New-York tribune., 1886-05-05
DANA,S OPINION OF GARLAND.
MS VIEW OF THE PAN-ELECTRIC SCANDAL.
.ur PRESIDENT "A BAD DEMoCRAT"-soMEThING
.eoUr DEAD BEATS

w,s,uxGrON. May 1.-Two Congressman VINO
.ouId scorn TO accept gift stock an Assistant Secre-
,,rv of the Interior with weak memory. q too CON
6dnc Commissioner of Patents, at one time inclined TO
give away original papers belonging 10 his Office and
thus bring a matter to an end and al editor as
frank as he is distp gnishcd who regards Mr. Cleve-
land as "a bad Democrat" and as a President not
endowed with coed sensc, the witnesses III the
Pan Electric investigation to-day. The preliminary
nrocecdnes were long and every body. including Mr..
Dana was bored but the tull of spectators re-
NAMED determined to hear Mr.. Dana. When he was
called there was momentary shutting of tired feet.
lie removed his black skull cap, came forward took
tie oath and settled into the witness chair. His
answers as a rae were ready and precise. but, in a
few cases he hestated and assumed "tred ana
puzzled expression when some question was asked
which apparently, he regarded as strpd The burden
of his examination fell upon Chairman Boyle and
Colonel Oates who determined, evidently, TO
go tor~ him. Mr. Dana spoke of the Psn-Elec.ric
business throughout as scandal, " swindie' anu
as very simila, to the old Credit Mobier" lie de-
cared that Mr. Garland ought to have permitted
b,s Denartment thus TO be used and that he couid
not prevent il he should have resigned.
Colonel OATES asked if this was not rather hlgh
standard TO require and the witness with some leeD9
reoed: 1t is not too high standard for an ohicer
of the American Government" The are umentati7e
duel-ior ii can be described in no other efms-pe-
tween Colonel Oates and the witness was close ana
interesting but the gallant colonel did not come OIL
victor.
In a discussion which sprang up between members
Of the committee Mr. Boyle gave to persons who
heard him the impression that he has made up his
,,ind already in favor of Garland and his associates
Itis expected that Mr. George Jones, of The New
York Times will testify tomorrow.
The examination was resumed by recalling Repre-
sentative Lewis Beach, who read Dr. Rogerss letter
containing the certificate Of Postal telegraph STOCK ana
his reply declining 10 accept stock in corporation that
was seeking legislation. or for which lie had not PAID
He said that he looked upon the letter AS par' ol AL AZ
tempt 10 corrupt him.
Mr. Mudrow First Assistant Secretary OF the Interior
Department produced the letter OF the Attorney Cen
eral accompanying Van Benthuysens original appica-
ton to the Department of Justice 10 have suit brought
against the Bcl Company aid read the endorsements
showing the reasons assigned by Van Benthuysen for It's
withdrawal
MI MONTGOMERY, Commissioner of Patents said as TO
the withdrawal of Van Benthuysen's application that
Van Br called upon him saying that he had de-
cded that there necessity for the proceeding ana
assuring him the withdrawal was IN accordance with
the Attorney Generals wishes or his permission lie
admitted that he had been little careless AMI would
not do such thing now. SIX seven weeks after he
hal. done this stupid thing some one applied TOT
copy of application and he demanded the return OF
the application from Van Brierson ana IL was restored
TO the files.
Representative Iefcvre testified that he returned
Postal telegraph stock by Dr. Rogers and ignored
LIS invitations to attend meetings at his house.
Mr. Charles 4. Dana was then called He real the
following letter from Z. y. Hill, dated Washington No
yenber o:
Fnclose1 send Won full history OF the Pan-Electrc
Telephone Company. which wrote some time ago' hot
with view to publication al the tlne iurnisoi Az
TRIBUNE correspondent with the original information
Every allegation in this article. except the one that
Mr. Garland attended the meeting at 1927 G-St is
upon my own knowledge and not hedrsay II you think
II is an worthy OF publication send me cheque ior
what ii is worth If not you can give II to tne oGf cat
L. y. HILL.
PSI shall not offer it any other paper
To this Mr. Dana said he directed reply to DO made TO
te effect that he had concluded not to publish IL.
In answer to Chairman Boyle. Mr.. Dana said that he
had consented to the Pan-iectric matter bit IN very
mild and gentle III amer the reason why dechheu
10 publish IIills communication, he continued, was
not that dd to be news 1t was quite inter-
esting: a good deal in it was fresh. although gooa
deal may have required confirmation; possibly that
might have been had upon investigation. was not Will
Ing to take any part in attacking the Administration OF
any member of it. and that the reason why llPs
communication was not used" The sun, he siid ha1
publ she'd no original news on the subject
The Chairman-Did you regard bins letter as an at'
tack upon the Administration!
MI Dana Most decidedly. regarded 1t as scandal
most Injurious II true. to the Administration
The Cna me Sii1ce tusu taken ptlt III
the discussion of the matter from tnat standpoint
Mr. Dana-Always; and have endeavored to iniu-
once pulc opnion and to influence the Administration
against any prosecution of the original Pan.Ecctric
scheme Of making the Umited States Executive party
TO patent suits.
Tie Cnairman-Dii you change your NINA III regard
10 attacking the Administration
Nh Daua-I have not; II necessary 10 crlticise
the Adminis;ra,ion-not attack u-in the sense Of
publisn,ns any scandalous reports. l disseminated
very strongly between seeking out ana puplshihs
nile ,ations aud facts of scandaious nature ant H.
furious character which are get - he verhed-Whch
be- true aud commenting upon Iacls "uicu Ie ho'o
Ous and uuqucsuOced
The Chsirnsn-You say that you have endeavored to
influence the Administration against the prosecution Of
q Government suit
Mr. Dapa-Not particularly in the prosecution OF a
nateut suit 1t seems be atal blindness and mex
pressibe folly for the President TO engage the o"e"
States IN "a private controversy.
The Chairman-Tnen your view has been, presume,
that it is improper to the name OF the government
or for the Government TO become party 10 the reYo-
cation OF a patent alleged to have been obtained by
fraud
mr. Dana-rhe question is that is 10 be decided
in the ordinary action of the withou; the Cow
ernment bcing party. reason for the President
being involved in II anu still less when the proceeding
originated with lot of dead beats who shodd not De
tolerated in any respectable parry
The cha rman inquired II he meant the Attorne,-Gen
,ral to wlch the witness responded IN the negative.
The Chairm.n-Do you refer 10 Senator Harris !
Mr. Dana-\O. sir.
The Chairman-ro the RogcrscS
Mr, Dana Oryly)-They are poets
The Cnsrmau-I understand you tosay that The use OF
e GOyernmen name Is not slry-hat INC sa"ic
results be obtained in a suit between parties
Mr. DaDa-It is sure TO be obtained
The Crarmau-Do you know OF any such suit
Mr Daua-I DO not lean 10 difference between
thc revocation Of Bells patent the ground that he
obtained II by fraud and a decision of the supreme
Count the effect that the patent belongs TO Dra"
bangh.
r Dana having alluded TO the Pan Electric Organizers
speculat r Mr. Boyle wi.hei to know why he distih
guished IN that way between the PaaEeoric and the