Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-05-09
NUMBER 10.

NUMBER 40.
1865. Don't think | ever retained +
Parker, but can't swear to it.
Q;-Dld You ever pay any money to Hoyt
ii. Wheeler?
Al did
Mr.. Davenport with look Of grave sur
prise and voice and manner Indicating
deep emotion calculated "my God Z" and
there was sensation throughout the room
Can I say when paid him. Think it was
at Montpelier; don't recOllect whether in
his room, or mine, or not. Think the
amount was $50. paid W. d. Crane, but
don't know whether in 1869 or not. Don't
reeollect whether | retained Col Veazey be-
lore he got some notices published for ns or
not. paid Roswell Farnham, but cannot
say when. don't know As he rendered any
professional services for the road and can
not say as Judge Wheeler had
l paid CarOlus Noyes a fee, | think, be
fore 1863. ! retained llaskins Il Clark hut
cant say when. Don't know that they
ever performed any professional services. |
also paid II. c. Wilson.
Mr.. Davenport stated d" Benton < VIII
son were ON the list in pencil. Witness
sad he did not know that they were EN-
ployed
Mr.. Davenport = The next name is
" Heath" Who is he?
Al cannot tell. Don't know any
Heath that ] ever employed.
The next name was " howell. =" The wit
ness said he didn't know who was meant.
and IN response to an inquiry said he did
not know John W. R0well, Of West Ran
dolph. - ii. Clark was Secretary of the
Senate. Don't know that ever paid him
any money. Don't reeollect now
Q.-The next name here i = Willard. "
| Who is he?
Al don't know who is meant.
Q.-Did you ever pay e. W. Willard any
money?
Al never did.
Mr.. Dayenport-IIe is the Vermont Con-
gresham who has refused to soil his fingers
| with the back salary steal
| In response to further inquiries, Mr.
Hatch said that some ten years ago he
| paid money to G.. X Field, Of Brattleboro.
Don't know why he is on the list y.
! Tuttle' Is Josiah futile Of Essex. Think
he was not n member in 1869. L. c. Sny-
der Is OF Huntington. Cannot say whether
there were any other lawyers whom had
employed save those in this list. Think
| some Of these men were retained good
while ago. Presume all of them carried
passes, and men retained generally do.
Did not retain Governor Stewart after he
was Governor, but suppose he still held our
retainer in his pocket. As for the $3.50
charged in the voucher as my bill at the
Pavilion, etc, etc, part of it was paid TO
the proprietOrs Of the Pavilion. Have never
furnished wines, liquors or cigars to any
one there-nOt dollar of the Sl30 was paid
"A ruart hars of tho lArfsf,+tvo H..
tend that this sum was exactly what paid.
1t was 50 stated 10 correspond with the
voucher and might have covered some items
Of expense | had previously made Did
not know that there was any secret service
fund. Can't say when first learned about
1t. Can't say to whom | delivered that
voucher, can't say at whose suggestion
made detailed statement Don't recol-
leet that | then told Gov. Smith that those
men the Vermont Central owned. and could
rely on. Should not think there was man
on that list that has been employed for the
first time since 1863. Can't say whether
gave the voucher.
Adjourned TO 9, a. m.
THURSDAY FORENOON
Mr.. GrOut. member Of the committee,
having arrived, Mr.. Davenport offered to
recall W. e. Smith and ask in relation to
the purchase of car wheels from the ST. Al
bans Foundry Co. This drew out a long
discussion in regard to the scope of the in
yestigauon-the very question which was
raised at the commencement of the hearing
and which was deferred until Mr.. GrOut'S
arrival.
Mr.. Underwood contended that the ques-
ton involved matters Of interest only to the
security holders and all relations between
rff J.
solely by the court. This committee should
investigate such matters only as it would be
competent for the Legislature to act
upon.
In reply, Mr. Davenport contended that
the language of the resolution was 50 plain
that a wayiaring man could understand 1t.
Now the government Of the State consists
of three branches, the legislative, executive
and Judiciary. nder the Judiciary for the
honor of which every lawyer ought to be
especially solicitous, these roads have been
and are now managed. The scandal attach
ing to the courts ought tOb eeleared up and
this committee, which is of that branch Of
the government which not only elects but
can impeach judges. Is under an obligation
to them as well As TO the people to find out
the truth
Mr. Fifeld replied, making an able argu-
ment in support Of the positions taken by
MIR. Underwood. He said it was announced
last summer that grand raid was to be
made on the Vermont Central in order To
break it down. The speech of Mr.. Daven-
port was part Of this raid, and in keep
ing with it. The gentleman claimed to be
acting for the State, but he believed he was
working in the interest Of private parties.
The duty of pablic prosecutor was to
stand in a judicial capacity, TO see that
fairness and equal justice was done to all
not To be a prosecutor. The committee
were appointed to yindicate the reputation
Of the Legislature from the charges of the |
Boston Trdreiier, after its publication of
the Hatch voucher. They wished TO show |
up this ridiculous farce of buying up the |
legal profession of the State at $50 apiece. |
He thought it folly to investigate railroads |
whose charters were obtained in New |
Hampshire and Canada, and he trusted the |
committee would not attempt what they |
had no power to do. They should do moth |
ing except what was consistent with the |
history and language of the resolution. |
The only power given them to investigate |
the car companies was in the preamble.
The committee then retired for cOnsulta-
ton.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
The chairman Of the committee, Senator
Bailey, announced the decision of the com
mttee as follows
The committee understand that they are in
sruced 10 make full Investigation. and that the
preamble 70 the resolution, under which they are |
acting states that the charges made which caused |
the adoption OF the resolution are of such charac
ter to justify and demand searching nvest ga
uon into the character and management O: the rail-
road corporations referred to.
4 majority Of the committee have come to the
conclusion alter a careful consideration that they
authorized and directed 10 inquire into the man
asement Of the property held by the Trustees and
Manager Of the Vermont Central Railroad They do
not eonsi -er that they limited TO the transac
tiuns Of she Trustees and Managers with the ear !
companies in particular.
Not however proposing to 20 through an in |
Vest CATION into all their business transactions but
endeavotng TO investigate those transactions alone
which to their minds would most probably reveal |
corrupt practices If any exist, or vindieate the per
sons charged, If innocent
Gov. Underwood said that his clients |
Obeyed the decision of the committee, and !
were ready for a full Investigation into all |
the charges embraced in the resolution.
Mr. Davenport asked Gov Underwood, to
give him the secret service book; he replied |
he did not have it. 1t was next demanded |
of Mr.. Fifeld, who said he had not had it.
1t was then demanded of Gov. Smith, who |
said he would produce it with the greatest !
pleasure and sent his son for it. Quite a
waspish and entertaining passage at arms
now took place between MeSsrs. Fifeld and
Davenport.
10. d. HATCH
recalled. Could not remember when he
first paid Geo. W. Hendee. or any of the
other persons, save those on the voucher.
Had not the receipts they gave him. Felt
certain that he had paid Judge Wheeler
some money. Did not remember when he
paid the money and received a receipt from
him Will endeavor to produce these re-
ceipts. Believed Judge Wheeler used to be
a law partner of John Z. Butler, who was
once employed by the railroad-b before 1860
Did not know of the existence of the legal
firm of Wheeler Il Reed. Witness here re-
quested that the committee summon those
gentlemen who had been retained by him.