The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-25
Hot Debate on Resolution
Calling for Re-
port
ON STATUS OF
B. & M. DISSOLUTION
Senator Norris Says Some
One Has Taken $780,
100000

Washington, Feb. 25.--For more than
an hour yesterday the Senate debated
the Norris resolution calling upon the
attorney general to report to the Senate
for the dissolution OF the New York,
New Haven g. Hartford railroads con-
nection with the Boston & Maine rail-
road. At o'clock, consideration OF the
measure being uncompleted, Senator Nor
ris asked unanimous consent that fur
Their consideration be resumed to-day and
that the matter lie over.
From Senators Lodge and Weeks of
Massachusetts,, Lppitt Of Rhode Island
and Gallinger of New Hampshire. Sena
tor Norris was subjected to grilling
as to the results he expected to obtain
from the passage OF the resolution.
He, in turn, insisted that 1t was a
matter Of the highest Importance that
the Senate should be informed as to
whether immunity should be granted to
any person or persons who had partici
pated In what he termed the "wrecking
of the New Haven against recovery of
material loss by the thousands OF stock
holders or punishment to the guilty for
any invasions of the criminal statutes.
Senator Switzerland of Utah took
hand In the debate and sought TO obtain
from Senator Norris his views as to the
function OF the Senate in the premises.
He said:
"The Senate il a law-making body,
not publicity bureau, and / cannot see
upon what theory it il any business Of
the Senate. As citizens. it would be in
teresting to know the facts sought, but
as legislative body we have not the
right"
Senator Gallinger said: stIf the attor-
ney general should attempt, without our
to advise the Senate it would
be instantly resented, and / am not sure
that for the Senate to ask these ques-
tions Of the attorney general at this time
does not also border on impertinence.'
The personnel OF the committee of five
trustees, Senator Norris thought, was
the question of paramount Importance
on which the Senate should be informed
He argued that it would be wrong
upon the stockholders if in choosing this
board to hold the majority stock of the
Boston & Maine railroad any person
should be, appointed to that board to
whose interest IL would be to cover up
any wrong committed against the stock
holders in the past.
This brought Senator Weeks to his
feet with the statement that if, as was
apparently the opinion OF the senator
from Nebraska, the attorney general of |
the United States and the governors of /
four New England states could not be
trusted to select board of trustees to |
handle the Boston & Maine stock to |
the interest of stockholders and public |
alike, "the public service was indeed in |
pretty bad shape"
Senator Lippitt questioned the right
Of the attorney general in any case to
grant immunity 10 anyone. but at the /
same time took exceptions to the FREE
luently reiterated statement OF Senator
Norris that 'sthe stockholders of the New /
Haven had had s200,0o0,00o stolen from
them in the last 10 years of financial
Juggling with the interests of the rail-
-oade
Stolen is not the word to use with
such careless freedom" Senator Lippitt
warned Senator Norris.