Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-02-03


gathering together the loose ends oi
their neglected business or taking ul
the duties of the farm Ms the case may
be. The closing days of the session
were marked by one of the most bitt'r
fights before the Legislature in recent
years and the most refreshing fact IN
connection Herewith is that it was not
a fight between the railroads aud the
people, but one between two railroads,
either of which is powerful enough to
stand the strain. 1t is now a matter OF
history that the Central Vermont OF
Grand Trunk triumphed over the Bos-
ton & Maine of New York, New Haven
and Hartford. The result is not OF
great Importance to the people Of Yer
mont. The means employed by the
contending parties has aroused interest
This fight started long ago when Mr.
Mellcu VI blo bOstoh "ai'o an
nounced that under his control the B.
& NJ. would not NEEDLE in politics nor
attempt to influence legislation in any
of the New England states. 1t is now
believed by many that the statement
was made for no other purpose than TO
throw the people of Vermont off their
guard. We now recall that the Bur
| lington Free Press warned the people of
Vermont that the announcement was
made for a purpose, and that when the
solution was worked out it would he
found that the Boston & Maine was in
politics and that they would attempt to
influence legislation. 1t now look;
clear that their first move in the game
was to elect a man Of their choice to a
position whereby he conld cast a decid
ing vote in their favor if such vote wa:
needed. Their next move seems tC
| have been to secure the election of Ger
tain persons upon whom they could rely
as members Of the Legislature, and
when elected could secure committee as
signments whereby in large measure
they could deliver the legislation sought
Perhaps 10 attempt was made to aiC
the election of any member, but i
seems reasonabley certain that the,
looked after the committee assignments
We hope our suspicious are withou
foundation, but the fact that thai n
measure has been reported favorably b.
a majority OF the railroad committee o
either branch, until it had been amend
ed to the entire satisfaction of the rail
roads, lends color to our worst fears. T
charge unfairness to the entire com
mittee would be too I'm just, for be
said to the credit of Vermont that fe,
men on the committee in each branc
stood for what was right and Just an
it cannot be charged that they wer
under the railroad pressure or infuenc,
Neither can it be charged that tn
t Speaker of.the House Or the appointin
power in the Senate knew that the raj
| road committee of their respectiy
7 branches were packed. Now then aftt
: four months of close observation we ca
arrive at no other conclusion than thu
the railroads are in politics, and thi
they look after their interests viii
others sleep. For instance the day
fore the vote was taken in the Sena
! an official of the B. & NJ. r. r. serve
I notice on senator that unless he stoc
t by that railroad his interests would
Il in jeopardy. That senator, howeve
r voted according to his convictions an
D.. within ten hours thereafter friends
t the B. & M. made move to block th
= senator's appointment to a positic
he has since received. Another r
O spected attorney who was at Montpeli
c working in the interests of the Centr
s Vermont was threatened with polite
disaster if he did not withdraw frol
4 the opposition forces. Both sides
= the fight have maintained an extensi,
lobby during the past two weeks al
senators have been besieged on all side
No intimation has been made tn
>, either side used money to purchase ii
a needed votes and the only charge again
n their method of lobbying has been tn
e their forces encountered the state hous
n Senators have been buttonholed, threi
s. ened, besought and bewildered until t.
wonder is that none of them broke dov
h under the strain. 1t is quite general
It believed that the zeal with which the
d M. road secured place for its frien
d on the Senate Committee On railroa
-. was the most potent factor in its defe,
4 The Committee was headed by sen
# tor who is cashier in the bank
q which w. B. c. Stickney is presider
e Mr.. Stickney is we'll known as the 8
n torney of the railroads and long befo
rs this fight reached the Senate it was W,
known how the committee would sta,
- on the matter. The Senate thereto
= took the matter into its own hands a,
II referred the bill to a joint commit
Of consisting of the Judiciary Commit
S sitting with the Railroad Commit,
lie This vote plainly showed the Senat
laa1 Af