Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-05-28
PaourY.s POSITION.

ton Act winch Two vermont poH-
roads Refuse to Obsy--Justiee to
All, Favors to None. The Motto Of
His Campsien.
The daily papers of the state have given
to their readers the news that the state Of
Vermont, through the encouragement,
has brought suit against the Central YER
mont Railway company and the Rutland
Railway company to recover taxes which
these corporations have refused to pay
under the law created by the legislature
at the session of 1906-07. This suit il
brought under what is known as the
"Corporafion Act" and when the bill was
before the legislature there was an active
lobby at the capitol that as compared
with any previous 'sthird house" was as
mountain to mole hill. The brsiny
corporation lawyers were there night and
day-the legal counsel OF the two rail-
roads that have failed to comply with
the Law they then fought 50 vigorously
and viciously.
The nct-now a law and violated by
the t.ro greatest railroad corporations in
the stste--was introduced in the House
and the corporation attorneys did their
most 10 prevent it, passage. u was fav-
ored by Gov. Proctor anu the representa-
z
in great number, passing il by a tremen-
dous majority. This was great ciEap-
pointmcn. 20 the representatives, % the
railroads-uen v no in the past bad dom
mated legislation and moulded II abou;
as they desired.
Their guns were then turned upcn the
Senate ana here they found Lieutenant
Governor Proufy jus. as dominant a fac
tor in his desire that the bili become a
law as was the governor. X was a pull.
a steady pull and pull altogether by the
working pair-Proctor and Prouty. The
senators were no easier TO handle than
had been the members of the House.
They were fewer in numbers and there
fore could be seen of;ener by the rail-
roads opponents Of the bill. And they
were seen,
II was on this measure that Lieutenant
Governor Prouty showed his energy 20
work, his influence among men, his
tireless endeayor TO perform what he con-
sidered his duty to the people of the state.
The senate passed the bill. The gov
ernor placed his signature upon il and it
was o law.
This act of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Prouty
soured the railroad officials against him.
They have never sweetened in the least
probably never will.
II j. largely because he was instrument
tai in creating this Corporation Act"
that the Central Vermont and Rutland
Railway corporations are out today, a.
their legal representatives assert, to s'trifn
Prouiy and trim him good and hard
Therefore. they must have a candidate.
Who l. the man?
Not Prouty. most assuredly.
j. it stanton?
None other. for be is ne only OF her one.
Stanton has asserted. and be may assert
again and sgsin. that he Is not under a
retainer by these corporations. But this
is merely an evasion of the true condition
Of things as applied to himself. Certsin-
~ he is not under retainer by the rail-
roads while a candidate for governor.
That isn't the main point. There is no
doubt about the position of Candidate
Prouty on the question Of corporation
supervision by the state.
There is serious and mighty question
regarding what the position of Cand idate
Stanton will be in case he should be
made the executive.
Prouty has made a record. He has de-
clared time and time again that upon that
record he " i'll continue to stand.
The situation of the railroads il like
this: They claim that the one per cent.
tax on the appraised valuation of their
trackage is excessive.
Is il?
Let's see: The farmers and the BUSH
ness rnen of Vermont have to pay fully so
per cent more than the railroads under
the new act which they refuse to comply
with. The act of the two railroads in re-
fusing to pay their tax may be good cifi-
zenship from the viewpoint Of the rail-
-. "a III
zenship as viewed by the true and loyal
citizen.
The railroads are trying their strength
in this governorship contest and they are
straining mind and muscle TO the utmost.
To win with the nomination of Stanton
means their domination in matters legis-
lative.
IL further means that the men upon the
farm and the me in all commercial lines
of industry viii have a greater tax TO pay
than under the act which the railroads
are now fighting.
Summed up briefly, the situation is
this:
With Prouty as governor, the railroad
corporations must bow to the dictates of
the lsw-the law they now derest and
are fighting in the courts.
Their hope is Stanton.
They are energeticaliy seeking his NOM
nation.
The farmers and business men all over
the state are with Prouty. They have
reason.
The Prouty campaign will be waged on
the policy of fairness to all. fsvors TO
none; a just tax levied on all property,
railroad as well as other holdings; laws to
punish the violator of laws; prosperity
for the people-a greater and grander
Vermont.-Political Adv.
canital Savings Rank