The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-24
a Legislative Investigation.

The meeting o. the committee TO invcsi-
gate the delay in the printing of the report
of the special committee appointed by the
last legislature to investigate the affairs of
the Vermont Central railroad, is thus de-
scribed by the Montpelier correspondent of
the Burlington Free Press
The committee to find out why the fa-
nous Vermont Central railroad investiga-
ting committee of 70 never made their
report, have held meeting. You remem-
Der that the investigating committee held
their investigation at st. Adams in April
and May '73, and took q pile of testimony
which was taken down by a stenographer,
one Oviatt. The report and testimony was
to be printed in full hook foim by Albert
Clarke, of the Messenger and some 400
pages of it was printed, when the printing
ceased, in consequence of the failure of the
| reporter to furnish the remaining copy !;
and the printed report has never appeared
to this day.
| Mr.. Clarke was before the committee
last evening, and gave an amusing account
of his endeavors, in person and by letter
| and through other persons, continued for
eighteen months with great perseverance,
| to obtain from Oviatt the manuscript copy
of the testimony, securing great quantities
of promises and occasional dribets OF
copy; but utterly falling to obtain the re-
mainder.
Gen. Pitkin, of the railroad investigating
committee, described his efforts to assist
Mr.. Clarke to obtain the copy, and the va
rious excuses made by Oviatt for his delay
as the ill-health of his wife; his occu-
patton with reporting court business the
refusal of the auditor to pay him, and his
unwlllingness to be driven by scoding and
threats.
Auditor Ferrin testified that he had tried
his best to induce Oviatt to complete the
report of the testimony. He had told him
that he had no authority to pay him, under
the resolution authorizing the committee !;
but he had paid him $50 of the $500 asked
by him for his work, and had agreed to pay
him the remaining $3.50, as soon as he
would furnish the remainder of the report.
Mr.. Oviatt testified, with n smiling face,
and as If he considered the whole business
very good joke, that he had not supplied
the remainder of the manuscript, because
he had had controversy with Mr.. Clarke
and mad been threatened by him with cx-
posture as scoundrc. He announced, in
response to questions by Mr.. Manson, of
the investigating committee. that he had
completed the writing out OF the testimony
and would hand the remainder of the copy
to Mr.. Munson tomorrow at 10 O'clock.
Mr.. Munson testified that b. +. Ffield,
ESQ.,, of counsel for the railroad managers,
had demanded the full publication of the
testimony, at the close OF the investigation
and Mr.. Clarke testified that Fifield had il
his presence, some months later, requested
Oviatt to furnish the report of the tesli
mony tor printing.
There was no evidence, or intimation
that Oyiatt had been bribed to withhold
the testimony, and there could be very
little motive on the part Of any one, to buy
delay from him, since the testimony wa.
quite fully reported in the Free Press Mes
senger and other papers, at the time. If h'
furnishes the remaining $50 pages of til,
testimony, tomorrow, as agreed, tn
printed report can probably be ready fo
distribution before the close of the rresen
session of the legislature.