The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-20
THE PAN ELECTRIC.
Several Witnesses Before the inves-
tigating Committee Yesterday.

WASHINGTON, March 19-In the telephone
investigation today, DIR. Rogers retracted his
testimony of yesterday, so as to say that
Looney had paid for his Pan Electric interest
with Indus mining stock, that afterward
proved to be worthless. Referring 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. Thomas Crittenden, Gen. A.
B. Upshur, now of the Indian office; Col.
Boudinot R. C. Wintersworth, A. D. Cook,
and the Republic" and Chronicle Wash
ington newspapers. The witness sold the
stock to the news papers. and gave it for ad-
vertising. Most of the stock was of the
Rogers Telephone and Telegraph Company.
The witness said that possibly he had given
American Postal stock to Messrs. Money
and Manning The witness had expressly
contemplated legislation for the American
Postal Company, and 1t was so stated IN the
pamphlets but a bill was never introduced.
The witness had sent one Of the pamphlets
to Congressman Cox, expecting. that Cox
would do as Senator Harris had, rise In Con-
gresS and state that he was pecunlarlly In
terested. The witness would have given
Mr.. Cox more than he had offered, because
he was an illustrious man. He did not
think million of stock would seduce Mf.
Cox. He saw no impropriety in giving stock
tomembers. Congressman do not take VOWS
of chastity, poverty and obedience, said the
witness; went upon that principle, he add
ed.
j. Harris Rogers was then recalled.
Mr.. Oates inquired if the witness was cor
recty reported in the interview published In
the New York Tribune of March 10th, to
which witness said the interview was cor
rect.
Mr.. Oates-Was it setout there that Col;
Oates was att orney for Senator Harris and
Col. Young?
WitnesseIt was, sir. Hine told me Col.
Oates and Mr.. Hanback, were attorneys for
Col. Young and Senator harris. ne Is G
newspaper man, and said he had so reported
it in the press. | believed it, and thought
it was highly probable. had heard before
this, at Bladensbury, that you were backing
Col. Young. in everything. PAD llttle at
and you acted so austerely, your subsequent
action led me to believe there was great
truth in what he said.
Mr.. Oates-What was your reason?
Witness Transactions in the committee
room. After you had read 20 OF 25 letters
you turned letter and said to Mr.. Hanback,
there is a letter numbered 2l5, away up
there; do you feel like reading this stuff p
and Mr.. Hanback, said no, he did not; then
you said, here is Rogers here, he looks like
an intelligent man. my clerk ,co can GO + over
sift it out-the relevant from the Irrelevant
letters-and we can look over the relevant
letters afterwards.
A prolonged examination occurred on this
subject, the witness maintaining that the ex,
act language was used by Col. Oates, and
that he (witness) had refused to go over the
letters as suggested, because he considered it
an improper thing to do. He was the lnyen-
tor, and was asked by Mr.. Oates, as MEM
Der of the subcommittee having the matter
nl.o 10 fhn rntn NJ n
ters pertaining to his own case. 1t was
delicate thing to do, and witness refused to
do it. Witness further asserted that Col.
Oates had met his objections by stating 1t
was simply between ourselves, and that the
committee would not know anything about
it, Witness had then told Col. Oates that
he did not propose to do anything that was
not open and above board.
In the examination, Mr.. Oates endeayored
to break witnesses testimony. but the latter
maintained his position stoutly.
Being still further pressed, witness said:
1 swear most positively that you and Mr.;
Hanback, asked me to go over the letters and
assort the relevant from the irrelevant
told you they were already arranged and
that there was no use in my going over
them
Colonel Casey Young was then called and
sworn. He was asked to state all the facts
within his knowledge about the organization
of the company. He said, in reply, that the
statements made by DR.. Rogers and his son
were in the main correct. He has known
DR.. Rogers and family intimately over 30
years and when he came to Congress in 1874
he had taken some interest in having the
son, whom he regarded as man OF genius,
appointed electrician of the House. When
he was reelected to Congress in 1882 he saw
DIR. Rogers, and that gentleman called his
attention to the inventions which his son
had made. He said Senator Harris and
General Johnston and Mr.. Atkins were at
Mr.. Rogers house examining the lnStru-
ments and he thought the instruments were
very superior. DIR. Rogers had been unfor-
tunate and in different conversations which
occurred subsequently, proposition for a
number of his friends to join in developing
the inventions began to take. form. Some
time in March it was agreed there should be
a meeting in New York and that meeting re-
suited finally in drawing up an agreement:
He did not know that any definite terms had
been agreed upon, but he did know there
was never one word said at that time or any
other time till long afterwards about the
stock being gift or donation.
Witness was then proceeding to refer to
letters received by him from DIR. Rogers, and
to comment upon them with the statement
that there was not letter in his possession
which reflected in any way on Dr. Rogers on or
anybody else, when he was interrupted by
an objection by Mr.. Ranney, who said the
letters ought to be read.
Witness replied that he did not know
whether he had all of the letters or not
With DIR. Rogers consent he would furnish
them all to the committee, but without his
consent he would not.
Mr.. Ranney suggested that as one side OF
the correspondence was in, the other should
be also put in.
Witness said no injustice would be done to
Mr.. Rogers, and that gentleman would be
glad if he told the whole thing.
Mr.. Ranney remarked that the question
was not what DR.. Rogers preferred but what
the committee desired.
Witness-I will surrender no private letter
in my possession without consulting the
writer
DIR. Rogers-G -Gnterjecting) Publish all
my letters if they have not got poetry in
them. Naughter1
The committee then adjourned till tomor-
row to give the witness an opportunity to
arrange and produce the letters.