St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-08-06

case, it is those who do not want
any evidence at all, but who boldly
assert that this atetmpt to secure
relief for telephone users will bank
rupt the company and drive it from
the state, despite the fact that some
of the independent companies, now
controlled, formerly flOurishe1 On
rates lower than those cont emplated
in the special report aud although
they have not scintilla of evidence
on which to base the allegations be-
yond the say-so of those who Ire
interested in supressing the facts.
'My action in this matter has
been taken by virtue of the authOIi-
ty vested in me by section $50 of
the revised laws of Vermont. ac-
cOrding to the interpretation there
of by the encouragement a. well
as my own. The section reads as
follows:
=" The governor may remove any
civil officer appointed by him with
or without the advice and cons emit
of the Senate ana appoint a suitable
person, subject to removal in his
discretion, who shall be sworn and
give the bonds required by law.
Such person shall, unless sooner re-
moved, perform the duties and be
entitled to the pay of the person
whom he succeeds, until the first day
of December of the next biennial
year, but this section shall not APP
ply to officers other than those
whose appointment devolVes upon
the governor in the first instance
Attempt to Prejudice People
I'm a desperate attempt to preju
dice the people and create a false
impression as to the merits OF this
case, all sorts of false statements
about alleged previous requests for
designations, for which there is no
foundation in fact, are being made.
and insinuations are being INDUCED
in as to the motives behind this
measure of relief.
mo cry of politics. or any 9th
er slogan used when an executive
tries to observe his oath of office,
will serve to deter me during my
administration from performing
my duty to the state of Vermont, as
1 see it, and fearlessly serving the
interests of the people regardless OF
consequences - Burlington Free
Press.
II. S. Commission Upset
developed a big sensation, resulting
in a shakeup of the Public Service
commission of the state and the en-
forced retirement at the hands of
Governor Fletcher of his two ap
pointees on that board, made and
confirmed last fall. Hon. Charles
d. Watson of st. Adams, chairman,
candidate of the democratic party
three years ago for the governor
ship, and the representative of the
city of st. Adams in the present
House by virtue of the united vote
of both the old parties, refused to
resign at the governors demand
and was removed. George H. Bah
bitt of Bellows Falls rendered his
resignation when requested. w.
r. Warner of Vergennes, the third
member of the commission, holds
over for some reason not yet eX-
palined. Robert C. Bacon of Brat
tleboro has been appointed by Gov
ernor Fletcher to succeed Mr. Wat
son as chairman and to serve out
his term.
The sequence of events, as nearly
as we can fix them from n variety
of sources, is sfollows:
1. A complaint fled by Edwin
A. COOh OI AlIu the
Service commission concerning rates
and service of the New England Tel
ephone company.
2. A petition to the governor
by the business partner |
Of the same Edwin A. Cook asking |
him to investigate the matter.
3. The appointment by the Gov
ernor. with the consent of the Pub
tic Service commission. which |
found itself pressed for lime to
give the matter the immediate at
-ention that was urged, of a special
commission consisting of the same
Edwin A. Cook and the governors
secretary of civil and military af-
airs, ". A. Graham of Bellows
Falls.
4. An investigation by this spec
al commission of the telephone stu
Ition to which the companies take
exception as BIASED, incomplete and
90 short to cover the ground.
5. A. report back 20 the govern
" by this commission condemna-
DRY in tone Of the New England
ompany and recommending an