The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-16
THE PAN. ELECTRIC.
Inventor Rogers Continues His Tes.
tImOnY-nOre Inside d isIOrY

Inventor Rogers Continues His Tes.
timOny-nOre inside d isIOry
WASHINGTON, March 15.-In the tel
ephone investigation to day J. Harris
Rogers was recalled. He said the gem
tlemen connected with the Pan-Elec-
tric Company were to give their names
as guarantee TO outside parties that
the company would be fairly and hon
erablyconducted. An enterprise based
upon future possibilities required the
guarantee OF men of national reputa-
ton. He gave $4,000 stock TO Rich
ard Wintersmith of Kentucky.
Mr.. Ranney Yes, i have seen his
letter. He seemed to be very crate
full. 1t seems to have made him very
happy. Did he give anything for it :?
Witness replied in the negative.
Witness said that at a meeting at
which Senator Harris, Gen. Johnston.
Mr.. Young and witness land possibly
Col. LOoney) were present, Mr.. Young
stated that number of members of
Congress wanted to become interested
in the Pan Electric Company and had
frequently importuned him on the
subject. Young asked advice as to
what should be done. He suggested
that probably the members of the
company had enough of that class of
geotlemen associated with them. The
The question was then discussed as to
how much the members of Congress
would give. Twenty dollars was pro-
posed, but Young suggested that that
was too much. He said that most of
them wanted to get in on the ground
floor, or as near the ground as pos
sible. Young counted on his fingers
four or five members. The
matter was left with Mr..
Young to do the best he could
The name of Mr. Dunn of Arkan-
sas was mentioned. Witness did not
remember the others. Witness then
went ON to state that an effort had
been made in 1893, or the beginning
of 1884, 10 have him appointed
electrician of the House of Represent
atives, and Senators Harris and Gar
land had gone to see Architect Clark.
Witness believed that the position
would collaterally benefit the Pam
Electric Company. By that he meant
he would be in position to take ad-
vantage of the engines, dynamos and
other machinery to carry on expert
ments which would benefit his associ-
ates and the government. Gen. John
ston went to see the Speaker in his
behalf. Witness got member by the
name of Robinson of New York to
offera resolution on the subject. Mr..
Robinson held a certain amount of
American postal telegraph stock.
Witness said his father was a candi-
date for some Office under this admin
lstration in which he could carry out
his profession, such as assistant attor-
ney in some of the departments or a
position abroad at Marseilles or Milan. I
The witness was then questioned by
Mr.. Oates as TO the date of the inter |
view in which Mr.. Young stated that
Acknowledgement Garland had prom
ised to bring suit. The witness fixed !
the date some time early in July. |
The second interview with Young |
was in the latter part of July Wit |
ness reiterated the statement as to |
Young's language on the occasion of |
the first interview. At the second in /
terview the whole ground was not !
gone over. They talked about it as a
matter that was well known between /
them. Young said that it was better
not 70 say anything about it. Witness
supposed that Young did not want /
the Bell people to hear about it. II
WAS during the first interview that |
Young said that as Garland was at |
isrney for the Pan Electric he felt
delicacy about bringing the suit, and /
that it would be brought by Goode.
Witness was deeply impressed by |
this, and remembered the converse.
ton nearly word for word The
question OF new legislation by Con-
gress was never broached by any of
his associates.
The Chairman Did you assign your
an interest because of the
official position they held or because
of their standing as lawyers, and be.
cause gou expected to be benefited
by their services?
Witness-There were three reasons.
One reason was that they held official
positions, and from the fact that they
we're widely known; the second
reason was because they were law
yers; the third reason, last but not
east, was because we had known most
Of them for many years, and we were
satisfied they would conduct every
hing on an honorable basis. We
wanted none but such men associated
With us.
At this moment the committee went
nto secret session, with the under
standing that the examination of wit
lesses will be renewed on Wednesday.