Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-11-12

This accounting has just been completed
and the public now awsits the report Of the
masters. What that report will be can be
very safely copjectured from the testimony
that has been given and the arguments that
have been made. 1t i, quite obvious that
tie enemies Of the trustees have, Jailed to
suhstantiate any ehlrge Of fraud or ecrrup
lion against the old managers. > They have
appeared before the masters with able eoun-
sci. ana had free and full use of the books
of the trust, and nothing has been deVeioped
irn,aica.ing 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 aud sagaeity; that they have
LARGELY increased the property and BUSINESS
of the trust that it is in Tar better cohu'-
ton, in every respect, than when they unoer,
took it, and that they have never entered
upoi, any extension or leases OF other roaos
except by and Nth the consent OF all the
parties interested 10 the trust fund sis
One singular fact has been developed IN
the course of this accounting and the li'iga-
ton attending it. Ii has been earnestly
charged against the trustees, almost rs
| criminal breach of trust, that they should
have leased the Rutland railroad under a
false impression of its earnings and expenses
and have thus involved the trust in heavy
annual deficiency in order to meet the rent.
| But we have before us the affidavit oil the
President Of the Rutland road showing that
the lease was not made under any iaise iin-
preston of its value to the trust, and also
showing that the lease must have been a
source of very great financial beneht 10 IT,
Thus the statements of one party hostile to
the trust disproye the statements oil anotnef
marty which is hostile to it. Governor Smith
must be grati6ed to have the indirect test,
mony of Governor Page to the wisdom OF
his action in the matter of the lease oil The
Rutland road. -,
We trust that the litigation IN these raul
road matters is nearly at an end 1t Is time
it was ended. We do not see how there ca:
he any renewal Of these old battles IN whlci
the same ground is gone over and over again
the same charges OF fraud are made ana re
fnted. and the same management repeat
continually its conclusive vindicatlon' l
is time that the trustees, the chancellors TIL
Judges and courts of the State, should n
longer be subject to the old calumnies whlcI
have been recklessly hurled at them. W.
can conceire Of no interest to he suoser'e'
bv n repetition of the charges which hay
been 50 many times disproyed- The Yer
mont and Canada directors were elected u
the late annual meeting in the interest d
the proposed consolidation with the Contra
Vermont. Mr. Brooks. who has stirred
SO much strife and litigation, was Lett on'
| and will be unable to carry on his guerlIl
warfare any longer. There Is no reaso
why the proposed union shonld not be e.
fected now. IL is most ardently 10 be d'
sired also, that the Rutland and Central inteI
l ests should be separated, for the sake oil III On
mutual advantage. that must result In
Central is now doing fair business, and y
annual financial statements show that u
receipts Of the road exceed its expenses Il
the year. 1t will be a great blessing to II
g State to have the railroad war ended ioreVe
| before the close Of the year. Haieh'naH-