The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-11-11
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Opening of the Telephone Cases-WeekIy
Issue of standard Silver Dollars
Appointments.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 9.-To-day was set
down for the hearing of the telephone cases
before the Secretary of the Interiar, and the
large room of the Assistant Attorney Cen
eral of the department was crowded with
counsel and persons lnterestel in these cases.
Secretary Lamar opened the proceedings by
stating that nine petitions had been filed in
tins case. Inasmuch as there seemed TO be
q concurrence of sentiment aad wishes by all
the parties interested in this controversy,
that the whole case should be taken up at
once and considered as a whole, he (Secre-
tary Lamar) preferred that there should be
no discussion to-day on the question of the
power Of the Government IL institute suit
to vacate patent, and thai, the respective
applicants who are mwerSiefthis matter
should begin with their evidence and sub
NIT their cases.
The first case called was that of the Globe
Telephone Company. Mr.. Humphreys, the
attorney for the company, proceeded to read
the petitions filed in its behalf In briet the
petitions set forth that the Patent Examiner
who passed Bells patent was under the inn
preston that il related 70 a system of multi
plex telegraphy; that Bells original tel
ephone was imperative; that this was ad-
mitted 10y himself that he could not truth
fully claim priority of invention of the tel
ephone, because il was commonly known
that Reiss Meucci, Gray and others had
made and used telephones before Bells APP
plicatiOn; that it could be shown that
Meucci had used telephone i'm 1919, and
that he had not abandOndOned his inven-
ton; that the Western Union Telegraph
Company, controlling certain telephonic
patents, had entered into a con-
tract with the Bell Company to
compromise their difficulties, by which the
Western Union Company received 20 per
cent. of the profits of the telephone COM
pany. and that these great corporations had
united ~ compel the people 10 pay tribute
to them, therefore the Globe Telephone
Company prayed the Department of Jusuce
TO begin suit to vac Ite the Bell patent The
remainder of the petitions were read in the
order OF their presentation, and included
substantially the same matter set out in the
foregoing petitions. During the reading of
the petition of .he Cushman Company Mr.
Humphrey stated that fhere was contract
in existence, made between Cushman and
the Bell Company, by the terms of which
uShman agreed to remain qniet and avoid
interference with the Bell patents. That
document was in the hands of the attorneys
for the Bell Company, and later on they
would be called upln to produce it. In the
petition of the l'an-Electric Company
1t is set out that Gray filed a
Cayeat for a telephone on the day of Bells
application, and that contrary TO the law
the contents of Gray's caveat were made
known 10 Bell by an official OF the Patent
Office, and that within few days Bell made
an important amendment TO his application.
covering the matter described in Gray's
csveat
Mr. Ganty stated that solicitor General
Goode had acted Upon that petition after an
examination of tile authorities upon tele-
phony, and the Reiss and other instruments,
by beginning the suit at Memphis.
Mr. Sherrow stated that the llell Company
had no desire to submit written answer 60
The petitions; IL was sufficient to deny gen
erally everything that had been set out. lie
asserted that all of the allegations material
TO this investigation were disproved Dy the
papers which the petitioners themselves had
presented aud referred TO, with perhaps few
other records from the Patent Onice.
Further hearing was adjourned until to-
morrow.
RESIGNED
The resignation of r. NJ Kelley, Pension
Agent at louisville, KY, has been accepted,
~ take effect December 81, next.
PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS.
The President to-day appointed Don Carlos
Duoll 10 bt lenfion AFtlt NJ louioNllict
Ky; John B Mcl.ane, OF Vregon, 10 be agent
for the Indians of Crane lionde Agency,
Oregon Colonel Robert Mcklnstry TO be
Pension Agent nc Detroit. Mich, vice Sam'l
Post, suspended.
WEEKLY istur of STANDARD SILVER DOLLARS.
The issue Of standard snvcr dollars from
the mlnts during The weekendlng November
4 was bssO0li. During the same week last
year, SShchi. The shipment OF fractional
silver coin during the week ending Noycm-
Der 7, was $685. 800.