Savannah morning news., 1886-06-30
PAN ELECTRIC REPORTS.
THREE DISTINCT PAPERS TO
RE SUBMITTED.


Majority to Bring Them Before the
HOuse-Repnbiiosns, of Course, Make
Harm Out of Every Action of the At
tOrney General.
N WASHINGTON, June 29.-Three docu-
[4ments in the nature OF reports will be pre-
/ ksented to the House by the Pan Electric
NTelephone Committee, but as neither viii
! Wbe signed by a majority OF the committee,
/ Schnicslly speaking, there will be no "'re-
\ q reii before the House for action. The
Il + f'5ft Drawn up by the chairman will be
- Msigned by himself and Messrs. Oates,
Eden and Hall, all Democrats. Mr.. Ran
ney has secured the signatures Of Messrs.
Miilard, Hanback, and Moffatt, all Repub-
lieans, to his report, while MIR. Hale,
Democrat has presented his views in an
individual report. Chairman Boyle's re-
III port will not be made public before Thurs
III day.
The report signed by the Republican
members was given cut to-day. IL is
: very long document, and treated the evil
dence in great detail, after which it said:
Taking all these things together, it does not
admit of doubt that the Solicitor General
1 acting as Attorney General, was, by some
1 means. led tOgrant this application without
kthe usual reference or inquiry, without any
Pretence of competent examination, with un-
Rxampled speed. and in violation of the prac-
lice OF the department. In an ordinary case
luch action would be neld to be positive proof
pr fraud-at least, proof of gross negligence,
(Which. in person OF hls position, isequlva-
lent to fraud. There is no reason why that
kule should not be applied here.
CHARGES OF CORRUPTION.
1t cannot be beforgotten that this request,
- Iranted in 30 extraordinary and 50 unbecom-
bg manner, was a request IN which the head
II the Department of Justice and Senator
the United States, who came In person to
pc Solicitor General to inquire about 1t, ana
kemingly urged speed, and other govern
kent officials for two years had. and hat ne
buously had, a vast pecuniary interest. Upon
,41ese facts, no one OF which can be disputed,
p Jury would hesitate. 1t Is enough:
1 kweVer, to say that it cannot be tolerate
A. lat the businessoi the government can be SO
- lnducted. II cannot escape observation that
: kss11 1nator Harris and Casey Young acted Just
ms Mmen would act if already assured of what
! II 81 being asked, and that the conduct of the
~ Wicitor General is most easily accounted
Fl a. on the assumption that he understood the
III Mtter in advance and had predetermined
al u his course Of action.
N GARLAND ATTAKCED.
MAMhe report then recurs to the subject of
y nv opinion furnished by the Attorney
WBtneral. 1t charges that it was written
with view to deceive the people in the
M ARthwest, and says thatit was a shrewd
& vtw that the people 50 believed, but ne,
th Attorney General, did not. The
~ ri art goes on:
49, tbest that can be said of him is that he
# 4 tor nothing If he was not active in it
II, he suffered his name and influence to
n se.by others. He wac then only Sena-
tae United states. He was next placed
~. lead Of the Department Of Justice. A
WMWn sFsm whom he had received half mil
@l o Glars, worth Of stock wanted now TO
#&Ow the name of that department and get
W MindOrsments; then an ally asked for it;
H the Official representative of his company
~ 81 for It.
FINDING COURSE.
##me men would easily have found course
3 NJ themselves. He took one also, but his
8&N1 ates who knew him and speculateG on
MNVeharacter we're certain that they would
81 UsFhat they wanted ana they did. His in
n Eence told him that there we're two things
~ loud not permit, and then his vacilatBg
k bet him argue that he might stand aside
~ lsee his Office do them for has benefit. He
HVhot the strength to deny what his associ-
III - asked 10 return the stock and cease
~ an associate. lie had not the bOldness
EJb personally what they thought was fair
t tt Fec Ior the stock he kept. But il done
B.Ass department, as such a thing never as
nc before.
IA W WfAIGREssIvENEss OF THE EVIDENCE.
Il N2fl evidence is more aggressive. however,
Ani Inc facts. according to the ordinary rules
gf pf ktg, are direct and positive, and, unless
tc frolled, are conclusive proof that all ex
Z ph1e government action, AT least, was affect
- Vi by the influence of those interests or
q 4n0w ledge OF them.
Of the results Of the hearing before the
Secretary of the Interior, the report
holds that the Secretary's conclusion was
al &unWise, and that it did not justify the
FACTION Of the Department of Justice. He
4 Mnight have awaited tue conclusion Of the
New Orleans suit, and not have taken the
Extraordinary step he did. He was, how
III aver, but friendly adviser to tue Depart
Il Frhent Of Justice, and the responsibility
4 rests upon the head OF that department.
lWhe repOrt continues:
lXIt il Flain that the views OF the Secretary
8ere his excuse and not bis reliance. IL is
!, I'D that there was no sufficient reason for
4 Infringing the suits, as the Bell patents had
va HeenqnT Tariabiy sustained and that the ques-
i Nions Presented 10 the Executive Department
Iefeelyed inadequate confederation.
~ PAN ELECTRIC's APPLICATION.
m The Pan Electric Company was pHshing lts
tppilculion Tor a suit for It's own interest.
The National Improved Company felt thai lt
tnust have the aId OF the Pan Electric. All
fhe parties knew that the ira n5action was not
pre winch would bear public inspection, and
Il n they did ther best not to have u und0ne,
Hut 70 keep it unknown. The head OF the
I Impairment OF Justice, to whom had been
zen $500 600 in stock knew that suit was to
e sought and used solely for the private
II Hnehts Of his company and its allies, and not
/ fbr the public good. lt is held that the gov
Gnmcnt suit was a result ana achievement OF
combination not inapprOpriately called n
Wnspra;y formed BY Casey Young, Secrc-
MI Treasurer aud counsel OF the Pan ELec-
VIC Telephone Company, and acting in it's
hfhah Senator Harris co operating with
II Inn, and Watson Van Benthuysen, Presi-
N dfnt ana acting for the National Improved
NJ Afeph1ne Company OF New Orleans, La.
OPERATING IN DISGUISE.
~ Ahey proceeded and operated to that end in
hHfpise and holding all the false cOlOrs as
hAHH1ed for The purpose Of binding and deceiv-
6ynk ihe general pnbic only. The suit was
lifeught and obtained Ostensibly Ia the interests
II 4otthe public. but IN truth and In fact for the
II f'pprnose Olly of advancing exclusively their
eNh private ends. There Is good REASON to
Il g1iete, and Wo feel constrained TO ind, that
inpur Judgment the proceedings would not
hTe been asked or allowed as they we're had
LSfot been Tor the relations Of the Pan Electric
11ephone Company with government officials
Att i0f w large interest therein, especially
ttin by hehtHdof he Department OF JutLcc.
PLEA or THE OFFICIALS.
no plea isthat the parties concerned did
~. tlink they we're doing wrong. BuI the
eYfefnunt nt. which oNpccta 70 be respected,
eAnuoi permits such things 10 be- done, such
intutbeot ~ be- sought for Or euch personal
inltie,a % exist and avail. ~ ls not enough
tNt thpse crssnally interested who ought b.
Itf' pltfeuted 10 SAY that thcy did nothing
Il ~ meant 10 DO nothing
II the report estimates the expense OF the
II Nit y tri' 4 0n IT, merit. az not less than
W1yYD. Ia conclusion, the report lnds
NAt mono Oi tha telephone companies
NANN tNNflNAH any lmnFnHfr luNurugn