Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-07-02
THE TELEPHONE TROUBLE.
The Pan Electric Telephone Committee will
Submit Three Reports.

The Pan Electric Telephone Committee will
Submit Three Reports.
WAsHINGroS, June 80. Three docu-
ments, in the nature of reports. will be
presented to the house by the Pan Elec-
tric committee, but as neither will be
signed by a majority of the committee,
technically speaking, there will be no
report" before the house for action.
The report drawn up by the chairman
will be signed by himself and Messrs.
Oates, Eden and Hall all democrats.
Mr.. Ranney has secured the signatures of
Messrs. Millard, Hanback, and Moffat all
republicans to his report. while Hale,
democrat, has presented his views in an
individual report.
Chairman Boyle's report will not be
made public before Thursday. In the re-
port signed by the republican members.
the testimony Is cited to show how the
Pan Electric company was organized
and three and half million of stock
given to gentlemen for the use of their
name and reputation. The opinion of
Senator Garland, declaring that Rogers
patents do not infringe the Bell patent
is quoted with the statement that it had
been gotten because the Pan Electric
COULD NOT SELL RIGHTS WITHOUT IT.
and it was as it was intended to be, an in
ducement which led large numbers of
persons to pay III money. part of which
was divided among Garland and his asso-
ciates. At the same time the Pan Elec
trio knew that their instruments did in
fringe the Bell patent. The report then
refers to the postal telegraph bill as ex
planning the motives of the Pan Electric
organizers and stated that two millions of
stock was held by members of congress
when was expected the bin would be sub
iected to legislation. 1t is charged that the
Pan Electric people, including Garland,
tried to get congressional Endorsements
for their scheme and evidence is cited
where it touches upon the effort to secure
the appointment of Rodgers as house
electrician. 1t is alleged that senators
Garland and Harris and General John
ston busted themselves personally to ac
cOmplish this. The report then remarks
on the sale of the State rights to sub
companies and says The" Bell company
sued the sub companies. The Pan-Elec-
trio company declined to defend, ON the
ground that it had no money. ThereupOn
they determined to secure
THE NAME OF THE UNITED STATES
to bring suit against the Bell company to
frighten it and drive it to buy peace, so
they obtained permission when they
wanted it, and as they wanted it without
any preliminary examination worthy of
the name without the usual investigation.
and in defiance of all rules and practices
of the department, and in direct disre
gard of the decision made within a month
by its head. Had all the facts developed
before the committee been known at the
time, says the report, the department of
justice would have driven these petitions
from its doors. for public sentiment
would have constrained it to do SO.
The report in commenting upon
Goodies share in the transaction, declar
ed that if he had made the inquiries he
ought to have made, he could not have
granted an application within twenty
four hours and without reference. 1t Is
alleged that so far from making careful
examination of the subject he never even
read the Petition. Taking all these
things together says the report, lit does
not admit of doubt that the solicitor
general, acting as attorney general, was
by some means led to grant this applica
ton without the usual reference or in
quiry, without any pretense or competent
examination with unexampled speed
and in violation of the practice of the
department.
In an ordinary case such action would
be held to be
POSITIVE PROOF OF FRAUD,
at least proof of gross negligence, which
Ill person of his position, is equivalent
to fraud. Upon these facts, no one of
which can be disputed, no jury would hes
itate. 1t is enough, however, to say that
it cannot be tolerated that the business
of the government can be so conducted.
1t cannot escape observation that Sen
Harris and Mr.. Casey Young acted just as
men would act if already assured of what
was being asked, and that the conduct of
the solicitor general is most easily ac-
counted for on the assumption that he
understood the matter in advance and
had predetermined upon his course of
action.
The report then recurs to the subject
of the opinion furnished by the attorney
general. 1t charges that it was written
with a view to deceive the people in the
south and west, and says that it was
shrewd view. That the people SO believ
ed, but he the (attorney generai) did not.
The report goes on: THE best that
can be said of him is that he lent himself
TO the scheme because he got his stock
for nothing. He had not the strength to
deny what his associates asked nor to re-
turn the stock and cease to be an asso-
ciate. He had not the boldness to
do personally what they thought
was fair service for the stock he kept
But 1t was done by his department As
such thing never was done before, the
plea Is that the parties concerned did not
think they w.re doing wrong. But gov
ernment which expects to be respected
cannot permit such things to bs done,
such influence to be sought for. az such
personal interests to exist and avail 1t is
not enough that those personally inter
ested who ought TO have prevented it say
that they did nothing ana meant to do
nothing.
The report estimates the expense OF
the suit. if tried on its merits, at not less
than 100000
Hale. of Missouri, makes
MINORITY RKFesT
in which he says that vh2e he concurs IL
many of the statements and conclusions
of that report of the committee repre-
sented by Chairman Boyle. yet he cannot
concur in everything 1t contains.
Touching the formation Of the Pan
Electric company shows conciasively
says the report that it was purely spec
uIatiye adventure. and there could be NO
evidence found 10 prove that the gentle
men connected with Rogers even antias-
pated or intended that their official po-z
sitions would or should be used in <n-
way to effect legislation or ofherwi=s &c.
further advance their enterprise In the
opinion of Attorney General Gar
land ii is held By Hall that
1t was ike that of any sfher