Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-05-08
PRESIDENT HARRIS REPORT.

versant.
PRESIDENT HARRIS REPORT.
The deposition of Daniel L. Harris, of
Springfield, Mass, president of the Con-
necticut River railroad, has no referenceto
charges, but is an expression of opinion the
that the Central road and its leased lines
cannot be economically managed, and
have already resulted in loss of more
than twelve hundred thousand dollars,
and that, with the best management,
there would be such an annual loss.
The counsel for the trustees contend
ed that Mr.. Harris disposition was
COMPLETE vlNDICATIoN OF THE TRUs-
TEES
against the charges Of fraud ard pecu-
for that which was thus lest could not
have been stolen.
The counsel for the State announced
that he was through with those speeifi-
cations, and would on Monday take up
the charge of improper influence in OBJ
tanning legislation.
TRUSTEES COME OUT WITH CLEAN HANDS.
All allegations relating to the car com
panies, secret service, personal accounts,
Northern Pacific railroad, foundry, ma
terials, Sullivan railroad and Montreal
junction road, have been included in the
testimony already offered, and the evil
dence appears to be conclusive that there
has been no fraud or populations of any
kind, and that the trustees will come out
of the investigation with clean hands.
ST ALBANs, May 5.
The hearing before the investigating
committee of the charges made against
the trustees of the Vermont Central rail
road, was resumed this morning. The
counsel for the trustees called Scion
Carpenter, reporter of the Boston Tray
eler TO the stand in regard to the &C
counts published in that paper as having
been paid for legal services. He testi-
fed that some of the amounts were not
published correctly. Inseyeral instances
dollars occupied the place of cents. As
to the other items he could not tell
whether they were correct or not. Mr..
Fifield, counsel for the trustees, stated
that the errors made difference of more
than twenty-five thousand dollars in the
aggregate, and that the annual expense
for legal services footed up less than five
thousand dollars.
Nl@9E MI On Law
The reporter for the Traveller tesri-
fed that he also reported for the Rutland
Globe. Mr.. Fifeld read from his report,
and stated it not only created a false inn
preston, but was false in itself, although
he would not accuse the young man Of
having made them maliciously.
1t was shown from the pass books of
the company that aside from those issued
to railroads and in exchange, and to the
post office officials, and to the officers of
the State, the total number of passes to
outside parties in 1872 was 81.
Mr.. Clark, trustee, testified that his
salary up to ten years ago was So, 500.
Then it was cut down to 50, 500, and
now it was but -, 600 He had endors-
ed the paper of the company to the
amount of several millions of dollars
for which he had no compensation
CALLING FOR BOOKS.
The counsel for the State called for
the books of the Montreal Junction COM
pany. The counsel for the trustees said
that Governor Smith could not legally
produce them; they were in Canada, the
books of road chartered under the
new Dominion.
IA great many employees were eXamin-
ed in regard to materials sold to the trus-
tees or work done for them, but in every
instance it was found that there had been
regular charges at full rates.
The amount of money received by w.
G. Smith, as royalty, on car wheels and
castings, from June LIST, 1868, to May
1st, 1873, was shown to amount to one
hundred and sixteen thousand dollars.
1t was shown by Mr.. Merrill, the super
intendent, and several other witnesses,
that the payment of the royalty by the
foundry company made no difference in
the price with the railroad company,
and that great benefit resulted to the
railroad company by having the shop SO
near that they were not obliged to carry
any stock, and made a great saving in
freight.
THE TRUSTEES INDICATED.
The testimony for the State is all in,
and the investigation, excepting the ar
gumcnts, is nearly completed, for the
impression prevails that the trustees are
already So completely indicated that
they will offer little if any testimony.
The investigation has been very thor
ough, a large number of witnesses have
been examined, the books overhauled,
accounts compared, and while there may
be difference of opinion in regard to
the management of the road, it seems to
be generally conceded that there is
NO EVIDENCE WHATEVER
to sustain the charges that have been
made, but they have been the victims
of conspiracy.
A good deal of indignation is express
ed upon the street at the attempt TO |
break down the road by destroying the |
confidence of the public in the trustees. |
and IN bringing about an expensive in
vestigation.
THE INYEsTIGATIoN ADJOURNED.
81. ALBANs, May 6.
The hearing before the legislative
committee on the charge against the
Vermont Central railroad was resumed
this morning. The attorney for the
after putting in documentary
evidence, stated that he had nothing
more to offer. The counsel for the
The trustees said that 8 the very search
ng investigation had not developed any
evidence whatever to show that the
trustees had been guilty of the charges
they would not bring forward
any testimony to prove their innocence.
THE TRUSTEES OFFER NO TESTIMONY
They desired to leave the testimony
with the committee without argument.
The attorney employed by the COM
nittee expressed desire of being heard.
The committee, after consultation.
'aid that they should adjourn for several
weeks, and when the evidence was In
print, would come together and give
learing to any individual whose name had
been made public in connection with the
Investigation, and they would listen to
that Mr.. Davenport, the attor-