The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-04
PAN-ELECTRIC.
The House Resolution Calling for an InveS
tigation-The Telegraph Monopoly.

The House Resolution Calling for an InveS
tigation-The Telegraph Monopoly.
! WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-Mr. Morrison, OF
Illinois, from the Committee on Rules, re.
ported substitute for the Hanback, and
! Pulitzer resolutions directing inquiry into
the Pan-ElecIic telephone matter. The
/ substitute is as follows:
| ResOlred, That select committee consist
! ing of nine members of the House. be ap-
| pointed, and when so appointed the commit
I tee is hereby directed AT as early a day as
/ possible to make inquiry into any expendi-
/ ture on the part of the Government incurred
I relative TO the rights of the Bell and Pan
| Electric Telephone Companies to priority of
patents. said inquiry TO include all organiZa-
tlons and companies that have sprung out OF
the Pan-Electric Company, or for any
other purpose and also to make full
inquiry into the issuance OF the stock
known as the Pan-EiectrIc telephone stock,
or the stock OF any other company. compa-
nies or organizations Springing out OF the
Pan-Electric Company. TO any person or per-
sons connected with the legislature, judicial
or executive departments of the Govern
meut of the United States; and to whom,
when and for what consideration said stock
was delivered; also as TO what opinions, dec-
sions or orders had been made by any officers
connected with the Government and by
whom; and all the circumstances connected
Herewith or arising therefrom; and said
committee is further authorized and directed
10 ascertain ana report Wnetner eltneT
telephone company herein mentioned, or
the officers, agents or employees have
in any wav influenced or attempted TO
influence the officials or official action
by or through the public press; and
if such, when. by whom and in what
manner such influence was eXerted or at
tempted 10 be eXerted. aud what newspaper
or newspapers so used or attempted to te
used by them. said committee shall have
the rights to send for persons or papers, TO
administer oath. to sit during the session OF
the House, 10 employ a stenographer, and
incur any and all such necessary and reason
able expense as may be required for the pur-
pose of conducting the investigation. not TO
exceed the sum OF Sl,0O. which shall be paid
out of the contingent fund of the House on
proper voucher certified by the chairman
and one other member of the committee, and
may report at any timel
After brief, but excited debate, referring
to which Gibson. of West Virgiua criti-
cised Pulitzer, whom he accused of shrink
ing behind the columns of his newspaper TO
attack men instead of attacking them on
the floor OF the House, the resolution re-
ported from the Committee on Rules was
adopted.
Mr.. DOckery, of Missouri, from the COM
mittee on Accounts. reported back the fol-
lowing resolution which was adopted:
ResolUcd, That the Committee on Post-ofices
and POSt-roadS Is hereby empowered to as
certain whether additional legislation is nec-
eSSary to prevent the monopoly of tele-
graphic facilities, and to secure to the South
ern, Western and Pacific States the benefits
of competition between telegraph cOmpa-
nies and to protect the people of the United
States against unreasonable charges for tele-
graphic service.