The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-07-14
PAN ELECTRIC STOCK.
Three Reports by the House Com
mittee of Investigation.
The Majority Uphold and the Mi
nority Condemn Garland

The minority, or Republican, report of the
special committee which conducted the Pan
Electric telephone investigation, prepared
by Ambrose A. Ranney, of Boston, was
made public on the 29th, ready for submission
to the House as soon as the Democratic men,
bers reached an agreement upon their
report. Mr.. Ranneys report is in
dorsed by the four. Republican mem
bers of the committee, and Chairman
Boyle's report, which represents the views OF
the ma jority, is indorsed by four Democratic
members. Mr.. Hale of Missouri, the fifth
Democratic member Of the committee, hav-
ing decided to submit his individual views
Independently OF his colleagues.
The Ranney report reviews the testimony
of the principal witnesses examined before
the committee, and criticiSeS the methods Of
the projectors of the Pan Electric enterprise
and the conduct of Attorney General Car
land and Solicitor-General Goode in conuec-
tion with granting the government suit
against the Bell company. Referring to the
efforts OF the Pan Electric people to bring
about government suit, the report says:
"They determined to have the department
of Justice bring suit against the Bell COM
pany, but which would remain under their
control. They did not want to have the Bell
patent vacated, but they hoped they could
fright. the Bell company into the belief
that they could do so. They thought, more
over, that the mere institution of such suit
would deter the United States courts from
granting any injunction l favor OF the Bell
patent"
=, VI Attorney General Garland's action, or
non-action, in connection with bringing the
government suit, the report says that he
knew the Bell patent had been repeatedly
sustained, and so it concerned the honor
of the department that such patent
should not be attacked without serious
inquiry, and the duty of the Attorney
General to sec to it that it received
such inquiry, they say, was increased by the
fat that he knew an application was going
to be made, and that the parties pressing
action wanted it pasSe1 upon without refer
snce to the Patent Office, and that he had
great pei sonal interest that it should be so
passed, and should meet with no delay. The
report says further:
''There are a number of facts and circum-
stances. however, which leave it beyond
doubt that Mr. Goodies recollection is so Sc
riously at fault as to large part of what took
place that it cannot be safely relied upon in
any portion. He bscame Solicitor-General
in May by au appointment made by the
President but not yet confirmed by the Sem
ate On June 26 he went to British Colum-
bia on a mission for the department
August 20. Mr.. Garland testiies
that he was then expecting to 90 away for
his vacation, which would occupy about six
weeks, and he did 60 away on the 9th Of
August. Mr.. Goode testifies that during the
week that interviewed he hardly spoke to MIR.
Garland, except for the ordinary interchange
of court,sies, and did not talk with him
about business whatever. Mr.. Goode must
be mistaken about it. He must have had
consultations and forgotten all about them"
The minority reach the conclusion that the
Solicitor General was led to grant the applica-
ton for government suit without the usual
reference or inquiry, without competent ex-
animation, with speed une 1amplsd in the
history of the department, and in violation
OF the established rules and practice of
the office. ''ln ordinary cases" they
to be positive proof of fraud, at least
proof Of gross negligence, which in person
in his position is equivalent to fraud" The
Republican minority follow up this severe
criticism of the Solicitor General with an
arraignment of AttoraeyGeneral Garland.
They say:
he lent himself to this scheme, because he
got stock for nothing If he was not active
init himself, he suffered his name and infu-
ence to be used by others. He was then only
a Senator of the United States He was
next placed at the head of the Depart
ment Of Justice. The man from whom he
had received the half million of stock
wanted now to borrow the name of taat de-
partment and get its Endorsement; then an
ally asked for it; then the official repre-: ent-
ative of his company asked for it. His in
telligence told him there were things he
should not permit and then his will le5 him
argue that be might stand aside and see his
Office do Them
Mr.. Hale's report taxes the ground that
the whole matter was purely a specu alive
venture. He does not believe there is any
thing in the great mass Of testimony which
will SHOW that the Pan Electric projectors
saw anything in the enterprise which was in
any sen Q immoral, dishonest or inconsistent
with the duty of public men or citizens.