The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-24
tFrom Burlington Sentinel.l
The Smalley Vouchers.

About a fortnight ago, during the ac-
counting of the receivers of the Vermont
Central railroad, vouchers were brought
out upon which there has been consider
able unfavorable comment in the press in
and out of Vermont, but which, upon ex-
plan~ion, cast no discredt upon the par.
ties drawing them. We refer to the money
paid b. Il. Smalley, clerk of the United
States district court, and his father, Judge
Smaley, the former ostensibly for services
as passenger agent at Montreal and for
counsel fees, and the latter for "services
and money paid out IN the legislature.
The Sentinel did not allude to this matter
at the time, satisfied that on the arrival
of Mr.. b. b. Smalley from the west, these
vouchers would be fully and satisfactorily
explained. A representative of this jour
nal, therefore, called Saturday on Mr..
Smalley, and though he insists that be has
no explanation to make, az he considers
that he has done nothing that needs ex-
PLANTATION, yet we obtained from him a
statement of facts which we think ought
to put quietus upon the untounded
runners so freely in circulation concern
ing himself and honored father. 1t ap-
pears that upon Mr.. Smaley's resigna-
ton as deputy collector of customs at
Burlington, in July, 1860, he found him
self without employment and at once
applied to f. A. Chaplin, then superinten-
dent of the Rutland and Burlington rail-
road, and to j. G.. Smith, one of the mana
gers of the Vermont Central railroad, for
employment on one or both of their roads,
and received the appointment of travelling
agent for what was then called the North
and South through line, being the line from
Montreal to New York via Rutland, at a
salary of s 900 per annun, including OK
penses. This position he held until April
l, 1868, when he resigned, and its duties
were faithfully performed and to the en-
tire satisfaction of both roads. Part of this
time Mr.. Smalley was clerk of the United
States court, but there was no improperly
in his holding both positions, and the clerk
ship was not worth $500 per annum.
In regard to the retainer of $780, it is
well known that Mr.. Smalley is practic
ing lawyer, and accepted the retainer from
the receivers of the Vermont Central rail-
road company just as he could have taken
one from their opponents had they offered
it. From 1868 TO 1874, Mr.. Smaley was
in active practice IN the federal courts,
which fact 10 one knows better than the
counsel opposing the allowance of the re-
ceivers' accounts, and no criticism was
made upon it.
AS to the payment of $4,000 to Judge
Smalley, this was made for services rem
dered in the settlement of long and ex-
pensive litigation between The Vermont
Central and the Vermont and Canada rail
roads on the one part, and the Rutland and
Burlington railroad on the other, prior to
1857, when the judge went on the bench.
the judge having been the representative
of the Rutland Burlington railroad. 1t was
paid by the Vermont and Canada railroad
company, and not by tue trust and the
resolution authorizing such payment was
spread at length on the records of that cor
poration. This fact was well known to all
the counsel IN the railroad accounting, and
the agent of the associated press at st. AL
bans cosld have easily found 1t out, had he
not desired to throw mud upon parties not
connected with this litigation.
With this explanation, we cannot see,
how any fair minded person can, in the
least, discover in these famous Smaley
vouchers anything derogatory to the char
acter of the gentlemen concerned or TO the
parties employing them, and the st. AL
bans, Springfield and Burlington editors,
who have been so distressed about the mat
ter, can now afford to stake n rest"