Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-13
Special to The Boston Journal.

PEStidi ~ ut DostOu JouEDSl.
WASHINGTON, May IL.
Late this afternoon the following letter was
laid before the Telephone Committee, which
has been received from John Nj. Forbes of
Boston. The letter is addressed to the chair
man OF the committee
BosroN, May 6.
| find in the Boston Journal of this instant
a dispatch which says that Mr.. Geo. Jones of
the New York Times in his examination be-
fore your committee, makes the following
statement: "Mr. Forbes had written to me
that his son was large owner in the Bell
Telephone Company, and wanted me to write
to the President of the United States to in
teriere in behalf of his patent" Upon ex-
amining the copy of the letter referred to, |
find that this testimony does not fairly repre-
sent its purport or object, which doubtless
was owing to the unfortunate loss of the let
ter. To correct the mistake in the shortest
way seems to be to send you another copy,
which you may deem it best to Law before The
committee. Perhaps after Mr.. Jones reads it
once more he may find it a pity that he did
not follow its suggestions.
Respectfully, I'M. FORBES
The letter inclosed by Mr.. Forbes is as fol-
lows:
BosToN, Jan. -.
My Dear Mr.. Jones:
By reason of my sons connection with the
American Bell Telephone Company, have
become acquainted with some of the facts in
connection with the Pan Electric Telephone
Company's efforts to have Attorney General
Garland authorize suit to be brought for
vacating the Bell patents. | learn from the
manager of the Bell company that they feel
no anxiety as to the final results of any ac-
tion taken by the government in this matter,
though admitting that much temporary an
noyance will result should Garland acquiesce
in the request of his company. Looking at
it from wholly different point of view that
of the independent voter, and. in fact, of al!
who support and desire to support Mr. Cleve-
land, it seems to me that the administration
would make a serious mistake if Garland's
department is permitted to lend any counte-
nance to the scheme proposed by the com
pany in which he is so largely interested
There Is no doubt that all the matters con-
tanned in the claim which il is proposed that
the United States should set up have been
held and decided in the Circuit Courts of the
United States, and these cases are we'll ad-
vanced for hearing on appeal to the Supreme
Court. There is no doubt that the new move
was made simply in the hope of obtaining in
definite delay in the suits for an Injunction
against the n-Electric Company, already
ripe for hearing before the court at Balti-
tmore, on the ground that no such suits
should be heard while the government suit
was awaiting a hearing. There is equally no
doubt that the attempt is being made by a
syndicate of Southern Brigaders to use the
influence of the democratic administration in
the interest of an enterprise of, to say the
least, highly speculative character and to
throw the weight of the governments power
in fho uIa IN, fae fhn ,,, -,
which this Southern syndicate is interested.
There can be no doubt that Garland received
an enormous bonus of stock of the Pan
Electric Company for the influence he was
expected to exert. The entire republican
press OF the country will only be too glad to
open on such a trail as this, but it seems to
me of much more Importance that no such
opportunity should be afforded them. Even
were the procedure not most unusual one,
and had the claim not already been acted
upon, and were there strong presumptive
| evidence in favor of the claims proposed to
be set up, the fact that the government in
terierence is invoked in behalf Of an enter
prise of prominent Southerners, and that a
member of Mr. Cleveland's Cabinet is coun-
sci for and one of the largest stockholders
in the company interested, ought to show the
extreme danger of permitting this thing to go
a single step further. | could give you, con-
identially, the whole history of this claim,
which would make the basis of dime novel
and be pretty good reading, but you already
know the substantial facts of the case. II
the Southern syndicate succeeds it will be a
great step toward new set of .wiDdles such
as you exposed in The Tweed case, and will,
of course, be the end Of Cleveland's useful
ness, who can't escape the blame of indors.
ing what his ATTORNEY General does. If you
agree with me about this shall be glad il
you can see your way clear, either by writ.
ing to some one who has MIR. Cleveland's ear
or possibly to Mr.. Cleveland himself or by
using the power Of your paper in such way
as to aid in preventing the President from
permitting such dangerous step as the one
proposed to be taken, and | am very truly
| yours J. M. FORBES.