Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-02
The pan Electric scandal.

Three documents 10 the nature Of reports
from the Pan-electric investigating commit
tee have been drawn up and are ready Tor
presentation to the House. The report
drawn up by the chairman, Congressman
Boyle and signed by himself aud three 9TH
or Democrats, is expected to exonerate Attor-
ney General Garland and Solicitor General
Goode from all guilty participation in the
Pan. elt ctrc business. Mr.. Hale, another
Democrat, will present his views in an indl-
vidual report. Mr.. Ranney has drawn up a
report signed by himself and three other Re
publcans which is a severe arraignment OF
the Attorney Generals connection with the
scheme. Mr.. Ranneys report begins with
history Of the formation of the Pan-electric
company and states that near $4,000, 900 OF
the $40, 900, 600 of capital stock was actually
paid in cash The testimony is cited to show
how the Pan. electric company was organized
and So, 800, 600 of its stock given to men for
the use Of their names and reputation. lie
opinion of Senator Garland, declaring that
the 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, the inducement which
led large numbers of persons to pay in mon
ey, part of which was divided among Mr..
| Garland and his associstes At the same time
the Pan. electric men knew that their instru-
ments did infringe the Bell patents
Touching the Attorney General the report
holds that it was his duly, considering how
L.. ,,,t 81 10, vnaka cur Inv call.
ing Mr.. Goodies attention to the application
that whenever it did come, it should receive
the fullest and most impartial investigation
according to all the ushges and practice OF
the office. He should have been sohctouf
enough of the honor of the department to
have made certain that this was done, but be
did not The report declares that II Mr.
Goode had made the inquiries he ought tc
have made, he could not have granted the
application within 81 hours and without
reference. 1t is alleged that he never ever
read the petition. 1t cannot be forgotten
that this request, granted in 80 extrsordinar!
a manner, was request in which the head
the department of justce and Senator
the United States for two years notorious
b held vast pecuniary interest. The conduc
Of the Solicitor General is most easily account
3 ed for on the assumption that he understoo
t the matter in advance, and had pre-determir
ed upon his course of action. The repol
charges that the opinion furnished by th
i Attorney General was written to deceive th
n people in the Southwest
Whatever ground the Democratic repor
may take, it is evident that the Attorney Gel
J. eral cannot get Wind cation out Of the VOL
y of the investigating committee, and it W
u hardly be disputed that the scandal is Il
= worst one with which any cabinet officer h
g ever been connected. The New York Time
l. which stands as defender Of the admnistr
J. ton, admits that Mr.. Garland's Pan electI
9 stock was gift made TO him when Unit
States Senator for the purpose of iDfiuencii
l. his vote, and says that any man who wou
J. accept such a gift and especially from su
d men as the Rogers crowd, lis obviously Al
~ incontestably unfit to be a Senator or an
he torney General" The Sun bluntly says Il
re Me-. Garland's action is cause for his impeaC
~ ment, and that il he were Republican
Ae torney- General and it was a Republic
President who refused or neglected to reno
him from office, 'the Democratic Hot
would proceed promptly to bring him to TT
= before the Senate"