New-York tribune., 1886-03-14
MORE PAN-ELECTRIC LIGHT.
HISTORY OF THE GOVERNMENTS SUIT.
SENATOR HARRIs's LIVE GOALS on THE LAZY OLD
TURTLES BACK.
IBY rRLBoRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

|
| WAsuSGToy. March Ex-senator Harris
and indian Commissioner Atkins. two OF the original
shareholders and directors were Interested
listeners to the proceedings OF the telephone inNestga-
tion committee today Casey Young was on hand early
with big pine box which he said contained all tho
books and other records OF the PanElcctrc Company
| Mr. Rogers remarked that as some efforts had been
made To show that his had been interested in a sort
Of Credit Mobier scheme he desired to know whether he
| might appear his counsel The matter was taken
under advsement ]. Harris Rogers resumed and COM
Melted his testimony and submitted original letters re-
| oevcd by himself and his father from the other
members OF PanEcctric combination. lie testified
tbat one day in July, 1885 Colonel Young desired him
70 90 TO the Office OF the local PaLElectrc Telephone
Company I'm Washington and get certain telephone in
struments While IN the office Mr. Gardner the secre-
ary OF thecompany spoke Of the suit he brought by
the Government and the matter was talked over DC
tween them. when the witness returned to Coione
Young's room he said:
"Why Colonel, how is thisl You caution me against
speaking any about the suit TO be brought by the
Government and the very first man meet mentions IL
to me and seems to know all about it,
Colonel Young used strong words ana sald thaI
he had told Bradley I. Johnston and perhaps Mr.
uenke about the suit and he supposed the news was
so good that they could not keep 1t TO themselves
Mr. Rogers then described the personal difficulty De-
tween himself and Casey Young at board meeting OF the
n,Electrc directors In February 1t seems that Col
ents infringement on some OF the patents
owned by the National Improved Company. This state
ment provoked controversy between Rogers ana
Young when ended in the knocking down OF Young by
Rogers After considerable trouble Senator Harris ana
General Johnston who had been appointed " Com
mittee on Honor" to speak, succeeded IN composing
the difficulty and inducing the combatants to shake
hands across the bloody chasm. This was source ot
great reNef to Commissioners Atkins, who had been
holding tho bOOi-thiTsty Young 10 prevent
him from Staying the man VINO hau
iusulted him by a blow. Mr. Rogers then reverted to
the negotiations with the Bell Company which fell
through and his father told Harris that they were
informed that the Bell Company might be Induced 10
take the PanEecric patents. water us own STOCK 10
the extent of some So 600 0OO and pay the PanLectro
Company with the new stock.
oThen the PanEectric stock to consist OF water"
suggested Mr. Rauney.
"Oh, no." replied the witness 1t was argued unat
the Pan. Electric patents would greatly enhance the
value of the Bell property"
When the Rogerses called upon Senator Harris about the
matter he Informed them that he had already been In
correspondcnce with Manager Vail and that
in a short time they would 20 to Dos
ton and have Pacucal test OF the
Pan.Electrc instrument Tie test was satisfactory but
the negotiations failed. Mr. Rogers said that the suit OF
the Bell Company against the Rogers Telegraph ana
Telephone Company in Philadelphia was allowed 10 go
by default upon the advice OF Casey Young, who re-
sibe for the Pan-Eectc Company to obtain justice IN
the United States Courts in Pennsylvania Prior TO that
time il was expected that Senator Garland would 80 TO
Philadelphia to defend the suit but ne never seemed to
be ready on one occasion Senator Harris said that he
would nave 10 put live coal that old turtles BACK 70
get him started he SO lazy"
Mr. Rannty-Who was the old turtle
The witness-Senator Garlaud.
The Pan-Elcctric Company paid the cost Of the Pha-
delpha suit II was then determined to bring SUIT
against the Bell Company test the validity OF the
Bell patent in Tennessee or Missouri. This proceeding
was to be brought by Pan-Electrc Telephone Com
many Nothing was said that time about the Govern
ment bringing suit Witness did not know how far the
suit has r. ,ceedet continued when the Gov
last September There n suit also by the Bell Com
pauy against the local Pan-Electric Company In Balt-
more last fall. Witness informed that efforts
were made TO have that suit stayed on account
Of the Government suit There was suit
in TttsJurg by the Bell Company against the Ma
tional Improved Company and Colonel Young was sent
to that CITY Mr. Van Benthuysen 10 endeaNor 10
q OF the interests or the Pau-kectrlc anu
National Improved Company against the Bell Company
reply Colonel Oates ;hr witness stated that lie
never received expect receive any con-
sderaion for letters which he furnished for puDca
4 SuD-cOmLlttee consisting or Messrs Odlos anu
Hanback,, appointed 10 examine ana arrange the |
letters submitted by Mr. Rogers and TO exclude there
all which are of private nature ana not pertinent
to the investigations This duty seemed TO be distasefuI
10 The Democratic members, none OF whom was Whng
TO undertake It, and Colonel Oates pleaded hard 10 DC
excused The committee then adjourned until Monday |