Morning journal and courier., 1882-03-18

Parallel Railroad Chart er-Farther Hearing Regarding NIr. GoOdyVin's Res- oluttOn-An Adjournment Until Next Tuesday-NIatters of General Interest.
 HARTFORD, March 17, 1882. Special corresr ondence of JOURNAL AND CoURIEH.l
 This being the last working day of the week, the business of the day commenced promptly and proceeded with commendable the Senators and Representatives being anxious to return to their homes at as early an hour as possible.
 The Committee on Railroads met at IO:3O this morning, and all the members being present formal and final vote was taken on the Parallel railroad charter. As previously anticipated the vote stood four in favor of the charter and five against, as follows For the charter Senator Baker and Representa- tiyes Cooley of Hartford, Williams of Leba- non, and Southworth of Saybrook. Against the charter, Representatives Gillette of Waterbury, Wilson of Greenwich, Lombard of Ashford, Richmond of New Milford and Young of Holland. It is said that there will be majority and minority reports, MT. Gill lette submitting one. and Senator Baker the other. The action of the committee caused no little buzzing about the Hobbies, but the prevailing opinion was that the Consolidated had gained an important point and that the final result would be in their favor
 This afternoon the Railroad committe @ wore in session for farther hearing of the so-called Goodwin resolution" of inquiry regarding the affairs of the Consolidated road.
 Tho first witness called was Charles P. Clarke, second vice president of the Consol- dated road. In opening he said AS MT. Watrous said last night that he had an impor- tant engagement today in New York, he re- quested me to come here and make 8 state- ment. Mir. Clarke said he had been connect ed with the road but 8 short time and had had nothing to do with the books of this company for the year 1881. I have had some experience in bookkeeping from youth up. do not appear to-day as an advocate, but with my experience in bookkeeping and railroad matters think I can enlighten you to some extent in regard to these returns. He said it was impossible te take up all the different branches of the Consolidated road at the same time, but they were prepared tc take up each branch of the road separately and explain it's work. The conglomeratior of all these items together has been the rock upon which the plaintiffs in this investiga ton have split. hereby invite the commit tee to go to New York and examine oul books freely and fully as they please and they will find that not figure has been altered ol changed in any way. Mir. Clarke then pro ceeded to show why there were discrepancies in the accounts in the reports sent to Massa chusetts and Connecticut The laws of these two States required that reports shotfld bt itemized in different forms. Proceeding ht said that there was nothing in the $500, O0( credit to show that there had been anything to conceal in regard to receipts. He reac from ether roads to show that the same thing had been done by other roads, and while,ths money had not been used it had been se aside for specific purpose. He did not set how any clearer statement could have been made than that made by MT. Watrous yes terday. MT. Clarke proceeded to show the continual depreciation of stock in & very plain and concise manner, to which the com mittee gave their undivided attention. He said it was foolish for any railroad or any man in any business to put down the value o1 his property at the end of the year at the same value as the year before. MT. ClarI went through all the details of transactions ot the Consolidated road and plainly showed that everything in the business of the corpo ration had been transacted fairly and in tht interest of the stockholders and the peopl. of the State. In closing he said that after his explanation he desired to say to the com mittee that he would, and the company would be pleased to have the committee with any expert who is a reasonable man, go to New York and examine the books of the company all they pleased for the purpose of ascertain ing whether the statements made by hin were correct.
 At 3:45 the farther hearing was adjourned until Tuesday afternoon at o'clock.
 Following is the summary of the bushes transacted in Senate and House to-day.