New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-08
GENERAL JOHNSTON'S STORY
ANOTHER PAN-ELECTRIC REFoRMER.
JUDGE BAxrER's VIEWS DISCUSSED BY THE CON
FFDERATEs IA GOLDEN VISION.
INV rrr ropI ru tn THE TRIRCNY.1

FFDERATEs "A GOLDEN VISION.
fnr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBrNEl
WASHINGTON, Aprl THE venerable and
distinguished cx.Confederate General Joseph T. Johns
ton, who bafed sherman and his army so long ut the
outset Of tho Georgia campaign who signed tho famous
agreement with Sherman after the surrender OF Ice !;
who received from Dr. Rogers an interest OF one'enth
in the enterprise and who Is president OF
Nr. Garlsnd's Telephone Company, "a well Ms united
States Commissioner OF Railroads occupied the witness
stand in the Pan Electric investigation to-day His tes
tmony was frank and straightforward and 1t was
apparent that he tried TO conceal nothing. when ne
could recoect conversation or an event. he sai1
80 at once and member OF the committee suspected
for moment that his forgetfulness telgned While
he had forgotten some things. and apparently had
been kept In ignorance In regard to other Important
matters affecting the company OF which he Ia president
General Johnston did recall the fact that the project OF
Government suit to upset the Bell patent was taxed
over by himself and OF his associates as early o.
May or june 1885, also the fact that Judge Bakers
dIsnosIt,on and views were canyassed by himself l1a-
ris Young and other affecting the prospeet Oh the
Government suit General Johnstons idea OF the con-
sderaon paid by him and each OF his associates Tor MS
share the enterprise was that "the Rcgerses putin
the patents and put In names ana influence ana
therefore, each stock ought not to be called gift
The witness failed all his associates have failed TO
show why II was proper for the Pan-Electric
Company to grant licenses which allowed the licensees
sell stock II II improper and dishonest Tor an IN
divdual shareholder to sell his own stock
Near the end OF his examination General Johnston was
confronted With two letters, written by hinsef I'D
February ssi the existence OF which he seemed 10
have forgotten and the contents OF which seemed 10
cause him con siderable embarrassment In one OF them
he wrote: "rhere is gentleman from the West mere
with 900 in hand to for our privilege IN missouri
on royalty Of 80 To my minds eye that Ia attract
i've Think OF the necessary expenses that sum Wouo
cover leaving dividend and the market value IL wouu
give 20 our stock" At that early day. only six weeks
after Garland's famous opinion, General Johnston
thought he the simmer OF golden stream OF oi'i
dends.
General Johnston said that he one Of the original
six stockholders the PanEleetrc Company at the In
yitaton Of Harris The associates paid nothing
for their interests He heard of sales Of the stock
except by Rogers the associates holding that 'he
stock should not be offered for sale until 1t proved OF
value II the stock had been put upon the market De-
fore the success company assured the pur
chasers would been swindled. 1t was not until
long the organization OF the company that tney
heard OF Belts broad claim TO OF telephony, and
the Pan-Electric Company was not aware OF any IN
fringement when territorial rights were cold he was
.ure that the idea OF using official influence to
further the interests OF tho company h"n
never been thought Of by his associates inc
Par Electric had made application TO nave tho
Government bring suit and he had never had any con-
eved that the associates Rogers as much as he
gave them and did for him at least much as he did for
them lie admitted that his knowledge OF electricity
when he connected himself with the company was
rather old about much az Dr. Franklin had dlscOV-
cred the subject. .
Mr. Ranney ijocuarlyl Is the committee to infer that
this was a " killing " enterprise . -, ....
General Johnston--Nery far from It, was CONTRAST
ing "kitng with the enterprise. -
Continuing. the witness said that he never heAru unt
the subject mentioned by Mr. Raney that senators
Garland and TIsrIis lad written professional opinions
touching the validity ~ the PATENTS. lilo saw now that
the opinions Of the associates as to the value oil the
Rogers patent was highly eXtrava9ant. ,
Referring to the PitisbuTg .nlt, General Johnston sau
that IL idle to Try case In Penn-y mat the
influence Of the Bell COMPANY was shoh IN feHlsyI-
ydna that il would be ustess oI people IN thor Qoson
attempt defend telephone suit II was not stated
the Judges not honest In Pennsylvania, hut
influence Of the Boil Com pauy was great thero
Mr.. Isanney inquired whether the name or udgc BaH
ter mentioned in the conversations relative 10 the
suits.
General Johnston remembered that Judge Baxter's
name lad Leen mentioned that suit before HIN was
not regarded particularly advisable because be was
Evsry legal phase eeS OF Senator inc n ra
contract between the Pan-Electrc and the National I'M
proved companies and never had hand IN maAlhs any
IN the fact that the Ian-Eecific company ha
not met last summer there had been no business
requiring action that he was aware OF. ITO ulu Iot un
dersIand that Mcsr Young and Can't apc area geIoe
the Interior Department FOR TIE Fan-lectIlc ana WIN
that understanding did not trouble himself 10 ascertain
ior " nom they did appear. ,
As the Witness IN a former statement had expressed
the belief that opinion touching telephone ihirnSe
men by Senator Garland. who not AN expert, would
thought Of licicr-Geuerh Goodies opinion 10 llc cse
he being patent lawyer, rendered aIter rev HourF
examination.
Mr. Eden objected the question did not relate
thing under investigation ana b-siues was not re
specfu toward Mr.. GOode
General Johnston remarked that he would prefer not
to answer tho Ques ton and II was not presse1