficient rolling stock to
meet their necessities, and that all the con-
Meeting lines paid the same rates that the
Central did for the use Of the cars, and
" that the interests Of the public had been
better served in consequence Of the employ
ment Of these cars, and that the Central
has earned more freight than it otherwise
would have done, and that the trust fund
| bad not been defrauded in consequence Of
these companies" Still, in consideration Of
the liability to abuse that arises from the
very nature Of things" the committee is
mildly induced ito question the policy "
of such companies. We venture to ask
the committee whether there is anything
in the nature Of things" that would make
it dangerous for common carrier who has
larger business than he can do with his
own teams, to hire the necessary means Of
transportation from another firm in which
he is a partner especially if he pays them
just perquisite for the work. How does
it initiate against public policy " to serve
" the public INTEREST,""
The committee were next authorized to
hunt for frauds and POPULATIONS" though
no charge of either was made.
They first investigated the Foundry
Company. This company has furnished
the wheel and other castings for the use of
the Central road. The report completely
exonerates the managers from any unfair or
fraudulent use of their powers in respect to
this company. The statement of their re-
port is ample and satisfactory, and they con-
clude with the significant fact that an ad-
risory committee elected by ballot By the
Jondlolders dpproued Of this contract and
of all other contracts made By the trustees
and managers" The public will be at loss
to understand why the parties who have
hitherto approved of the contracts and
actions Of the managers should now contro-
vert this policy This statement shows the
reason why the security holders of the Yer
mont Central and the Vermont & Canada
roads have no just cause Of complaint
against the Trustees. 1t may also explain
: the action of the Court in many cases, in
carrying out judicially the plans in which
all the parties in interest were perfectly
agreed. 1t relieves alike the managers and
the Court from the charges which have
been so ignorantly and rccklessly hurled at
them.
; The committee next find that there is
no evidence to show that the secret service
fund was corrupuy used" They might
well have left the matter here without
the unproIessional aud needless suggestion
that they could not tell what frauds an
ampler investigation might have revealed
1t can hardly be the duty of legislative
committee to state that while their examin.
atons, so far as they have gone, disclose
no corruption, perhaps, if they had inves-
tgated the matter more fully, they would
have discovered it, 1t certainly is far be.
low their dignity and contrary to all pro-
priety to make suggestion of possible
fraud, where they expressly testify to find.
. ing none whatever 1t is this feature Of
the report that makes it very remarkable
document The committee seems to be
compelled by all the testimony to acquit
the managers Of all the charges, and yet
display continual regret and unhappnes'
that they were forced to declare them ill.,
nocent. The report of the committee il
obviously a compromise paper, in which The
sound judgment of majority, acting fair
ly and justly, declares the managers and
3 trustees to be perfectly pure and honorable
in the administration of the trust, and the
personal malice of the minority is permit
. ted to hint at possible corruption which
: they even have not discovered.
= The committee also lind that " no frauC
or peculation has been committed by thu
Al e A a