Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-30

The Chairmau--Are you a stockholder
IN the Bell Telephone Company?
The Witnpaa-I am not

The Witness-I am not.
Continuing. he said that he aid not
know that any Tribune employe held any
OF the Bell stock, and his strong impress
sion was that there was no telephone
stock so held.
In response to further inquiries he said
that the same was true concerning
Western Union stock and the stock OF
subordinate telephone companies. He
had had no correspondence communica-
tion of any kind that he knew Of with any
officer OF the Bell Telephone Company
relative to this controversy, and had no
acquaintance with any officer OF the
company.
Immediately upon the receipt Of the
Tribune correspondents first dispatch
concerning the telephone matter, he had
directed reporter 10 be dispatched to see
the counsel OF the Bell Telephone Com
pany in New York, to get their side of the
story. The Information he bad received
in response to that visit would be found
in the same number of the Tribune which
contained the original statement, and di-
rectly below It..
NOT INFLUENCED.
Mr.. Hall asked If the witness had had
any correspondence with persons who
requested the Tribune to make the publi-
cation with view TO influence the official
conduct Of any member of the govern
ment.
The witness replied IN the negative. 1t
was OF course possible that people might
have come into the Office requesting the
publication OF this, that or the other
thing, but he had no recollection
of any person connected with the Bell
company making any such com
munication. The Tribune sought
news on all sides, and the
witness had directed that Attor-
ney General Garland should be inquired
of when the article was furnished, but he
was absent aJ the time, so the correspond
ent was directed to see him as soon as he
returned, and he had.
Mr.. Hall-And you did not hold the ar
ticle until he returnedp
The Witness-No, sir. think we tried
to get something by telegraph from the
Southwest, but am not positive.
THE POLITICAL ASPECT.
10 Mr.. Milard the witness said he did
not remember that he had any acquaint-
ances among persons on either side OF
this cOntrOversy-the Pan Electric or
Bell company.
The Chairman-The Tribune has given
to this matter something OF political
castp
The Witness-It has seemed to have
some bearing on politics.
ne Ouhllulab- Audb hAo U1ph hNEb vi
from the beginning has it notP
The Witness--I think you will find we
have generally called attention to the po-
litical bearing. We put our interpreta-
ti0n on the facts which you will hnd1n the
editorials. presume you do not care to
discuss it.
MR.. GARLAND's DENIAL.
The Chairman-You had seen Mr.. Gar
lands denial and published it
The Witness-l think so. | should not
take the view that Mr.. Garland's state
ment freed him from censure in the mat
ter. ] know Mr.. Garland had tried to es-
cape from the responsibility of the bring
ing of the suit by subordinate In his
office.
The Chairman-DOn't you know of the
fact that Mr.. Garland has disclaimed all
connection whatever with bringing the
suit?
The Witness-W Whatever statement Mr..
Garland made on the subject printed IN
full and at once.
The Chairman-Have you had any per-
sonal feeling against Mr.. Garland In the
matterY
The WItness-None, whatever.
THE TRIBUNE EDITORIALS.
Mr.. Boyle then began TO read extracts
from Tribune editorials, for which the
witness said he would assume RESPONSE
bility, but Mr.. Ranney wished to know
whether TINS was held to be proper mat
ter for nvestigation--the expression or
individual opinion IN editorials.
Mr.. Boyle replied that it was proper in
his opinion to show the animus Of the
Tribune in this matter.
After reading few extracts, the direct
examination again proceeded, and the
witness stated that he had no intention OF
defending the Bell Telephone Company,
but only TO bring out the facts. He felt
no more interest in the Bell Company
than in any other company. He was
willing to publish anything within rea-
sonable limits that the gentlemen inter-
ested cared TO furnish.
NOT A FAIR SHOW.
Mr.. Hall remarked that, Of course, the
witness appreciated the fact that 0pportu-
nifty for denial offered several months
after the publication was hardly equlva-
lent to an opportunity offered at the time.
The witness replied: 81 gave them an
opportunity just as soon as / could get at
them, and have been giving them an Op-
pOrtunity every day since.
This closed the examination OF Mr..
Reid.
George Jones, of the New York Times,
was called, but did not respond, and the
Chairman stated that Mr.. Dana, Of the
SIN. who had been expected, was i'll and
would not be able 70 appear before next
Tuesday.
THE WORLDS CORRESPONDENT.
r. G. Crawford, Washington cores
pondent OF the WOrid, was the next wit
ness. Tho Chairman asked the witness
10 state the facts on which be based his
article Of Jan. 9, touching Pan Electric
and bearing thelcaptiOn, "a Loud Call for
Mr.. GOOde."
The witness replied that he had infOr-
nation from United States Senator and
must decline to tell his name without his
consent.
The senator furnished the facts and the
witness wrote the article. The Senator
had mentioned the matter In the course
Of casual conversation. Various ex-
tracts from the World articles were read
by the Chairman and the witness indi
Gated those which had been included IN
the original "histOry."
Senator Platt. he said, had given him
some general Information about the case.
aud from that Senator ho had obtained
information touching Mr.. Garland's con.
duct toward the bill 10 authorize the
bringing Of government suits in patent
cases.
THE ORIGINAL HISTORY.
The witness had obtained the original
history Of the case from II. NJ Hill, some
time IN November last Mr.. Hill came 70
his Office in November and said he had
furnished a good deal OF information on
the subject TO the Tribune, had been In
fA...s. =