The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-27
FORTY-ATNTH CONGRESS-.
TBR PAN ELECTRIC DISCUSSED
in THE HOUSE.
Senator Alllson's Speech on the
Education Bill-Ihe Chi
hese Question.

-Mr. MorrisOn li'I iIoul the YUM
mittee on Rules, reported subttituts
for the Hanback, aud PulitIer resolu-
lions. dirett an inquiry into the
Pan Electric Telephone matter. Toe
auhstitute is as follows: Resolved,
that a select committee, consisting OF
nine members OF the House, be APP
pointed, and when 30 appointed
the committee Is hereby directed,
a as early q day as possible, to
make inquiry into any expenditure on
the part Of the government incurred
relative to the rights Of the Bell and
Pau.Electric Telephone Companies to
the priority OF patents, said inquiry to
include organizations and companies
that have sprung out al the Pan-Elec-
trio Telephone Company or for any
other purpose, and aleo 10 make full
inquiry into the issuance OF stock
known AZ the Pan-ElectTic telephone
stock, OF any other companies or or
carnations springing out OF the Pan.
Electric Telephone Company, TO any
person or persons cOnnectedwith either
the legislative, Judicial or executive
do partmeBt al the government OF the
United States 10 whom, where, when
and for what consideration in money
on influence said stock was delivered,
also az 10 what opinions, decisions and
orders have been made by any officers
connected with the governu G ut and by
whom, and all the circumstances
connected Herewith or arising there
from; and the said committee Is further
AUTHORISED and directed to ascertain
and Eepert whether either oil the tele-
phone companies herein mentioned,
or their officers, agents and employees
have In any manner improperly inhu
enoed or attempted 10 influence Off
g,ials or official action by or through
the public press, and II so, when, by
whom, and In what manner such in
fluence was exerted or attempted to
be exefted, and what newspaper or
newspapers were so used or attempted
20 be used by them. The said COM
mtltee shall have the right 10 send for
persoas and papers, to administer
oaths, to sit during the session Of the
House, TO employ a stenographer and
incur any and all such niece gary and
reasonable expense 40 may be re-
CURED for the purpose oil conducting
the eaid Investigation, not TO exceed
tho gum OF 81 900, which shall be paid
ont OF the contingent fund OF the
House, on proper vouchers certified
by the chairman aud one other mem
Der Of the committee, and may report
at any time.
Mr.. Holman lind. Il call the gem
tieman's attention 10 the fact thai the
gentleman from New York Is not pres
emit.
MT. 9ibeon-The gentleman is not
present. cannot help that. He ought
10 be here. / remember that gentle
men who have lived long life of rood
reputation by their integrity and ca
paCity and won the confidence OF the
country, have been arraigned by an
irresponsb bic newspaper and the Demo
cratic majority Is rushing before the
hue aud cry to do that which must
only do the gentlemen injustice. Let
the courts decide the matte. What has
Congress 10 do with It They say that
the Attorney General some time or
other got stock. l stood ON the floor
oil this House and heard a member
boast that he held hundreds OF thou
sands OF dollars OF railhold sto3k, and
would combine with railroads to clog
mp the courts with business, but no
cutlery was made against II. see all
around me men who hold railroad
stock and national bank stock voting
with the stock in their pockets, and
no cutlery is made against ii. The dis
tipguished gentleman from New York
(Mr. Hewitt), himself large manu-.
tactuter, Ia at work and has been at
work for years, to raise the tariff 50
that his manufactures may be more
profitable. Laughter There Is agen-
ileman ilom South Carolina on the
Committee on Coinage who is mem
her Of a national bank,
Mr. Browne Ind Il want to know
whether they paid for the stock.
Mr.. Gibson-It matters not whether
they paid i)r It or got II gratuitously
the question is, have they acted dis.
honestly II is a mere begging OF the
question in a childish manner TO talk
OF whether they paid for the stock,
How many members own national
bank stock How many railroad
stock? II / am not misinformed, a
late President CT the Senate was hi "a
sell a counsel Tor telephone com
panies. Who cried out against it II ]
am correctly informed the present
President Of the Senate is national
hank stakeholder
Mr.. Outcheon Mich.l; Was il pre-
eented n himP
Mr.. Glbtou-Was Il prevented !
Does that make the fraud? 1t is no
the manner in which the stock wal
come by, but whether action was in
fiuenced by the stock. / am no
standing rs the champion of this ad
riinstration or OF these men. While
/ acknowledge the honesty aud clean
illness oi the administration as equa
TO that Of any we have ever had,
have very little regard for It's politics
Laughter and applause.
Mr.. Gibson continued n. grea
length in defense Of the Attorney
General.
Mr. Rogers ARK welcomed tn,
resolution aud hoped the inyestiga
ton would be made thorough anC
searching.
Mr.. BTeckinridge Ark, said he wa
proud b call the Attorney.G Genera
his personal friend. He defended hi
course; declared that his skirts wer
perfe5t clear Of any wrong doinG
and hoped the whole case would b
investigated.
Mr. Reed Me IL appreciate tn
natural feeling Of solemniiy which ha
isllen on the democratic party at th
present time. To be stopped In tn
midst OF a career { great and well &C
miuistered purity; to be stopped !
tie midst career which had for il
motto the turning out Cf rascalS, to b
obliged { , stop aud consider tue que
ton whether, by some accident, il
Zeal of tuning out they had net 81
10, is, Of course, painful, aud l do nc
Intend 90 Dc tract 4 ON the solemnity I
the occasion by discussing premi
tlIely.
Mr.. Morrifoa Ill. -As a friend
tne officer supposed 10 be most aztec
a.. il anybody is 10 be affected by thi
Il -