New-York tribune., 1886-02-26
THE TELEPHONE INVESTIGATION

A thorough investigation of the telephone
scandal is now definitely promised. The House
Committee on Rules has acted tavorably upon
Mr. Hanback's resolution and decided to recon-
mend the appointment of a special lnvestl-
eating committee. AS the Speaker and Mr..
Morrison frankly concede that the country will
not be satisfied with anything short OF an ex-
haustve investigation, there is not likely to be
any serious opposition to the passage OF the
resolution This is as ii should be. The Presl-
dent has not had the moral courage to separate
his Administration from this scandal by dis
missing his Attorney General and ordering
discontinuance of the Government proceedings
foY testing the validity of the Bell patents. lie
has been treated with great indulgence and
consideration by Congress. He has been
allowed ample time for deliberation and action.
But he has persisted in condoning the fragrant
offences of the speculative statesmen who en-
ioy his confidence. He has neglected his op-
portunties for vindicating the reputation of his
Administration so tar as he is personally con-
cerned. He has failed to do his duty. 1t now
remains for Congress 70 take up this scandal
and go to the bottom of it.
Mr.. Hanbacks resolution authorizes full,
far-reaching inquiry. Apparently the Demo-
cratic majority, acting under the pressure OF an
Outspoken party press, is not disposed to Imit
the scope of the investigation or to attempt to
obscure the questions at issue. Certainly any
other course will excite contempt and derislon.
Let the committee begin with the organization
of the Pan-Electric Company and the distrlDu-
ton of the gift stock. Let it invite every one
of the speculative statesmen to explain how he
obtained his stock, what the Rogers family ex
pected him to do in return for their bounty, and
what he did to earn it. Let the passage of the
mysterous patents act reported by Representa-
tive Vance be vigorously scrutinized. Finally,
let every stage of the process by which two De-
partments of the Administration have been
used to promote the private ends of prominent
officials connected with them be critically eX-
amined. The country demands thoroughness
impaftiality and vigilance in the conduct OF
this investigation.
These telephone transactions require exhaus-
tive treatment, because they reveal new
species of political corruption. The Govern
ment has been involved in series of htlga-
tions, which will probably entail an expense OF
$3.50. 600 or 100000 If Mr. Garland had
not been stockhoder in the Pan Electric
COmpany. there would have been no interven-
ton on the part of the Government and the
rival telephone companies would have been left
TO fight their own battle in the courts. The
spectators by giving stock to Mr. Garland and
his associates have thrown the whole cost of
the litigation upon the United States Treasury,
and have heen at liberty themselves to gamble
in stocks the value of which depends entirely
upon that litigation. The owners of patents
which have been held hy the courts to infringe
a most valuable invention have distributed
thetr stock so ingeniously among speculative
statesmen as to induce the Government to un-
dertake at its own expense the business OF
breaking down the patents which stand III the
way of their making enormous fortunes. Ii
this attempt to work two departments OF the
Administration with the collusion of prominent
officials succeeds, not a single enterprise In the
country grounded upon original patents Will
be safe against speculative strikers. 1t will be
for the committee to determine whether the
Government ought to have been involved by
two Cabinet officers in so dangerous pro-
ceeding