The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-04-08
PAN-ELECTRIC.
senator Harris Relates His Con
mectIOn with the Matter.


Harris, Of Tennessee, related his con-
nection with the Pan-Eleetric compa-
ny to the special committee on the
investigating subject to-day. He
stated that he was first approached in
regard to entering the company by
DR., Rogers, in the winter of 1888, prob
ably in February. Some correspond
encs passed between the two Rogers
and himself, and he shortly called at
their laboratory and examined the
telephone, telegraph and electric
light inventions. Rogers owned to
being satisfied that they were valua-
BILE. He said II am willing to go in
and help develop these inventions,
but l will do SO on one condition only
and that condition ] feel will appear
very unreasonable to you. 1t is that
| shall have the right to name the
persons who are to control the busi-
ness of the company.
DR.. Rogers said that the condition
was very unreasonable and that he
could not consent to it. / repeated
that it was an unreasonable demand,
but that upon no other conditions
would have anything to do with the
business. The next day, or afew days
afterwards, i received note from DR..
Rogers, sayingthat he and hisson had
consented to permit me to name the
controlling persons, and that they had
further concluded that I might name
the terms. I replied that I would
name the cOntrollingmen, but the
terms upon which they should enter
with the company must be fixed by
negotiation. Mr.. Atkins, now COM
missioner Of Indian affairs, was to be
one, myself another, and / was to name
the three others, according to the sug-
geskon of Mr.. Rogers. The stock was
to be divided into 100 shares. These
FIVE men were to hold ft,s-tenths, Mr.
Rogers four-tenths was to be held IN
obeyance by the company. Each
man was to have one-tenth of the
stock issued at the meeting. Mr.. At
kins, Rogers and myself named Gen
JOS. E. Johnston as one of the three
men to come into the company, ano
he was accepted and sent down as
member Of the company to be formed
Then Mr., Atkins suggested Senator
Garland, and he was accepted. DIR
Rogers suggested Col. Casey Young
He also was accepted. In this way
the five men were selected.
Then Mr.. Harris entered into de
tailed account Of the meeting, the com
pany's correspondence and the ad
vances made in pushing the enter
prise, which did not materially dife
from the statements made by the pre-
ceding witnesses. Senator Harri
said he had received a letter from Dl
Rogers requesting him to urge the AT
torney General to bring suit to annu
the Bell telephone patents, but tina
he did not mention the matter to tn
Attorney General, nor did he answe
the letter. He never attended an
conference, nor was he consulted abou
| the suits by the government agains
the Bell patent. The subject Of tn
suit to test Bells patents was neve
spoken OF between hinself and tn
attorney general, until theuecent new
paper publication, when he went t
| Mr.. Garland and they talked over tn
publications. He went TO the Depar
ment of Justice, just before and imm'
diately after he was ordered, and mad
Inquiry Of Solicitor general Goode fc
| information as to whether the papel
in the proposed suit had been recei
cd from the United States district a
torney for the western district Of Tel
nessee.
II Mr.. Boyle inquired whether it hs
been intimated at any time that Il
company was to profit by the .ofiei
position Of any member Of it. "At !
time" replied Senator Harris, wit
apparent feeling, sand will say furt
: er that if such thing hai been su
8 gested, that my influence as sen
; tor was to be used remotely or diret
), ly in the interest Of the P&1-Electl
d company, it would have endec my co
9 nection then aud forever"
!. -
A hollow steel float, eighty Il
! square, anchored in mid.ocean, a
! bearing q sixty-foot light tower, il st
: suggestion OF an English inven t
He would have this known as q h
Dor OF refuge in distress, or place
!, transmission Of ship news by telegrirp
: and as q weather station. The sa,'iI
of cost in cable telegraphing alone
i the use Of relay instruments on ID
!. lightship would, in his opinion,
: sufficient to pay its current expenl'
He undertakes to provide secure d
choraVe, stability. and harmless def