Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-09
PAN ELECTRIC INQUIRY.
Solicitor General GOOde and MI. StilsOn
Hutchfns Before the Committee To.

Before the telephone investigating commit
tee to-day Solicitor General Goode produced the
original affidavits of Wilbur, Nipher, Van Ben
thusen and other papers upon which he had
based his action In ordering the Memphis suit
Mr.. Ranney inquired IL the witness knew OF
an application coming from Rochester, n. Y,
to have a patent suit brought by the govern
ment, within the lastsix months, that had been
refused by the attorney general.
The witness did not know OF such a case but
promised to examine the records of the depart
ment TO ascertain the facts.
AS MIR. Ranney was questioning the witness
regarding the power of the Department OF JUS
lice TO bring suits TO cancel patents he remarke ed
that ne expected TO argue the case at Columbus,
ana added: III you are there when the Colum-
bus bill is demurred 10, Mr. Ranuey, will take
pleasure i'm arguing the matter with YOU"
Mr.. Stilson Hutchius WAS the next witness
He stated that he was the proprietor OF the
Washington Post, and being questioned by the
Chairman as TO his offer TO buy Senator Vests
transaction. An advertisement had appeared
Ia the columns of his paper Offering TO purchase
Pan-Electric stock, and senator Vest, who was
Ill at the time, had sent witness a note, asking
witness TO come aud see him. Witness had
gone TO the Senate chamber aud saw Senator
Vest In the lobby. The Senator wanted TO in
Qulre whether he knew who was the author Of
she advertisement in his paper. Witness did
not Know and, after inquiry, had tailed
senator Vest that he could not lind out, ana
the Senator said that he had "A certificate for
100 shares Of Pan Electric stock. lie said that
newspapers were making so much clamor
ABOUT IL. that II he could lind a bona fide pur-
chaser for it, he did not know but he would sell
H. In spasn OF generosity. witness supposed,
ne TOLD senator Vest that he would take the
stock at the price the Senator had paid for IL.
The Senator made no conclusive response at
the time, but afterwards wrote TO witness
thanking him for his offer, ana stating that,
considering the clamor TO he unjust, he had
come 10 the conclusion that he would retain
the stock. Witness had the note, if the COM
mlttee desired to embellish the proceedings
with II. Witness never had a share of the
STOCK and knew nothing about its value at the
time he made the proposition.
Mr.. Rauney submitted questions relative to
the identity OF the person who had inserted
the advertisement for the purchase of stock.
Witness knew nothing in regard la the mat
ter. The answers to the advertise ments were
To be addressed to Banker" Witness had
offered to buy Senator Vests stock to relieve
HIM from embarrassinent-as SORT OF technical
embarrassment-trom the newspaper camor.
Witness had not thought that the stock was
worth anything, aud he did not now. lie had
once been offered considerable amount OF
Pan-Eiectric stock To publish Dr. kogers
poetry, but he had declined. lLaughter
Mr.. Oates-Did you think the poetry was as
good as the stock?
The Witness-I thought both were very bad.
Mr.. Ranney-Was the stock sent to you AN
inducement to read the poetry?
The WitnesS-l think his letter stated that the
stock was coming up in the market; that he
published, and that II 1 would publish ii he
would give me $4,000 in Pan-Eiectric stock.
Mr.. Ranney-pid you keep the letter?
from cranis that do not keep them ali.
Mr.. Ranney-Was not an article published I'm
your paper some time in May upon the power of
the Attorney General to order suit?
"Nery uk-.y, replied the witness. 1--WE are
in the habit OF giving the Attorney General ad-
vice from time TO time,