Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-27
.pAN TELEPHONE STOCK.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE'S SUB
STTTUTE ADOPTED.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.--In the House
to-day Mr. Morrison, from the Committee
on Rules, reported substitute for the
I Hanback, and Pulitzer resolutions direct
+ ing an inquiry into the Pan Electric tele-
phone matter. The substitute is as fol-
lows:
Resoleed, That a select committee consist
ing Of nine members OF this house be appoint
ed. ana when so appointed the committee Is
hereby directed. at as early day as possible
10 make inquiry into any expenditure on tue
part Of the government incurred relative to
ihe rights OF the Bell and Pan Electric Tele-
phone Compares to priority OF patents, SAID
inquiry TO include all organizations and
companies that have sprung out Of
the Pan Electric Telephone Company or
for any other purpose, and also to make ful
inquiry into the Issuance OF the stock known
as the Pan Electric Telephone stock, or any
stock OF any other com mpany, companies, or
organizations springing out of the Pan Elec-
trio Telephone Company 10 any person or
persons connected with either the Legisla-
tive. Judicial, or Executive Departments of
3 the government OF she United States; to whom,
when. where. and for what consideration In
money Or Influence said stock was delivered;
also, rs to what opinions. decisions. and orders
have been made by any officers connected with
the government, and by whom, and all the
i circumstances connected Herewith and aris-
ing therefrom; and said committee is further
authorized and directed to ascertain
and report whether either of the tele-
phone CON panies herein mentioned or their
officers, agents, and employees nave IN any
manner improperly influenced, or attempted
to influence, officials OF Official action by or
through the public press; and II so, when, by
whom, and in what manner such influence
was exerted. or attempted to be exerted, and
what newspaper or newspapers were so used,
attempted to be used, by them. Said COM
mittee shall have the right to send for per-
sons and papers, TO administer Oaths, TO sit
during the session of the House, TO employ
stenographer, aud incur any and all such nee
essary and reasonable expenses rs may be re-
quired for the purpose of conducting said
Investigation not to exceed the sum of $1,000,
which shall be paid out of the contingent
fund OF the House upon proper vouchers Ger
titled by the Chairman and one other member
Of the committee, and may report at any
time.
THE REPORT UNANIMOUS.
In reporting his substitute, Mr.. Morri-
son stated that the report was the unani-
nous report of the Committee on Rules,
but that he did not think the matter
should be adopted at the present time.
Mr.. Gibson, of West Virginia, said. sit
is with extreme reluctance that l oppose
the resolution coming from the Committee
On Rules, but feel that l have a duty TO
perform to nv constituents and the cOuu-
try as we'll as the Committee on Rules
have, and am unwilling to sit here and
see this body drifting into an investiga-
'ion that brings no respect to it or conf
human being.
AN ATTACK ON PULITZER.
There has never yet been made a charge
against ang person occupying an official
position such as would justify trial OF
any man in this country, but yet men,
Der OF this House, refer to the gentle
man from New York Mr.. Pulitzer him
z self an editor of paper, did not see fit in
bis official capacity to attack these gen.
tlemen in an open, honest and manly way
which representative should have done,
= but undertook to retreat behind the ire
sponsible columns OF his newspaper for
the purpose OF creating a scandal, for
what motives l am not here to state.
Mr.. Holman--l call the gentleman's at
tention to the fact that the gentleman
from New York is not present.
HONEST MEN ASSAILED.
Mr.. Gibson-The gentleman is not pres
Rnt. l cannot help that. He ought to be
here. ! remember that gentlemen who
nave lived long life Of good reputation,
and by their integrity and capacity have
won the confidence OF the country, have
been arraigned by an Irresponsible news
Ebaper, and the Democratic majority is
Crushing before the hue and cry to do that
(which must only do gentlemen injustice.
There is not q charge embraced in these
#resolutions. They do not charge that
They do not charge that the Attorney
6eneral has sgiven corrupt decision;
THAT the Secretary OF the Interior has
given corrupt decision; that dollar
mas been Illegally expended, On the con-
irary, they refrain with wonderful una
nlmity from making any such charge.
REFERRED TO TIE COURTS.
s. All that has been done in the telephone
matter has been to refer it TO the courts.
Let the courts decide whether 1t has been
nroperly referred or not. II it has been
pr0perly referred what has Congress to do
with the question Of referenceg They say
Rtntlemen some time or other got stock.
4 stood on the floor of this House and
beard a member boast that he held huh
dfeds of thousands of dollars Of railroad
sock, and would combine with the rail-
roads 10 clog up tue courts with business,
hut no outcry was raised against 1t. |
see all around me men who hold railroad
etock, aud national bank stock, voting
With stock in their pockets, and no outcry
ie made against IT. The distinguished
Rentleman from New York Mr. Hewitt,
himself large manufacturer, is at work
and has been at work for years TO revise
the tariff so his manufactures NAV be
more profitable. Laughter. There is the
gentleman from South Carolina on the
Committee on Coinage who Is a member
OF national bank.
Mr.. Brown want TO know whether
they paid for their stock.
NOT THE ISSUE.
DIR. Gibson--lt matters not whether
thew paid for IL or got IL gratultously the
Question is have they acted dishonesty?
II Is mere bagginR OF the question IN a
childish manner TO talk OF whether they
pald for the stock. How many members
own national bank stock? How many
own railroad stockg II am not misin-
f0rned the late President Of the Senate
wns himself the counsel for one Of these
toIephone companies, who Cried out
afalnstit, II am correctly informed the
present President OF the senate is a ma
lIonal bank stock holder.
Dir. CutCheon, OF Miohlgan-Was IL
presented TO him9
ANSWERING BY INTEREoGAToRTEs.
Nr. Gibson--Was IL presented? Does
thar make traudl IL Is not the manner
10 which the stock has been come by, but
whether action was Influenced by the
stock. Has Congress got nothing else 10
do but raise hue and cry against honor
able gentlemen against whose records you
can say nothlngp What will the commit
TIE report? win they report that the
gentlemen got stock without paying any
thing for it2 Was that wrongi Who is
going 20 say II was wrongf l am not
N uha s,sf gFN a.. III