The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-07-30
GOVERNOR GIVES
HIS REASONS
FOR ACTION
Included Other Things Than
Telephone Rates
ALSO SHOWS AUTHORITY
Law Gives Him Absolute Right to Re
move Any Civil Official APP.
pointed BY Him
ALSO SHOWS AUTHORITY

Rutland, July 30.S-Gov. Allen NJ.
Fletcher who is in this city today,
was asked early this morning by the
Herald if he cared to discuss the de.
yelOpments growing out of the recent
telephone investigation and which re
suited in the removal OF Charles
Watson of St Adams from The public
service commission, and the resigna-
ton OF George IL. Rabbit of Bellows
Falls, from the commission While
Gov. Fletcher expressed himself as
somewhat averse to discussing the
matter to any length he made the
following statement:
while | do not deem it proper at
mis- time to discuss the legal ques-
lions involved in the telephone con
troversy, or the methods employed in
absorbing other companies, or other
wise in view of the possibility OF liti-
cation between the state and the
telephone company, | desire to say
that what the state seeks Is a know
ledge of all the facts surrounding
this question necessary TO the al
fCrding of desired relief This is
what the people are entitled to, as
| believe. This is what we started
out 40 secure.
1T has been claimed in behalf of
the telephone company that they
stood ready TO furnish this desired
information, but to my mind certain
letters from the telephone company's
preventative in reply to requests
from Messrs. Cook and Graham, who
were requested to get such inlorma-
ton, do not bear out that assertion.
Up to the present time the state has
not been signaly successful in secur-
ing this information. though all our
steps taken have been directed tow
ard securing the faces involving the
interests of the people of Vermont.
las indicated by the published
statement Of the retiring members Of
the public service commission the
appointment of special counsel % Sc
cure this information was agreeable
20 the commission in complete be.
cause of lack of time
such an investigation by special
counsel appealed TO me at that time
by reason of my information that the
public service commission az then
constituted had allowed a consolida.
ton of telephone companies TO in
crease rates in a way which | did not
&C nsider good policy for the state
OF Vermont
The action of the public service
commission. as formerly constituted
r. garding the use of the streets in
the village of Bennington for trunk
lines. in regard to the delay in put.
ting into effect a railroad demurrage
law and its evident disposition TO
needlessly procrastinate in bringing
10 a head a move to secure relief for
the people in connection with the
telephone service and rates com
planned of, convinced me that the
public welfare would be promoted by
a reorganization of the commission
e. peCally with reference 10 its exc.
cutivc
while the Bennington case was
not so important in itself il involved
n material and far reaching principle
the disregarding Of which would in
my Judgement. have justified reor-
ganization OF the commission at that
time.
II wish to state most emphatically
that | have at no time asked Mr.
Watson 90 PREJUDICE the case or to
take any action which would in IL
self prohibit the telephone company
from having a fair hearing as to
the merits of the case On the con
trary that is exactly what the state
has desired, but il also wants to put
stop to endless procrastination. II
a hearing were To be held we would
then be I'm a way TO secure the very
facts we have been vainiy seeking.
Nobody knows this better than Mr..
Watson himself and as the co DAYS
specified in the recommendation OF
the special report amply demon
strates.
III any one has preiudged this
case, IL Is those who do not want
any evidence at ALL but who badly as
sert that this attempt to secure re
lief for telephone users will bank
rupt the company and drive il from
the state. despite the fact thar some
OF the Independent companies. now
controlled. formerly fiourished ON
rates lower than those contemplated
IN the special report and although
they have not a sciniilla of evidence
on which to base the allegations be-
yCnd the say so of those who d,
interested in suppressing the facts.
Ny action in this matter has been
taken by virtue OF the authority
vested in me BY section ESQ of the
revised laws Of Vernon. according
TO the Interpretation thereof by The
attorney general as well rs my own
tn section reads as follows.
The governor may remove any
civil officer appointed BY him. with
OF without the advice and consent Of