Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-05-05
0l)e Ea,,eosttr J,sitIii9enfer
t1ters q the stand.

ing the Pam Electric matter is being
illuminated by the testimony Of the editors
Of the New York journals, who have had
70 much to say in their newspapers about
the affair. 1t is not easy to see tina: the
information derived from the editors upon
the stand is very important to the issue. |
They naturally maintain the opinions they
have advanced in their journals, and the |
only additional information they have to
give is ssto slIe sources Of their information.
The active agency in preparing the am
munition for the journals seems to have
been the Bell telephone concern; and the
sum and substance of what they Rave
made to appear in their accusation against
the attorney general is that he is stock
holder In the Pan-Electric company, and
that the government suit against the Bell
company, which lis based on the charge that
IL fraudulently obtained its patent, was not
discontinued by the attorney general, after
1t had been instituted in his absence
by the solicitor general, who was tenn
porarily performing the duties of at
torney general. Mr.. Dana, of the Sun,
told the committee that in his opinion, the
attorney general should have " smashed !"
this suit on his return to his office; pre-
sumably because he was interested in a
rival telephone company, which would be
benefited by the suit.
Mr.. Dana does not seem to have been
closely questioned about the soundness of
this opinion else he might have found
trouble in defending it. He condemned
likewise the president for not forbidding it
to be instituted, believing this to be great
piece of stupidity in him.
But the facts, as we understand them,
are that the suit, ordered by the solicitor
general, was stopped by the president, until
the occasion for it could be inquired into
by the secretary of the interior, to whom
he thought was confided the duty of author.
izing it, by the precedents in such cases
established. Mr.. Lamar heard the parties
in interest and decided that there was
sufficient ground for the suit, which was
brought by his direction.
1t seems therefore, that the presiden,
and the attorney general do not bear the
responsibility for the suit and the
question is wherefore Editor Dana hold.
them to it, rather than the secretary of the
interior. The president went quite as far
as his duty authorized him to go in "smash.
ing" the suit and how could the attor-
ney general ''smash" it, when the proper
officer Of the government ordered it.
Whereupon it seems that Editor Dana is
off his eggs" and that they are added.
The prominent fact in the case is that the
Bell Telephone company is charged with
having corruptly obtained its patent The
necessary deduction is that the truth OF
this charge should be inquired into; and
the suit brought is obviously the method
to test it. The Bell company, if innocent
should want this inquiry. Editor Dana
along with all good citizens, should want
it. And If he wants it, wherefore should
he condemn the president for per
mitting it; and wherefore even would
the attorney general be blameworth by
though he himself conducted it, being in.
terested in rival company. He would not
be acting asa judicial, but as a prose cut.
ing officer and the zeal which his Individual
interest would lend to the eprosecutionwould
hardly incapacitate him for it. Yet he is
not conducting it. Judge Thurman, in
whom Mr.. Dana has confidence, conducts
it. The stupid president and the interested
attorney general have no more influence
over it than Mr.. Dana and he knows
that he has none. Brought by direction
of Secretary Lamar, conducted by Judg,
Thurman, and tried by Judge jackson, i
is righteously inspired, and will be right
eously decided I; and in that faith Edito
Dana should peacefully repose.