New-York tribune., 1886-04-01
SENATOR HARRIS'S TURN.
WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT PAN-ELECTRIc.
ANOTHER MAN WITH CONVENIENT MhhoHf-
SETTING HIMSELF UP AS DICTATOR
fBY TELEGRAPH To IIrE TRIBUNE

the three hours during which Senator Harris occ"Pou
tho witness stand In the Pan-Eeotre inVe'uPauo" w
dav he devoted to an explanation OF minor matters re-
lsting to hs connection with the Pan'Elecrc pnnbie
His direct narrative flowed with an ease which denoted
that had studied IL carefully beforehand IL Na'
only after he was called upon to answer the qncsUoh'
OF Chairman Boyle and Mr. Ranney that the Senator DC
came interesting. In reply tho former Mr. Harris
said that he thought there was diheronco
between selling stock outright TO individuals
and selling rights to local companies. III
was purely local matter" this sale OF local stocks
to unsuspectng people the strength OF the leea
opinions given by himself and Garland. IL was TO
marked that the witness treated the Rogerses Gingery
and wherever seemed to he conflict between MS
testimony and theirs he careful to qualify his own
bv stating that bis memory might be at fault In
respense to sklfu questions by Mr. Ranney the Witness
testified that he and his associates paid no'hihg to'
their in the PanElectric scheme and that SUD-
sequently when levied and paid tho
Rogerses paid their prorata share as well as the gt
statesmen. and interesting part OF Mr. Harriss
story was his description OF the manner in which he set
himself up of the Pan Electric concern even
before was fairly organized His testimony respect
ing the visits to Goodies office last September was
definite He could remember exactly what took place.
what was said whether he sat dow or not etc. bu 10
save him, he unable TO remember whether ne hau
receyed any adv lnce information the subject which
took him the Department OF Justice In regard TO
many other MATTERS his memory was equally at fault
which makes all tho unfortunate hat ne mas hot
preserved his Pan Electric correspondence and that
Casey Young unable to produce any OF date 80 70
the beginning of the negotiations which leo 10
the beginning OF the Government suit
Senator Harris that he had been friendly with Dr.
Rogers for twenty years After examination OF j.
Harris Rogers electrical apparatus in February 1883
he was impressed with belief that three OF the inven-
tons we're OF utility and that the telephone wSs the
cearest and best he had used Rogers suggested
that General Atkins and the witness should
associate themselves with him in developing the
enterprise He consented upon condition that ne shcuid
name the persons who wero to cOnro the enterprise
The doctor finally agreed twas agreed later to divide
the property n.o tenths to be distributed among the
parties In interest AT tho wtnesss suggestion General
Joseph f. Johnston was mado one Of the parties Then
General Atkins suggested Senator Garland, and Dr.
Rogers Casey Young thus tbs five associates were Sc
lecteJ The witness then repeated briefly the story told
by Mr. Young the fret conference for organization
AMI the visit NewY0rk in March, 1888 He said that
whatever arrangements made prior to the drawing
of the In SewYork verbal or Ia the shape
OF notea and he reserved the notes that might have
passed himself and Dr. Rogerr lie did not re-
member when the charter was obtained but Understood
that parties 10 whatever was necessary IN ala
OF the electrician percng he useful instrImen nts The
object not TO enter INTO stock Job5ng out I" olng
before the people instruments would prove use
full In every instance where 1t hai 0een proposed 10
issue stock witness had resisted It with his vote aud he
the hands of the secretary and treasurer There were
papers Of some Kind outstanding showing the amount
stock to which certain persons would be emitted Inc
witness had ever authorized the printing Of tho stock
book There had ever been meeting OF the board Oh
directors in the Senate Judiciary Committee room. al
though the with Rogers and Johnston had some
times called upon Senator Garland that room 10 get
his opinion points OF law. A. to the Postal Telegraph
Company referred by Dr. Rogers the witness did not
remember he had ever considered any proposition
10 connect himself with that company.
In answer to Mr.. Boyle the witness said that Mr.
Garlands had been mentioned In connection
with tho enterprise before the Suggestion OF HI, nano
by General Atkins As he had stated Tho witness saw
Mr. Garland after the meeting and told him OF the enter
prise cheerully agreed TO associate himself WITH
the others. He corroboraed Mr. Youngs testimony as
TO sales OF senator Vest George Howard and
the two ladies' negotiated the sales and explained
OF p@rsons the exact sus OF the co mpaEys
affairs had suggested that Governor Brown be put
VI the parties IN interest TO the extent o
SlOO.O 900 and Governor Brown had been admitted on
exactly the same terms tho other associates lie
had never heard OF certificate OF
incorporation OF the PanEectric Company issued
by the Secretary OF State OF NeW-1Ork. lie
remembered receiving Tho letter OF May "a 1882 re,
suit against the Bell Company. Probably he hsd con;
signed the letter TO the waste basket certainty ne had
no importance to It, He had not been consulted In any
way about slit against the Bell Company ana the SUB
iect mad n. YER been between himself and the
Attorney General before this newspaper parnle OF the
versaton had been about the newspapers and not the
suit. ., ,.. ,. altman. ,d rar
done anything further ths bringing OF the Govern
ment suit Senator Harris replied emphatcaily mat he
the telegraph request of Colonel CAN'T to Inquire
whether he had received the papsr' IN in the the
first visit told that the papers had not arrived
and on the second visit he was od tast tue papers aaa
witnesses only knowledge OF tue AtorneyGenerars In
paper notices Upto this hour the witness had never
looked at paper connected with the suit ..,.-
The Chairman-Senator, was there ever any suggestion
thar company should profit In any way by the Off
cis position OF of the persons who might be on
Senator Harris temphatically)-I answer no; and
further that If II had been ntImatod to me that
my Official action Senator was 10 be invoked direct
ly indirectly 1t wond have ended forever all negota'
Mr. RaDney questioned witness regarding the New
York and Senator Harris said that he had not
paid any money DR.. Rogers or his SON. Tho assess
to De imposed Oh every member OF the COM
pany for the mutual benefit.
patents worth 50 and Senator Harris replied
na he had '. idea Of the value S inc S g but
capital whatever IL might be.
Mr.. Ranney inquired II he would be party 70 COM
pany with an ostonsbe capital OF s5O000O0 based
the patents unless he believed the patents to DO worth
senator Harris replied that he would been per-
fectly indifferent to the amount OF capital stock that
upon But in every transaction with other people with
which he had ever had anything to do ho had entered
the fullest explanation of the exact status OF the
companyits capital stock and what was DasAd upon,
with other facts that he deemed material lie had
nothing OF the reservation OF tenth interest In
the company for A. Hewtt Did not know the amount
capital stock OF the local companies and did not feel
enough interest Ia the subject to ascertain.
Mr. Ranney turned to the subject OF the negotiations
with the Bell Company and the witness said that lie had
had correspondence IL the winter OF 1888 with Mr.
Vale. OF the Bell Company. The wi,ness wrote Vae
that the Rogers transmter was superior instrument
after further correspondence the successful
test took place Boston Then another pOndenoe
took place, resulting III statement by Vale that fsom
what understood to be the Witness yauaoD OF the
Instruments 1t not probable that they could agree
upon terms.
AT this point committee adjourned until o'clock
tomorrow
EXPOSING MR. BLACKS FALSE CHARGES.
HIS GRoUSDLRSs IMPLICATIONS IN THE CASE OF