Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-03
THE BELL MONOPOLY SCHEME.
What is Understood to be the Motive for
Attacks Upon Garland and Lamar.

( what IL Understood to be the Motive Tor
Attacks Upon Garland and Lamar.
Prom the PAjlqdelphia Times.
| WAsHINGToE. Jan. 3I.-A good deal of
Indignation is felt here at the apparently
preconcerted attack upon two members
Of the Cleveland Cabinet by the Bell Tele-
phone ring. The late onslaught in the
newspapers is but rehssh Of the first at
tack. which followed the ordering OF the
suit in the name of the United states T.
test the validity OF the Bell patent.
The fresh attack adds the name OF
secretary Lamar TO the charges.
This because the Secretary OF the In
terror, after q long and exhaustive hear
Ing, approved the course OF solicitor
General GOode in the matter OF the suit.
II j. pointed out that the chief complaint
in the first place was because OF the
neglect on the part OF the Department 81
Justice to observe the usual course OF
procedure in such cases by referring the
Bell case to the department under which
it originally arose. When the President
interfered and suggested that the order
for suit be revoked and the usual refer
ence be made, the Bell combination i'm
mediatelV turned its attention to Secre-
tary Lamar.
There was no peg on which to hang an
accusation against Mr.. Garland, so the
ring began to operate against the lnte-
rior Department to prevent access to the
courts. Millions OF dollars were lnvolV-
| ed end every influence that could be sug-
| gested was brought to bear. The agents
OF this powerful ring did not scruple at
the bribery of officials surrounding Mr..
Lamar. mere cOpyist having been Oh
| tered SIC, 900 for an advance copy OF the
Secretary's opinion. In the meantime
the newspaper war upon the Attorney
General had ceased or fallen of to desul-
tory firing. The Commissioner of Patents
agreed with Secretary Lamar, finally, that
the original action in the case was right.
Then the war opened anew, Mr.. Lamar
and Mr.. GOode coming in for share OF
the general attack. OF course, Mr.. Lamar
never had any Pan Electric stock; but
that stock had really nothing to do with
the Bell case. 1t was used against Mr..
Garland simply because it was at hand
and served as a plausible insinuation.
No such handle was available as TO Mr..
Lamar, and so the ring attacks his hon.
esty point blank.
This is a brief summary of the case to
the present time. But this is not all. 1t
is well known here that the powerful
combination interested in the Bell patent
have boldly gone into the public field to
drive out of the Cabinet both Messrs;;
Garland and Lamar. They say they Will
compel the President to reconstruct his
Cabinet so far as Garland and Lamar are
concerned. This scheme is unques-
tiOnably the biggest contract and
most audacious job ever undertaken by
an unserupulOus monopoly. For weeks
past the agents of the Bell combination
| have haunte1 the departments aud News
paper Row. willing to sPend money Tor
Information and material and to hire as
saults upon. the Attorney General or the
Secretary of the Interior, Thair opera
lions are too bold and plans too Outra-
geOus not to attract attention. They
have enlisted Ia the cause every, stock
holder in the Bell Company and are said
to have paid $4,000 cold cash for single
article in New York paper. urt
Reaching out for political Influences,
they have combined hostile Republicans
and friendly Democrats upon President
Cleveland TO secure the removal of his
Cabinet, if only for the sake of peace.
This gigantic scheme is understood here.
If the President should yield TO the press
ure, or if, weary of the incessant abuse
| and villihcaton, Mr.. Lamar or Mr.. Gar
land should retire from the Cabinet. it is
believed that the Bell people would
gain their point, which is the same
point of the Louisiana Lottery Company
to keep out of court. The hue and cry
about Pan Electric stock Is q mere blind.
That stock never had any value, nor was
that company before Congress for legisla-
tiOn when Garland was a Senator and
acquired the stock charged to him. He
has nothing aud has had nothing to do
with the actionin the Bell case.
An attempt is being made to prevent
the confirmation of Solicitor General
GoOde, but this is only minor part of the
general schemaI 70 epreveht a. trial of the
Bell claim, in cQpTt At al hazards