The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-09-04

The st. Adams Messenger printed the fol-
lowing in its Saturday evening edition In
connection with the account OF the st.
Adams liquor agency scandal;
"MoNTPELIER IN 1T, TOO?
#. M. Livingston OF Springfield, Mass,
a travelling salesman for a wholesale liquor
firm, was much interested in the story of
the raid ON the agency told in the MESSENGER
last night. At the st. Adams hotel he told
some interesting things about the way
liquor agencies are conducted under YER
monPs prohibitory law. In Montpelier, a
very short time ago, the city was to pur-
chsse about $1,000 worth of liquor for the
agency. l submitted price for furnishing
the required quantity and was told L could
have the business by giving the purchs sing
committee bonus OF S15CO. This refused
TO do and the business went to a Bc-ton
concern which was willing to pay the cash
That's the way it's done,' added Mr..
Livingstone significantly"
This was rather startling intelligence 70
the members Of the city council and espe.
cially to the puTcha1ing committee Alder
men Leird Harlow and Wheelock.
Alderman Laird, who was a member of
the committee which investigated the LIQUOR
egency and Is chairman of the purchasing
, committee, Yves seen today by JOURNAL
reporter in relation to the charges made in
the Messenger. He believed, he said, in act
ing rather than talking for publication at
this time. Asked II Jn6 report W9g true
that he was to bring suit for libel against
the Messenger for $4,000 damages, and
had employed ex-Mayor j. II. Senter ss
COUNSEL he allowed that he had retained
Mr.. Senter but would not say when the suit
would be brought or for what amount.
Mr.. Senter agreed with Mr.. Leird that
this is the time to act rather than to talk.
A friend of Mr.. Laird, however, told the
reporter that there was no doubt that a
suit would be brought against the Messenger
at once by Mr.. Lard aud probably by the
| other members of the purchasing commit
| teo. He was e9su ed, he said, that the only
| Objectionable charge was made out OF whole
cloth. None OF the members of the com.
mittee know any liquor salesman named
| Livlngst one, and furthermore The commit
| teo has never reached the $1,000 mark in
purchasing any one bill OF goods, TO say
nothing OF a $1,000 deal.
There haJ always been at least two mem
tars of the committee present when bill o
liquors was purchased for the agency, aud
| no bonus money hes been esked for or re-
ceived by the committee. Alderman Har'
low is out OF town.
Alderman Wheelock says that he should
| take the same position a. Mr.. Laird in the
matter OF bringing suit against the Messenger
| He says there is nothing to the charges
| made by Livingstone II there IS any such
man, and that suit will bring the matter
| into court where witnesses can be sworn
| anu buo lbJI ODIdlHeu, as COulu HOG 10 uOue
| in an ordinary investigation. He staunch-
ly defends his fellow members on the pur-
chasing committee and Indignantly repu
dates the insinuation that they have esked
or received any bonus money.
Alderman Wheelock's position in the
matter is especially strong in favor Of The
other members as he and they have been
sometimes somewhat at Cross purposes Oh
other city matters.
The matter has not yet become current OF
the streets to any extent 80 the public's
opinion cannot be registered.