Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-11-10
From the Montpelier Journal.
The Railroad Accounting.

vestigation, the same ground was sub
stantially gone over as in the present case
The same parties who appeared to arraigl
the trustees in the investigation, also hay,
appeared to contest their accounts. TIL
attempt was then made to fasten on tn
trustees the charge of faithlessness to tn
trust and the perversion of trust funds t,
their own use. The attempt in that cas-
most signally failed, end the managers O.
the road were entirely vindcated by thu
legislative committee, and in the judgmen
of all rejecting men, from any corruption
or fraud or abuse of the property place.
in their hands. The investigation wa.
not partisan or whitewashing affair L
was very thorough and very conclusive
and it had the effect to disabusc the pub
Lie mind of the wholesale mistatements
which had been freely circulated by GER
tain parties against the managers. The
good effect of the report of the investga-
ting committee was felt, even in the bust
ness circles of Boston and New York, and
there was no difficulty in securing the
stock of the Central Vermont corporation,
which was organized for the purpose of
consolidating the various securities in the
care OF the trustees, and removing the
immense interests they held, out of the
hands OF the chancellor and the courts of
the state. Gov. Smith was also placed at
the head of the new corporation; the cor.
poratlon was made receiver of the trust
property, until such time as the securities
should be consolidated, and the old recejy.
ers were ordered to account before spe.
Gal masters, for the property committed
to them.
This accounting has just been compile
ted and the public now awaits the report
OF the masters. What that report will be
can be very safely coujecturnd ,f"~~, =
tnstimon,. .1.-.- -..",S Dccn maze. IL Is
lutte obvious that the enemies of the trus-
tees have failed to substantiate any charge
of fraud or corruption against the old
They have appeared before
the masters with able counsel, and had
free and full use OF the books Of the trust,
and nothing has been developed implica-
ting at all the integrity and honor Of the
trustees. On the other hand the reports
of the case show that the trustees have
acted with prudence and sagacity; that
they have largely Increased the property
and business Of the trust; that it is in a
far better condition in every respect, than
when they undertook it, and that they
have never entered upon any extension or
leases of other roads except by and with
the consent of all the parties interested III
the trust fund.
One singular fact has been developed in
the course of this accounting and the liti-
cation attending it. 1t has been earnestly
charged against the trustees, almost as a
criminal breach Of trust, that they should
have leased the Rutland railroad under q
false impression of its earnings andeXpen-
Sc, and have thus involved the trust in a
heavy annual deficiency in order to meet
the rent. But we have before US the afli-
davit of the president OF the Rutland road
showing that the lease was not made I'M
der any false impression of it's value to
the trust, and also showing that the
lease must have been of very great finan-
cial benefit to it. Thus the statements of
one party hostile to the trust dsprove the
statements of another party hostile to it.
Governor Smith must be gratifed to have
the indirect testimony Of Governor Page
to the wisdom of his action in the matter
OF thr lease of the Rutland road
We trust that the litigation in these rail
road matters is nearly at an end 1t is
time it was ended. We do not see how
there can be any renewal of these old bat.
ties in which the same ground is gone
over and over again, the same charges are
made and refuted, and the same manage
ment repeats continuously its conclusive
vindication. 1t is time that the trustees
the chancellOrs, the judges and the courts
of the state should no longer be subjec
to the old calumnes which have beef
recklessly hurled at them. We can con
cevc Of no interest to be subserved by
repetition of the charges which have beel
so many times disproved. The Vernon
and Canada directors were elected at tn
late annual meeting in the interest Of tn
proposed consolidation with the Centra
Vermont. Mr. Brooks, who has stirre
up so much strife and litigation, was lei
out, and will be unable to carry on hi
guerilla warfare any longer. There is II
reason Why the proposed union shoul
not be effected now. 1t is most ardentl
to be desired, also, that the Rutland an
Central interests should be separated, &c
the sake of the mutual advantages tn;
must result. The Central is now doing
fair business, and its annual finances
statements show that the receipts of tn
road exceed it's expenses for the yea
1t will be a great blessing to the state t
have the railroad war ended forever befor
the close Of the year.
PYLE's DIETETIC SALERATUs-Un
a l. L IL 1.