The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-03
And TERNONT Also!
A United states Judge M n Corruption Agent
-BribinR Legislators.
f''om @e Springfield Republican.

ZION tie SDffaoded RepubHcar.
The examination of the accounts of tho
receivers and managers Of the Vermont Central
and Vermont and Canada Railroads. which has
been pending for the last six weeks before SPEC
cial Masters Dillingham;, Dcnnison ana Edwards,
Is bringing to light Incls that would be almost
appalling. " not so frequent and familiar. The
following IRE specimen vouchers showing how
the trust funds. In the hands Of Gov. Smith and
his associates, have been uisbursed:
BURLINGTON. Jan. 81. 1859.
Received Of Hon Lawrence Br-inard, trustee, 5000
S nd pparsto so thee oq e ver%ent canada
h'i'rosd lathe October session. is'S. sx,,,rr
Another voucher, without date, reads as fol-
lows:
Received Of Hon Lawrence Brainsrd. trustee, $500
matters behalf the ernont and Canada Railroad
Co. at October session. 1858. ID. A sMALLEY.
There IL pencil memorandum In the hand
writing OF Brainard. on the margin OF this
voucher showing that u MAS paid 70 judge
that every word Of these vouchers Is In the
handwriting Of the signer-that ID. A. Smalley
was appointed Judge Of the United States Court
for the District Of Vermont on the 3D. OF March,
1851 and has ever since held that ONCE, The
en- racter OF the trans Icton Il apparent. he
these disbursements Is indicated by the fact
that, though they paid Judge Smalley the money
in 1872 they did not charge it over to the trust
until lnuary, 1883.
Another prominent instrument for the cor
ruption Of the Vermont Legislature IL found in
the person Of 10 ID. Hatch, for many years n
resident of Burlington. He has for long lime
been the recipient of salary Of $3.50 year,
beside expenses, a. agent for the receivers and
managers" His p-incip ! business, when the
Legislature has not been IN session, mas been to
look after the interests II the trust" lie has
discharged his duty, III part, 10y keeping watch
OF all the politicians in the state. OF both par
ties, the newspapers, and the lawyers, who, from
year to year, were likely 10 be elected to the
legislature. BN very extensive, and, at the
same time, 1udicous, distribution ~ -" free
passes +" and hfty dollar "rctainers." 10 ID. Hatch
has been able To make the Vermont Legislature
completely sun-erylent to the Will of the Smith
Ring and enectualy prevent any legislation
which the managers Of this trust deemed add
verse to their Interests. lie, with the aid of the
large corps of satellites Of this " Ring" which
the free passes and retainers have purchased,
has so managed the press of Vermont that, with
"A Few honorable exceptions, no knowledge Of
the corruptions ana rascaiities OF this Ring"
has reached the people through their columns.
Hatch has habitually taken rooms at the Pavilion
II tel, at the beginning OF each session of the
was In the habit of giving vouchers for his cx-
penses, sc. The following are specimen copies,
aud when the honest farmers oi Vermont read
them, they can understand why 1t was that no
bill for taxing railroad property could ever get
even respectful treatment in the Legi lature.
Tue people will understand. too, how 1t came to
pass that no general Railroad law could be put
through a lons as the smiths had an interest to
oppose IL
Trustees and Managers Vermont Ccntral and Vermont
anu Sanaea ltailroAoS 70 10 r. hiiea Dr+ FOR txp u.
.',ao. aA1 w gFrp'ia ior a4d olpo ing anpli'
30 u. HATCH
A list NJ something over thirty lawyers, prom
inent IA tue politics oi Vermont, many Of them
member OF tie Legislature NJ TINT ana lrevtous
sessions, accom- rauics tins vruchcr. Hatch sup
poses that this must be a list Il the persons 10
whom he ua4 aid rctdiucrs. Voucher $50 Is
for SsOl for " expenses I'm preparing tor session
OF Lccisl ture IN 1870. expenses during session
in resisttns Adverse legislation and uefe ting
general railroad law, Application for Northern
Railroad charter. railroad tax law, &c, &c. Re-
celYed paNment.'
Hatch had access TO the secret service fund"
which was a fund set apart bv order of GOV.
Smith, aud used Tor purposes which he did not
want to appear on the general books Of the trust.
The proof shows that Hatch had found this
fund, Dec. g 1862. $l,O1 Jan. s. 1871. $50 Dec
20, 1870. sl,tI llec. =, $50, Sl,5n OF what he
dtu with these funds he Is entirely obliVous !;
doesn't remember ANYTHING about whom lie
pad the money TO. In view of the dates OF
these drafts from the secret service fund, tn 10
Is at least a possibility that the money was
used " IN the Legislature and to resist diverse
legislation, md defeat thu gener | railroad law,
railroad tax law, &c.' Otner vouchers
have been given In evidence showing
money expended Tor LOBE wing purposes
at concord. y. H., Albany, y. l., aud
Washington. ID. &. Could IN system Of tIkiug
care ut Lcgi-latures which the managers Of ths
trust have adopted uc inipr we'd
Here would seem o. be an excellent ch nee
for tondholders aud state, attorneys t. try me
efficiency OF las IN recut eripg moneys thu mn
morally md frl dulenty sptut, hui IN ul eng
The public corruptioni-ts under penal s.rNcil-
IIuCe.