The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-22
GARLAND TO DANA.
HE DON'T KNOW THAT THE EMF
NENT EDITORS REMARKS

Amount to Much, but Nevertheless Makes
Statement in Answer to Them Heavy
Vote in the House Against the Steam
ship subsidy-Analysis of the Vote.
WASHINGTON CITY,, May q. -Attorney
General Garland was again before the Pan
Electric Telephone investigating committee
Friday. He examined the testimony OF Mr.
Won Ericsson, of New York, concerning a
visit MIR Won Ericsson made to the attorney
generals office in the interest of govern
ment suit Tho witness said there were
some errors in the testimony; that he had
never referred to any application for a
government suit, except that made by Mr.
Van Benthuysen, and that no did not tell
Mr. Van Ericsson about the reference of the
application The witness, when asked if he
had ever attended a meeting of Pan Electric
officers or stockholders at the rooms of
Col Dung, l52I & street, this city,
replied, firmly; mo, sir; was never
in Col Noung's room at 1874 G street, and
did not know he had a room there until
read it in the newspapers | don't think
attended any of ihe meetings, after the
presidential election and am sure did not
after the Inauguration.
Did you ever say to any ons that it
would he good time to i'le appli, alton for
a COVER nment suit while you were away
from here last summer?' inquired MIR
Oates
"Never," replied the witness; never did
indicate su h u thing TO any one"
MIR. Ranney cros.exanined the witness at
considerable length about visit made to
the latter by MIR. Van Benthuysen and 9th
ers, daring which MIR. Van Ben
thuysen insisted on filing second applica-
ton for a government suit The witness held
steadfastly to his original assertion, which
was that he informed Mr. Van Bonthuysen
that the subje of a government suit could
not be discussed in his presence; that no
was interested in Il telephone company and
could not take any action ON applications
, for suit against the Bell company, and
would not permit any contention On ac-
count of such refusal Mr. Ranney dwelt
| at length upon the statement that nothing
was said about an application hav-
| ing already been lied by Mr.
Won Benthuysen when lie and others called
and spoke about filing another application.
| The witness said the request made to him
was in this language: We want the name
| 0f the United States to bring suit to tost the
| Bell patents" and that his reply was in
these words;
| II can not entertain the proposition as |
am attorney for and stakeholder in rival
telephone company"
| This form of language witness held to all
| through the discrimination Nothing,
he said, was remarked about with irawing
the application then on file.
| At the conclusion of his testimony Mr..
Garland sail he would like to make state
ment He observed in the testimony OF
Col Dana of The New York Sun, the derlar-
alton that if he Col Dana had been at
torney general, and interested in telephone
company, he would have protected the de
partment and smashed the suit when it had
been instituted by subordinate
Mr.. Garland said; Il don't know that
this declaration of Mr. Dana amounts to
much, t will say that | had no proper
authority to act in the question which
came before me, because | wa:
n stakeholder and attorney il
a rival company. Now the same dis
ability existed against my doing what was
done by the solicitor general in my absence
from the department If | had no authority
to institute suit, or if it was improper
for me to do SO, the same obstacle
was in the way to my smashing it A
| Judge who leaves the bench and refuses to
hear case because OF disability has nc
authority or right to afterward hear or en-
terrain n motion to reconsider
| DR. Ro-ers was witness at the conclu-
| sion of Mr.. Garland's statement The doctor
said: If was seeking rascals to form a
conspiracy don't think would have gonc
to men like Randall, Carlisle, Hewitt, Cox
and the others approached" He then RS
ferred to the testimony of Senator Harris
in which the latter stated that he DIR Ro2
ersl was found i'll "a very jolly condition al
one time just before consultation" etc
The denied that he drank to excess, and sale
that Senator Harris has drank gallons Of
my wine and liquors" He disclaiuled any
intention to speak harshly of the senator
and declared he only made the remark il
| justification and self-defence