Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-10-30
From Montpelier.
MovrpELIER. Oct. 81.


To the Editor of the Free Press and Times.
Two interesting committee sessions were
held last evening. after the close oil rresl-
dent Buckham's address.
The committee to find out why the famous
Vermont Central Railroad investigating
committee of - have never made their re-
port, held a meeting You remember
that the investigating committee held their
investigation at St. Adams in April and
May 70, and took pile of testimony which
was taken down BY a stenographer, one
Oyiatt The report and testimony was to
be printed in full in book form, 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 eigh-
teen months with great perseverance, to
obtain from 0yiatt. the manuscript copy OF
the testimony, securing great quantities OF
of promises and occasional driblets OF
copy; but utterly failing 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 various
excuses made by Oyiatt for his delay-as the
ill-health of his wife his occupation with
reportlng'court business; the refusal of the
Auditor TO pay him, and his unwiliingneSs
to be driven by scolding and threats.
Auditor Ferrn testisfed that he had tried
his best TO induce 0viatt to complete the
report Of the testimony. lie had told him
that he had no authority to pay him. under
the resolution authorizing the committee ;
but lie had paid him $50 of the $500 asked
by him for his work, and had agreed to pay
him the remaining S22O, as soon as he would
furnish the remainder of the report
Mr.. Oyiatt testified, with smiling face,
and as if he considered the whole business
a very good Joke, that he had not supplied
the remainder Of the manuscript, because
he had had controversy with Mr.. Clarke,
and had been threatened by him with OK
posure a. 4 seoundrel. lie announced, in
response to questions by M Manson, Of the
| investigating committee, that he had CON-
pleted the writing out Of the testimony, and
would hand the remainder Of the eopy to
/ Mr.. Munson tomorrow at 10 clock
Mr.. Murson testified that B. F. Fifeld,
/ Esq, of counsel tOr the railroad managers,
had demanded the fall publication of the
testimony, at the close Of the investigation.
and Mr.. Clarke testified that Mr. Fifeld
had in his presence. some months later, re-
quested Oviatt to furnish the repor, Of the
/ testimony for 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 bag
| delay from him since the testimony was quite
! fully reported in the FREE PREss, Messenger
and other papers. at the time. If he fdrn-
/ ishes the remaining l5O pages of the testi-
mony, tomorrow, a agreed, the printed
report can probably be ready for distribu-
ton before the close Of the present session
of the Legislature.
! THE CORNWALL CONTESTED ELECTION
The committee on elections have given
three evenings TO this case The first was
! occupied in discussions relating to the lnt-o-
duc.ion and reading Of the testimony. The
next was spent in the reading Of the ;estl-
mony Last evening the arguments Of counsel
began. Mr. Eldridge, Of MiddleburY. opened
the case for the contestant, claiming that
the evidence showed that Mr. Dana, the
sitting member, had been elected by the
votes Of persons no were not voters that
money had been paid to voters, who voted
/ for Dana that others, whose testimony
had been desired, had been hid in cellars
and had absconded herr~- chs iake- ten.
Grandey and Hon. Daniel Roberts, counsel
for Mr.. Dana. will reply, and Hon. E. j..
| Phelps will close for the contestant, Mr..
| Williamson.
Over two hundred bills have nox been
introduced. in the two Houses and plenty
more are doubtless coming.
\ resolution looking towards final ad-
journment has been introduced, however,
and there seems to be no good reason why
the business of the session cannot be closed
in three weeks more
Yours. -.