Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1913-07-30
REMOVES WATSON
Governor and Public Service Commission
in Row Developing from Telephone
Report. Removes Watson and
Appoints Bacon.

j. AS the result of a disagreement
between Governor Fletcher and the
Vermont public service commission as
to action on the report of the special
committee named to investigate tele-
phone conditions, Charles D. Watson
of ST. Albans and George H. Babbitt
of Bellows Falls are no longer men,
bers of the board. Robert C. Bacon of
Brattleboro has been appointed chair
Watson. 1t appears that the commits
sion gave Governor Fletcher to under
stand when the telephone report "a
summary of which was printed in this
paper last week) of Cook and Warner
was given that they would issue an
order for the reduction of rates and
putting into force the other recommend
ations of the report. Mr.. Watson says
he worked long and faithfully to draw
such an order and finally sent a draft
to Attorney General Brown. but has
never had reply from him. After
the reply of the counsel for the tele-
phone companies was made (also
printed last week) Mr.. Watson says he
"sweat blood because 1 had told the
governor | would produce an order
recommended but l could not bring
and must face his Excellency and tell
him so. To my astonishment I found
| the other two members of the same
mind"
Consequently they notified the gov
ernor that before issuing such an order
they should treat the Cook Graham
report and the governor Fletcher's
letter to them as complaint against
the telephone people. That each tele-
phone company be notified to show
why toll rates and rental charges
should not be lowered as recommended
by the report and that an order would
be issued Immediately prohibiting in
crease in rates, decrease in free zor e
territory and other similar recon-.
/ mendations in the report of Messrs
Graham and Cook. This would give
the telephone people chance to show
facts and figures which they claim
they did not have chance to do under
the investigation of Messrs. Graham
and Cook
When the commission notified Govern
or Fletcher the Governor limited that
their designations would be in order
This the members of the commission
refused to do at first but finally Mr.
Babbitt resigned. Mr. Warner of Ver-
gennes refused to resign and Mr. Wat
son was later asked to resign by tele-
phone. Mr.. Watson replied that he
wanted the request in writing and the
cause for which he was to be dropped.
Gov. Fletcher's reply was telegram
stating that he would appoint Mr..
Watson's successor and asked him to
forward his files.
Mr.. Watson says, however, 81
refused to resign because none of my
actions warranted such a request. I
simply refused to pass Judgment on a
case in which l had not heard the evil
dence"
In an interview last evening Governor
Fletcher contradicted some of the
statements of Watson. The Governor
said: cit has been claimed in behalf of
the telephone company that it stood
ready to furnish the desired informa-
ton but to my mind. several letters
written by the officials to Messrs w.
A. Graham and E. A. Cook, the special
investigators appointed by me, do moi
bear out the assertion.
'Up to this time the state has not
been successful in finding out such
facts so all our steps have been taker
in the interests of the people of Yer
mont.
Il have been convinced that the
public welfare would be bettered by {
change in the commission and it's ex
ecutive.
II wish to state now emphaticall,
that have at no time asked Mr.. Wat
son to PREJUDICE the case nor have
asked him to take any action agains
the telephone company before hear
ing was held"