Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-25
WASHINGTON NEWS.
The Telephone Investigation.
WASHINGTON, March ..

The telephone investigating committee re-
sumed the examination of Casey Young to
day. The witness said that the only disa-
greement between the members of the
company was in regard to issuing stock. The
witness. Senator Harris snd others had
objected t0 the issue of stock because they
deemed it to be proper that before the stock
should be issued tests as to the utility of the
inventions and validity Of the patents should
be made
All state rights sold were subject to such
demonstrations.
The chairman referred to DR.. Roberst
statement relative to members OF Congress
wishing to "get in on the ground floor and
asked what basis there was for the statement.
Witness replied that nobody had said any
thing about 'sground floor" within his recol-
lection. He never sold or disposed of any
stock, by gift or otherwise, to any member of
Congress. ''No members of Congress that
know OF has wandered in on any floor" said
the witness, positively.
Examination of Commissioner Black.
The examination OF Commissioner Black
was continued bv the Senate committee on
expenditures Of public money today.
Senator Harrison took up the case of Jno.
A. Whitsit one of the twenty cases fur
nished by Commissioner Black to sustain his
charge that the pension office had been man
chine by his predecessor. Commissioner
Black said that lie didn't wish to be examined
or this case this morning, and that he would
Withdraw it from Investigation.
Considerable discussion ensued between
members of the committee as to his right to
withdraw the case
Senator Harrison insisted on his right to
question the witness, as at least to his reas-
ons for Withdrawing the case. This was con-
ceded.
Ia reply to the questions, Commissioner
Black said he was told yesterday by a man
| that the committee had an excellent Joke they
were going to spring on him; that there was
a case of one man who was a democrat and
chairman of democratic county c0mmitte.
| He, (Black) ran over the list hurriedly and
became satisfied that Whist was a democrat
Senator Harrison asked it the witness
the chairman had always been a democrat
and chairman of the democratic COM
mittee of indianapolis, tn which the commits
sioner replied in the negative.
The case of Reuben Neil was then taken
up and Senator Plumb continued the invest-
CATION.
Commissioner Black in reply to inquiries
said the claim was allowed but was suspend
D
in consequence OF the statement by Congrt So
man Petubone that he was informed that the
claimant was fraud and suggested fuItht r
Suspension 1t was still IN a condition Of
suspension.
Mr. Plumb asked what there was IN this
case that was singular.
Gen. Black SAID the case had been exam
! ined on two occasions and had been recon-
mended for admission and there seemed to be
nothing in the case that was adverse to ad-
mission. All the evidence in the case was in
favor of the claimant, yet the case sus-
pended on the letter of a man who never had
seen the claimant and admitted that he knew
nothing about the case personally,
! Plumb then called attention to the official
document in the case, the endorsement on
which he asked the witness to read.
| Commissioner Black read as follows:
PENSION OFFICE, Jan. 10Th 1886.
| The claimant through Hon. A. II. Petit
bone in the form named was dropped as ad-
/ dtional evidence does not change the status. =
| Commissioner Black appeared never to
! have seen or heard of this endorsement be-
! fore In reply to Senator Plumb he said
That would indicate that the thing had been
| jockeyed within my office. A man who has
only one or two clerks of his own persuasion
in great division like that has to take some
| chances
| The committee adjourned to meet one
week from today.