New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-29
N0PE ABOUT THE BELL COnPANT.
4 WITNESS WITH A DEFECTIVE MEMORY.
TESTIMONY or PROFESSOR BELL AND HIS fAlI'Ai'-
IN-LAw-MR. COXs ACTION.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TKIBUNE.l

WASHINGTON, April 2S.-prOfessOr AlcXan-
der Graham Bell the principal witness before the
Pln-Elcctuc Investigation Committee to-day Inc an
uouneeinent that he would occupy the stand brought
large number Of people 10 the o7yptkc room III "hoh
the hearings arc hold He was accompanied by his
father and uncle In distant part o. the room sat Gar
diner Hubbard Professor Bells father-in-lAw Inc OK
animation had scarcely began when the Saunt ignre
OF Casey Young made its way through the croN"'
Professor B.ls testimony developed no new iac7' oA
cept that Il disclosed the autho' snip OF the ac VIZ"
appeared in The World The author, according 10 le
ter sent ~ Colonel ypher to Professor Bell was L. ~
Uul Professor Boil said that he had never met IL
and tA.t he enjoyed slight acquaintance o"y Win
colonel syphcr rhe article struck HIN as beng hsuy
and he forwarded It to tho consel OF inc
company retaining FOR himself copy Of H. Through
on; Professor Boil seemed willing AMI anxious even 10
tell the committee al that he know.
In striking contrast t. Professor Bcrs manner was
that of his fa,heriu-aw. Mr. Hubbard who followed
Three foIrls the given by MIN wero either
81 don't know" or Il can't tell.' or 81 can't remem-
ber" Under the examination OF the Chairman' Which,
at timcs seemed to touch irrelevant matters, the W.T.
mass crew Tasty and slightly HLnsturel. At one time
his conduct seemed about to provoke conflict between
Mcssrs Boyle and Hanback, but this. happily was
averted.
Soon aficr the exa1ination OF Professor Bell was be-
-rn Mr.. Rauucy ard ~. Eden wshei to kno" II Ue
Chairman 70 60 the question Of patent TO
which lie repl p that he did not He wished TO pursue
IN the s,or he Bell Company, 10 said the hne OF IN
quiry pursued the OF the Paniectric company
Bong asked what inventions he had transferred 70
Nessrs Saunders and Hubbard Professor Bel! repucd
tho Inventions relative to the production ana trans mis-
sion of sound by electricity. They were TO contron'o all
OF tho mcars for further experimentation ana tho cX-
penscs OF litigation and taking out patents
The On iraan desired to what tic wine'7 hal
done with his telephone Interest to which no replied
that De made gift OF his Interest to his wli1 when
he had let for Europe.
The Chairman asked Whether tho interest hal not
been transferred to tho National Bell Telephone Com
pany.
The witness replied that she htd left power Of IT
torney when she sailed for Europe. she had received
an equivalent amount that she hal held IA
the original Bell Company and so in the case OF the
American Bel Company; she was how one OF the largest
holders " The stock
The Chairnln-so that her SlO,oooOOo interest has
gtovn from The original oAethrd Iatercs. IN this IN
stTOmeat from 1876 10 leSO
Iii. Bell replied in the Affirmative. lie was ashamed
acknowledge IT, but rs said he VS. very ignorant
concerning the business transactions Of the company
Nj. Hubbard who WAS the next with as. SAID hat he
held oue-inrd interest in the Bell enterprise.
The Chhrma1-Whtt dd yOu Pay foru
Nr. fuJuard-l paid great mtnJ l-Ohsah's o. uC-
INC Chairman Ar the tim. OF the purchaser
Nj IuDbard-I paid nothing 81 the time or me ruf-
chase hut came ia under an oDiisaton 70 provide one
half tne Tor the de' elopment OF the enterprise
Jh:.t was ia ISL
Tho Chairman asked If tho clpittl Of the NATIONAL
Bell Company wa u 0)DOOJ and tHc witness declined
te answer on the ground That ne d.d moi Know.
The Chairman ask y0n again now nHcl ihlAty W's
added at the time o the formation Of tAe National Ben
Mr. iuo6ari-I cannot ten you.
The Chairuan-Cau't you approximate it!
MI Uubnard-I cannot
mad OF tie sock OF the Naional Ben Company!
Nj HuhH.rdI cannot VIII furnish the information
L YOU wil write me note reg Nesting H. -. .
The Chhrman-1hen Will have 10 ask you TO return
the witness was unable 10 tell the purpose in view III
reissuins new stock for the Original stock.
Inc Chairman-Nasit not dome wtn the purpose OF
Increasing the capital stock without the payment OF
Mr. iIuhbard-I don't think it was.
The ChhrMan--DO you know of any other purpose
MI UUED4ld-IO acQ are more money 10 carry on The
business It undoubtedly ono purpose to orns Iae
par the stock 10 its selling value Nv
impress on That six shares OF new were lssei Tor one o
Continuing Mr. Hubbard said that he had assisted in
the movement when resulted IN the merging OF the
original telephone company into the National Bell Com
pny and haI transferred hio right, to the new company
nor could he approximate it, lie bow holds 900 sLaes
OF the stock OF me American Bel Company lie mai hal
he d sent To- t6a Of tn rI COMPANY before
It's publication Il had been given .' him by Mr. Bel
with the statement that he would hnd it 10 be curious
paper relating The Iau-Eectrio and might like to
i. Mr. Bell had told him lLAtlt had been voluntarily
furnished by General sypA who lived directly op.
not know where General sypher obtained the
article. President Forbes had Informed hin that
cangaay 70 otter INTO newspopsr
lie not feel surprised whon ne saw tho article il ne
Worid although he mai had no inrimaton that would
be published. lie had done nothing to further the IN
yestiga'on although he regarded 1t as good thing.
Mr. Hanback, asked II members OF Congress had been
pied that they had not.
Mr. Hauback-And you lid not s United States Sen
Mr. Hlbbard-No sir
The cblrman-rhe original transaction seems to have
been transfer OF interest TO you with present cohsid
Mr. iubbard-I beg pardon; it WAS very large consid
GRAFTON.
The ehairman-Not at the beginuingl
Mr. HubbArd-As stated b, fore, many thousands OF
Z liars were paid IN az II ran along. ,.
Mr. Hilso you got your whole one-thiid interest Ia
this valuable property upon mere consideration to pay
expenses only ~ far as , on pleasedf
The Cnairmsn-Have you received any money from
licensing local companesi
Nj Uubbari-I don't know; our plan is TO furnish
teicphanc tine local companies ana charge Ten IA
upon the telephones furnished That was our origi
ma plan. Then after that, as the Local companies were
formed they paid Us proportion OF their StocA III con-
The Charman-What part OF the stock did you usually
Mr. Internationally So per cent; in some cases
Tie Chairmen-I wish you would re all whether any
money was received from them
Mr. Hubbard-l don't know anything about 1t; l was
not the treasurer.
Professor Bel was recalled and examined relative to
the article furnished by Go'er4l sypner lie did not
wish TO violate confidence Eo said bui would produce
General syphers note accompanying the arucle II the
Committee insisted.
Mr. Boyle did iusist and the witness read the note
follows:
10 AiCIqudcr e. BcL
DEAR SIR: hand you herewith authentic state
ment II fact, compiled by associate. nr l.. y. Hl
which may interest Inc scheme 10 destroy your
patents toeTahy wen maUred and II remains 10 be
seen whether TINS Reform Administrator Will lend itself
10 us contamination. Truly yours, j. HALE SNFaEK
WlHhHgion, october 26
Professor Bell said that he took the articles as a
friendly Iner by General sypher and sent copy Of to
Mr. SorrOw.
Several members Of the committee expressed some |
curiosity about Mr.. iii.
Mr.. Rlnucy remarked that lie the person Casey
Young had Of his clerk; but N. Young
mainly denied that he had SAID anything Of the
kind.
The chairman suggested that the NJ lIIl referred to
person had cured IN another invest-
gatOn going Qhe amer Stcdley inquiry. lie
would be called upon 10 appear but reported 10 be
sick al present
MI l:auney remarked that Hill seemed have told