Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-13
WASHINGTON NEWS.
The Telephone Controversy.

WASHINGTON, March II.
The special committee of the House
charged with the inquiry into the issuance of
Pan Electric telephone stock to government
officers began their investigation today.
Mr. BOYLE, of Pennsylvania, is chairman of
the committee, which is composed of Messrs.
Oates of Alabama, Hale of Missouri, Eden OF
Illinois, Hall of Iowa, Millard of New York,
Ranney of Massachusetts, Hanback, of Kan
sas, Moffatt of Michigan.
Mr.. Pulitzer of the New York World was
the first witness. He said his name had
been connected with publication touching
certain telephone stocks. He assumed entire
responsibility for the publication of those
facts. No one tried to influence him in any
manner whatever. He declard he does not
know human being today who is a stock
holder or interested in the Bell Telephone
Co. He had no motive other than that aris-
ing from feeling that the publication of
these facts was in the nature of news and in
the nature of public service. 1t was only
after he had ascertained from his Washington
correspondent that he had made every effort
to verefy the correctness Of the statements
and only when the hope he had entertained
that certain gentlemen, and particularly one
gentleman, might rid himself of the poses.
sion of stock which, while not involving any
venality at all, did seem to him an act of I'M
proprietv or public indiscretiOn. Only when
that hope had been disappointed and he had
felt assured that matters were correct, only
then had he published those records, as they
might be termed.
In the further course of his testimony Pull
itzer stated that his correspondent had re-
ceived the material for these publications
some time last fall, but they had not been
I'LL cayaral nonfbs flor m ott Tn
the same effect had appeared in republican
newspapers. He had not wished to make the
publication till all the facts had been vere-
fed. The Worlds publications were based
on letters written by men holding public sta
tions, one of whom was the present attorney
general. These letters had come into Pull
tzer's possession through his Washington cor
respondent. His correspondent he said, was
the felicituous receiver of the album $50
called) of DR.. Rogers, in which these letters
were kept. Opportunity had been given the
public men involved in these publications to
reply to them through the columns of the
World, but they had declined to make any
statement.
Caucus of Republican Senators.
At a short caucus of republican senator's
this forenoon Senator Conger nominated and
the caucus approved the heV. Dr- j. r. Dut-
ler, pastor of the Lutheran church in this
city, to be chaplain of the Senate.
Postmasters Appointed.
The postmaster general appointed post
masters today as follows:
At Friendship, Maine, Mrs. Mary d. Nor
ton; at West Appleton, Maine, S. o. Bart
lett
Defrauding Through the Mail.
The postmaster general has issued an or
der prohibiting the delivery of registered mail
or payment of money orders to Marcus E.
Frazier, operating at Des Moines, Ia, as
secretary of the "Globe Mutual and As
sessment Association" an allaged fraudulent
concern.
The DOwntrodden AbOrigines.
As is required by law Secretory Lamar has
lict Of al iSlO