The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-02-13
~ tho pell Telephone Com pany, and Its

ny the Bell Telephone Company, and us
purpose Is 10 intimidate the Administers
ton and thus prevent the government
from carrying out the programme with re-
card to suits TO test the validity of the Bell
patent.
But the conspiracy has In no d"gree dis
courared the prosecution of this suit. II
will not be delayed any longer than Is
necessary for preparation, an array "I
prominent counsel having been already Sc
lected 10 aid the Department of Justice
Solicitor General GoOde will conduct the
suit and ex-senator Thurman, Mr., Lowery,
of New York, An electrician specialist, and
Messrs. Eppa Huntoon, jeff Chandler and
Whitman, of this city, will assist. II has
nor vet been determined where the trial
will be held. The Bell company wants II
in Boston, while some OF the government
counsel prefer Washington, and others
think II should be argued in some western
|
CATION or feeling on the subject
The climax of ahsurdity was reached In
comparing the Pan Electric affair 10 the
Credit Mobilier" In the Credit Mobi
| lier" business officials were bribed To cor
rupty act In their official capacity and give
life and value thereby 10 corrupt scheme
to tllch money from the treasury In this
affair no one has been wild enough even
TO dare insnuate that the Senators and
Members Of the lower House who invested
In Pan Electric stock, had any purpose OF
legiala,ing the stock into value.
There has been nothing In the official or
personal relation of Attorney General Gar,
land to this case, up to this time, that is
not consistent with the highest integrity
and honor. He has not used his official
position or influence in the slightest degree
TO promote the suit against the Bell compa.
ny. On the contrary, when application
was made to him to bring suit he promptly
declined because he happened to hold
shares in the Pan. Electric Company In
declining to act, he referred the whole
subject +, the Solicitor General, and that
official, AN, had no stock in either compa.
ny, io+ Of ~ of things that warranted
the br,, az :, and Leuit.
ThArtae and tnen went entirely out of the
hands of Mr. Garland, and il is stated by
those In position to speak adyisedly thathe
knows nothing about the preparation Of
the case, or the plans of the government,
lie and Mr.. Goode have not exchanged a
word upon the subject of the suits, and Mr.,
Garland instructed the chief clerk Of his
department to hand Mr. Goode all letters
that are received bearing upon the matter,
The President will not even consult Mr..
Garland in the selection of place where
the suit shall be brought.
All that you hear about Mr., Garlands
resignation Is nonsense. The President
would not be likely to accept it If it were
rendered He was satisfied months ago
with Mr.. Garland's explanation Of his con.
necton with the case, and the Attorney
General then expressed his willingness to
resign if the Administration felt any en-
barrassment over the coming discussion
! But Mr.. Garland will not be driven out of
Cabinet, nor the suits prevented by news
paper abuse.
The great contest between the President
and the Republican majority in the Senate
threatens to evaporate for want of earnest
ness, or rather because the President will
not surrender his constitutional preIogative
at the beck of few Republican managers
1t would be very awkward, though, for
these Senatorial politicians who are so
anxious to make some trouble for the Ad.
ministraten, to abandon their efforts just
at this stage Of the proceedings The
country has been expecting something
dramatic, and they feel that they must not
fall too fatty flat,