Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-12-14
rAE wAreR works coNrRoveRsY.

Another Committee Hearing Wednesday,
some Of the Things Said or Thouaht
Would Not Look Well II Printed In a
Book.
L. e. Holden and James F. Hooker of
the water board, %. c. Crosby, G. r.
Crowell. John Taft, c. II. Thompson and
A. +. Carpenter have been in Montpelier
this week to watch the course of things
with reference to our water works con-
troversy. The claim is made by members
Of the water board that Mr. Fits did not
tell the truth when he stated to the legis-
lative committee last week, in substance.
that, in acquiring the Stickney brook
water rights in 1901 and afterwards. he
was acting in Mr.. Crowelrs behalf. with a
view to turning these rights over to him
when they were needed. Members of the
water board claim that Mr. Fits was
acting in his own interest and that he
sold the rights to Mr.. Crowell at a large
profit. Statements to this effect were
made to members of the legislative com
mittee and to other members of the House
and Senate. Because of these statements
Mr.. Fits asked that a special session of
the joint committee on municipal corpora
lions be held Wednesday morning. At
that session Mr.. Fits made a statement
of his connection with the acquisition of
these rights. G.. A. Weston of Bellows
Falls was present as attorney for the
water board and put Mr.. Fits under
cross examination. An affidavit from
John Taft was introduced and an unsigned
statement from c. H Thompson in the
form of an affidavit. Mr.. Taft and Mr.
Thompson both left for home without APP
pearing before the committee.
The accounts vary, according to the
point of view of different individuals, as
to the effect which the developments at
this hearing produced on the committee
1t Is agreed on both sides, however, that
some members of the committee appeared
to feel that their patience was being put
to the limit of endurance. Before the
final adjournment of the session Mr..
Fits presented to the committee this
amendment, which he said he wished to
insist should be incorporated in the char
ter, If granted so that no claim could be
raised that anyone but Mr.. Crowell was
to profit by 1t:
If the water systems OF the Chest
nut Hill Reservoir company and the
Sunset Lake Water company shall be
taken within one year by arbitration,
under the provisions of this act, and II
shall be made to appear to the arbtrat-
ors that any person other than George
%. Crowel has made, or shall, as result
of such taking and arbitration, make any
gain, profit or reward over and above
reasonable and just compensation for SER
vices rendered, lne amount OF SUCH eX-
cess as may thereupon be found by the
arbitrators shall be deducted from the
price to be paid for such water systems
upon the award of such arbitrators, and
the village of Brattleboro shall have the
benefit Of such deduction
When Mr.. Hooker explained to the COM
mittee the reasons why John Taft had moi
stayed in Montpelier TO appear at the
hearing, he said that for one thing ''Mr
Taft had a serious impediment in his
speech"
Il wish more of the Brattleboro people
had an impeachment in their speech" wa;
Mr.. Films instant reply.
The report of the committee and the in
PRODUCTION of this bill is looked for today
or tomorrow. Mr.. Gibson has been con.
fined to his room by Illness this week
Out of courtesy to him the introduction
of the bill will doubtless be timed 81
as to come when he can be present IL
the House.