Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-20
WASHINGTON NEWS.
The Telephone Investigation COntin.
ued Friday.

WASHINGTON, March 10.
In the telephone investigation today DR..
Rogers retracted his testimony of yesterday
so as to say that Looney had paid tor his Pan
Electric interest with Indus mining stock,
that afterward proved to be worthless. Re-
ferring to his transfers of stock DR.. Rogers
added to the names he had already stated,
those of Gen. Frank Armstrong of Indiana,
in office at that time; Gen. Thos. Crittenden,
Gen. A. B. Usher, now of the Indian office
Col Boudlnot, r C. Wintersworth. A. ID.
Cook, and THE Republic" and "Chronicle, "
Washington newspapers. The witness sold
the stock to the newspaper, and gave it for
advertising. Most of the stock WAS for the
Rogers Telephone and Telegraph company,
The witness said that possibly he had given
American Postal stock to Messrs. Nancy and
Manning. The witness had sent one of the
pamphlets to Congressman Cox, expecting
that Cox would do as Senator Harris had
rise in Congress and state that he was pecu-
niarly interested. The witness would have
given Mr. Cox more than he had offered, be-
cause he was an illustrious man. He did
not think a million of stock would seduce
Mr.. Cox. He saw no improperly in giving
stock to members. "Congressmen do not
take vows of chastity, poverty and obed-
ience," said the witness. 81 went upon the
principle" he added.
J. Harris Rogers was then recalled
Oates inquired if witness was correctly
reported in an interview published in the
New York Tribune of March 10Th.
Witness said the interview was correct.
Oates-Is it set out there that Col. Oates
was attorney for Senator Harms and Col.
Young?
Witness-It was sir; Hine told me tha,
Col
for Col. Young and Senator Harris. He is a
newspaper man and said he had so reported il
in the press. | believed it and thought il
highly probable. had heard before this. a,
Bladensbury, that you were backing Col
Young in everything. paid little attention
to it then, but when Hine told me and you
acted SO austerely your subsequent action led
me to believe there was great truth in wha,
he said.
Oates-What was your reason?
Witness-Transactions in the committee
room. After you had read 20 or % letters
you turned letter and said to Hanback,
Here is letter No. 2l5 away up there. Dc
you feel like reading this stuff" Hanback,
said, "No, he didn't" Then you said, "Here
is Rogers her; he looks like an intelligent
man. My clerk can go over them with
Rogers. They can look it over and sift i,
out, relevant from irrelevant letters, and we
can look over the relevant letters afterwards
prolonged examination occurred on thi:
subject, the witness maintaining that this wa.
the exact language used by Col Oates and
he (witness) had refused to go over the let
ters as suggested, because he considered il
an improper thing to do. He was the inven
tor and was asked by Oates, as member OF
the subcommittee, having the matter iT
charge, to pass on the relevancy of the letter
pertaining to his own case. 1t was a delicate
thing to do and the witness refused to do it
The witness further asserted that Col Oates
had met his objections by stating that it wa.
"simplv between ourselves" and that the
about it, Witness had told Col. Oates thai
he didn't propose to DO anything that was moi
open and above broad.
In the examination Oates endeavored tC
break the testimony, but the latter MAN
tanned his position stoutly.
Being still further pressed the witness said
81 swear most positively that you and Han
back asked me to go over the letters and as
sort the relevant from the irrelevant"
The witness-I told you that they were al
ready arranged and that there was no use ir
my going over them.
Casey Young was called and sworn. HI
was asked to state all the facts within hi:
knowledge about the organization of the com
pany. He said in reply that the statement,
made by Dr. Rogers and his son were in
main correct. He has known DR.. Rogers and
his family intimately for over 80 years, and
when he came to Congress in 1874, be had
taken some interest in having his son, whom
he regarded as man of genius, appointed
electrician of the House When he was re-
elected in 1882 he saw DR.. Rogers and that
gentleman called his attention to the inven-
tions of which his son had nader He said
that Senator Harris, Gen. Johnston and MIR
Atkins were at Mr.. Rogers house, examining
the instruments and he thought that the in.
struments were very superior. In different
conversations which occurred subsequently,,
proposition for number of friends to join
in developing the inventions. began to take
form. Some time in March it was agreed
that there should be meeting in New York
The meeting resulted in drawing up an agree
ment. He didn't know any definite term'