Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-10

mark the language ana TIE luea con-
yeyed-"We are not equally fortunate
in being able to find that this money
"was paid solely for the reasons assigned,
yet they find, as seeming qualification
thereof, that the attorneys retained were
energetic yOatng lawyers" We rather
imagine that the gentlemen named will
smile on seeing their names thus classed
in a grave legislative report, but let this
pass. cit is fair to presume" says the
committee, "that in the employment of
"these attorneys it was contemplated at
"the time that the road might receive
i" some assistance from them in pro-
(" fessional capacity" yet they also,
fnd-only by inference, so far as we
can judge-''that the chief object and
purpose was to secure their friendship
I" to the interest of the road and its man
Layers" We say they find this solely
from inference, because there is nothing
in their report to show to the contrary,
and the testimony, if we remember it
correctly, disclosed no such motive, nor
any state of facts from which such
motive could be inferred. They report
this inference as finding of fact, yet
they completely negative it in other por-
tions of the report, and, herein is the
reason why it is so unsatisfactory.
But to proceed, bearing in mind that
which we have already quoted. owe
do not find, say these gentlemen, ''that
amy particular measures before the
Legislature were passed or defeated
g in consequence of these retainers or
{" that legislation has been Improperly
% influenced thereby" Further along,
following out the same idea, they say,
eve do not believe that they"-that is
the trustees and managers of the Yer
mont Central and Vermont and Canada
railroad" retained attorneys, believing
d" that by means of the retainers they
would secure their cooperation and
" assistance in legislative matters against
Z" their honest convictions, yet they did
believe that they would become ''friend-
" ly to their interests unless manifestly
" inconsistent with their official duties. ="
They think, also, that the employment
of such and so many attorneys twas ex-
ceedingly injudicious and i'll advised, "
yet they fail to show us by reasoning,
testimony or hardly by innuendo-ex-
cept the most forced-that more after
neys were RETAINED than was neces-
sary, when the vast interests involved
and the length of the line of the railroad
are considered. We have something to
say upon this matter of ''retainers," but
must defer it until another time, as we
have already exceeded the limits which
we assigned ourselves for the considcra-
ton of this report We submit that the
report is neither one thing or the other.
If it is a compromise report" as the
Messenger suggest, it is the worst kind
of a compromise" We think that any
fair minded, impartial person, upon
reading it, can come to but one conclu-
sion: That the committe failed to find
any wrong in the management of these
railroads, but, for some reason, were
afraid to say so. They, in terms, excul-
pate each and every person, corporation,
official, legislator, ETC., etc, assailed,
but Immediately thereafter proceed to
qualify it, and then to qualify the quail
ificatiOn. The report ought to have set
the matters involved at rest forever, but,
instead of doing this, they ''miX up mat
tiers terribly" and leave the whole ques-
ton so that carpers can draw such in
ferences as they will. The great trouble
is, that the report is not consistent with
itself. If they had simply reported the
facts, which they have evidently found,
it would have been well enough. If
they had come to a different conclusion
"a conclusion which should have been
sustained by testimony-that is, that
everything was corrupt and rotten; with
shame and humiliation we should have
accepted of the report, and acknowledge
that the people of Vermont had been
grossly wronged and imposed upon by
those whom they had the most trusted
and in whom they had the most reason
to trust. What we do complain of and
what the people of Vermont will justly
complain of, is that having found moth
that was inconsistent with honor, integ-
rity and Justice, they should travel out
side of the record for the purpose of
pandering to or conciliating other inter
ests.