Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-10-09
DAILY POST.lNTELLIGENcER
Nh. GARIAsDss TELEPBosE SPEC
GLATIasA

MI GAkLANDsA TBLkfU0sk sfS
UIArfssA
sorzs statements Of al e1tgsns!J
damaging character have recently been
poblished concerning the ofAeisl con
duot Of Attorney General Garland- Al
though they may Be exaggerated, they
look too bad for Mr.. Garland 10 paA-
them over in silence. An explanation
from bin IL eagerly awaited bJ bis
friends, bat be has not ye, condeseenc
cd 10 say a word in bis own vindicstion-
The charge against him Is thai be has
made use Of bis ssf3ciaI position and Of
the machinery Of the Department OF
Justice for bis own advantage. or, more
properly, for the advantage Of cofpo
ration In which be is largely interested
The facts a. pablished are thest
There are half dozen or more eofpo-
rstions 10 the United States handling
the inventisus and patents Of j. Harfia
Rogers, the electrician. Among these
are the Rogers Telegraph and Isle-
phone Company, the National In
proved Telephone Company Of Lo7is-
lana, the Psn-Elsctric Company, the
Pan. Electric Telegraph Company, and
the Pan Electric Telephsne Company.
The two last named are of shoots OF
the Pan Electric Company, and owner
ship OF stock in the parent company
carries With 1t ownership Of stock 10 the
amount Of 100 per cent in each OF them.
The Rogers Telegraph and Telephone
Company owns 10000 OF stock 10
the Pan Electric Compsny, or 81 10000
in the three companies. Mr.. Gsriatd
owns an equal amount, which was do
mated TO him before be became Attorney
General with she understanding" as
J. W. Rogers, father Of the inventor,
says, shat be and other prominent
parsons interested With Us should assist
in monetiziug some twssty I'VE patents
beloneina 70 my SON." That Me-. Gar
land accepted this stock there can be
little doubt, as he was advertised a.
counsellor for the Pan Electric Com
pany, and rendered several legal opin- |
ions In the interest of that concern.
The suipabiiity of Mr.. Garland. II
there be any, however, does not rest
upou the manner in which his stock vas
prosursd, bat upon his connection with
the companies since he became Astor
nsy General. The value of the stock IN
oil the concerns handling the Rogers
patents would, Of course, be enormously
appreciated by any decision In the
United States Courts affecting the va
lidity of the Bell patents. The Bell
Company has always maintained that
the operations of the Rogers companies
infFinQed the patents granted upon the
invsatisns Of Professor A. Graham
Ball and held by the Bell Company.
On the 18th Of last month the counsel
for the Bell Company moved in Court
OF Baltimore for an order restraining
the Pan Electric Company. A delay
was granted to the defendants until
September 22d, and on that day the
counsel for the Pan Electric objected 10
q hearing, on the ground that the
Attorney General had begun suit st
Memphis In the name Of the United
states. TO set aside the Bell patents as
Invalid" II was urged that so long as
the United States suit was pending, the
Baltimore Court ought not 10 interfere.
The hearing In the Baltimore case, how
ever. was ordered for November "a.
Mr.. Garland IL thus placed ia the
position OF using tbs machinery Of the
Department OF Justice in support Of
the interests of corporation of which
he Was among the heaviest stockhold-
srs. IL Is urged by some Of the friends
OF the Attorney General that the Mem
phis suit was brought at the instance OF
the National Improved Telephone Com
pany, and not at that of any of the
companies In which Mr.. Garland holds
stock. This defense, however. Is too
weak for consideration, II the Bell
patents should be declared invalid, the
value OF the stock of all the Rogers
companies would be equally enhanced.
and 10 makes little difference at the in
stance OF which of them the suit was
commenced. Besides. II Is admitted BY
J. ". Rogers, In his absurd defence of
the Attorney Generals conduct,
that after that offisial had re-
fused 10 institute the suit at the in.
stance Of the Pan Electric Company on
the ground tina, his connection With the
company would make such action im-
proper. IL vas represented 10 him that
the resals might be attained II the sait
we're broaaht 81 the instance Of the Ma
tional Improved Company, and that be
consented 70 bring such q suit, thus
using the name OF the National In
proved Telephone Company, In which
he 10 not interested. 10 secure the object
desired by the Pan Electric Company,
IN which he 10 very largely interested.
Mr.. Garland has hitherto enjoyed .
reputation for uprieh,ness and insssri-
" such - 10 possessed by fev public
men Of the present day. II u should
appear that be 10 guilty OF engaging in
. transaction dtshonorahie even In the
slisAtsss degree. that reputation will be
lost. and the loss viii be great one. net
10 Mr.. Garland alone. bat 10 all people
Who delight in probisy and honor. 10 10
sincerely TO se hoped that be will be
able 10 clear from his fame the stain
which seems 70 be fastening itself
apon 10.