New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-15
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
A LAWYERS VIEW OF THE GARLAND CASE
THE RUMoRs ABOUT THE ATToRNEf-GENERAL AND
THE PRESIDENT.


WASHINGTON, Oct. IA (SpeciGD.-Mr Car
lands friends grieved and indignant on account OF
rumors which they declare to be unfounded to the ehect
that Mr. Garlands relations with the PanEectric Tee-
phone Company and Its efforts to break down the Ben
patents have rendered uncertain his tenure as member
of President Oieveland's Cabinet The rumors were
seoued as absurd at the White House to-day Yet there
seems to be growing belief that MI Cleveland Is NOT
satisfied and that he viii eventually realize the neces-
sitv of making change in the Attorney Generals
office even IL Mr.. Garland himself be not the first to
recognize and act upon It, The opinion Is freely eA-
pressed by Democrats well as Republicans that the
situation is most unfortunate prominent Democratic
lawyer speaking Of the matter last night said $50 lar
as know the plain, specific statements made by Rogers
I'm his published defence Of Mr. Garland, have not been
denied by the Attorney General himself or by Sen
ator Harris or General Young. both OF whom were men
toned In the letter persons WHO know all the iacs
T observed too that In his letter to the Presi-
dent the solictorGeneral did not state that
he had no knowledge when he granted the apphcauoh
of Mr. Garands personal interest In the Pan-Electric
Company That omission was important, and 10 me 1t
seems to he significant. II Mr. Goode did know that fact
il should have sufficient TO make him careful to Cd
serve every rule and practice governing the disposition
OF such applications. Instead OF doing 30
he acted hastily and without any re-
gard TO the rule-the necessity and propriey
of which are obvious which required reference oil the
application TO the Department from Whch the patent
There are other considerations which induce
persons TO believe that the matter Cannot be left III Jus
present condition. one Is the feeling tha the ustlOu
non of larse amounts OF stock In the Telephone
company among Senators and Representatives VINO
maid little or nohi for IL was questionable
proceedng IL is strongly limited that effort viii be
made TO secure Congressional nVcStlgatiOn OF tne
relations OF Senator Harris and other public mon 10 the
company IL Is not wholly lmlroDdOIe mat suen hu
effort may originate with Democrats OF course u Is
moi 10 he supposed that Attorney General Garland or
senator Harris wond do otherwise than court such an
iuvesupatisn IL would seem TO Dn
legitimate inquiry for several reasons not the least OF
which f. that according to Mr.. Van Bcnthuysen Dlh
which was introduced In the last Congress IN The Inter
eat of t1e Pan.Electrc Company disappeared" AFTER
II WAS sent 10 the Senate, aud was supposed 10 nave
been stolen" An Investigation would not Only estan-
lish or disproye the truth Of Mr. Van Benthuyseh
charge hut would also show whether any
of the political stockholders OF the Telephone Company
exered their influence IN Congress In behalf OF the last
va" 81 surpose " said Judge Montgomery. Commissioner
~ Patents TO critic reporter yesterday, " that In the
course OF time a communication Will reach this ONCE
from The Soicor-Genern In regard 10 the Bel Iele-
phoue patent but 1t viii not be request
that suit be entered to test the valid
q; Of the patents With such matters
xcept as concerns the facts, this Office has nohng to
do The communication from the Solicitor General
would he request for Information. The secretary Oh
the Interior would send II 20 me- aud should MAKE
rrnort upon H. hat would all We should have nothing
to 10 with the party I" IT, You seeWhe man
appes patent he muS swear thIt ths aruclc 10 Ut
paented has in general use Tor two years we
do not know whether he Is lying about u or not III we
issue pnent aud II turns that the article was III
Use three four years, the case may ne, before
the application was made, we do nothing about IT, We
have Issued the patents and IL rests with the Courts 10
declare hem Invalid not Tao proplc Interested III
hayinr iuvadlty established go To the Department OF
Justice with their facts and aidavts, ana the Depart
lnent enters the suit to inNaidaie'