The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-05-20
Thirty-Eight Members of
House and Senate Pur-
chased Stock in Elevated
or Massachusetts, Elec-
trio Companies-A Mi
nority Report Also Pre-
sented.


committee which has been inquirlng
into stock market operations by mem
bers of the general court of 1918 and
1919 while measures affecting the stock
involved were pending reported to-day
] finding that such transactions oc-
cured. In no case, however, the com
mitteee reported, did the vote OF those
who were involved affect the fate OF
legislative measure.
"The common motive back of all the
nurchases." :" it was stated, was the de-
sire TO make money" There was no
evidence, the committee found, that
any of the loans made to legislators
TO finance their purchases were made
for the purpose of influencing votes on
street railway legislation.
The committee submitted as a sup
Elemental report an order providing
for the transmission to District Attor-
new Pelletier of Suffolk county OF a
copy of the testimony for such action,
if any, as he may see fit. Because the
committee was appointed Jointly by
the House and Senate, it decided that
il was without power to recommend
anv action that could not be taken by
Aboth bodies acting concurrently.
sWbether a member of particular
branch has so offended its dignity or
hts repute as to render il imperative
hat affirmative action be taken
against that member is a question
exclusively for the determination OF
he body which has been so offended,
Il announced.
Senator j. w. Mccormick, in mi
noritv report, said that while he had
Eigned the main report and concurred
tn most of the findings of the com
mittee, he did not concur with the
Bfnding of the majority of the commit
ee with relation to the control be-
cond 1918 that there is no evidence
hat these purchases of stock had any
material effect upon the passage OF the
legislatfon.
at is apparent" he said, "that if
n the members of the legislature who
had directly or indirectly purchased
4reet railway stock prior 10 the pas
age of the legislation, and who had
voted for the same, had voted against
he bills. that such of itself would not
have been sufficient to have defeated
the legislation. II is my opinion, how
rver. that the prominence and infiu-
ence of these members, particularly
lhose who were in the Senate, was
such that had they opposed the bills,
their passage would have been doubt
full"
The committee declared that there
was nothing in the rules of the Sen
te or the House (which would justify
member in purchasing stock in a
rorporafion which is vitality affected by
legislation upon which the member is
bout to act, still less in speculating in
such stocks while the legislation is so
pending.
whether the evidence herewith
submitted is of such character as to
indicate that a crime had been com
nittsd by any of these legislators de-
pends largely upon the construction
hat Is TO be given TO section 10 OF
hapter 26S of the general laws re-
yarding contracts made by the general
Dcourf.
sThe committee cannot find that this
statute has even been construed by the
supreme judicial court, and il does not
feel itself clothed with authority to
eonstrue il. Having in view this stat
ute and the possibility that evidence
tending 20 show its violation might be
disclosed. the committee before open
ing its hearing authorized its council
to confer with the authorities Of Suf-
folk county and in consequence Of that
conference received from legislators
only such evidence a. was voluntarily
offered.
The question has been raised ss to
whether the present legislature has
any legal right TO take Affirmative ae-
tion with respect TO members for acts
ADMITTED by them while they were
tnembers Of a previous legislature.
Upon this point the committee Is of
The opinion that e@ch branch II the
present legislature clearly has that
power with respect g it. oWn mem
hrrs~
The committee also submitted a. or
aer providing for the drafting of q
ieirt rule whieh woud clearly define
ihs rights ef members with respect O.
the purchase of securities of CORPORA
tions Affected ~ Isgislation e eon-