The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-30
THE GARLAND SCANDAL,

THE dAhLANU SUANOAIs
| The Cleveland administration is not yet a
year old, but it is already involved in numer
GUS scandals. The last and the greatest is the
expose of Attorney-general Garlands posses
sion, by gift, of million and a half dollars in
the stock Of the Pan-electric Telephone Com
pany, and the attempted prostitution of the
Department of Justice to the use of that cor
poration. It is the greatest scandal ever de-
veloped in public affairs. The worst of it is,
that the substantial facts are conceded, even
by the Attorney general himself The facts
are admitted. The n-electric Telephone
Company gave Garland million and half
dollars of its stock while he was United
States senator and manifestly because he was
this company asked him to use his Office and
the name and power of the United States, at
the expense Of the government, on its behalf
and against rival company. Strange to say,
Garland did not, in hot wrath repel the dis
honoring proposition; but instead, promptly
and politely referred the matter to his first
assistant, the Solicitor general This officer
had recently been appointed by Garland, and
officially sustained confidential relations with
him. He at once, knowing the facts, granted
the request, and the name and power of the
United States were so used. By direction of
the department., a suit was begun in
the name Of the United States as
plaintiff to set aside the Bell telephone pat
ents, in the interests of the company which
had so literally given of it's stock to Mr.. Gar
land. No such action was ever brought be-
fore. We have inquired of persons versed in
patent law, and we are informed that the pro-
ceeding was anomalous and without precedent,
and that the reports Of the United States
courts will be searched in vain to find any
like proceeding, in any case, or under any
circumstances whatsoever. This fact, Of
itself, is very suggestive. 1t is most dan
gerous proceeding. 1t is potent with posi-
bilities of fra I'D and stock jobbing. Attor-
ney-general Garland has it in his power to
destroy or discredit any stock whose value is
based upon patents. The mere bringing Of
such a suit would tend to do it. It's effect
upon the market would be instantaneous.
The fact that no such action was ever brought
before is reason enough why none such should
be brought. But think, for moment of such
suit brought in the interests of COM
pany in which the Attorney general is the
largest stakeholder. Heretofore patentees and
the owners of patents have litigated in their
own names and at their own expense.
The President seems only to partially grasp
the situation. He has made this scandal the
subject OF a Cabinet meeting, and has ordered
the dismissal of the suit begun by the Depart
ment of Justice. But is this all that is to be
done7 Public confidence in the Department
of Justice is lost The President has just sus-
pended his appointee, Chief-justice Vincent
of New Mexico, for malfeasance in Office. His
alleged offense is insignificant when compared
with the Garland scandal. Something more
than mere consistency, however, is involved
The Department of Justice, above all others,
should be pure and without reproach. Itshould
not only be without wrong, But above even
| the suspicion of it.