Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-01-15
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY Is.
AS THE validity of Bells original tele-
phone patent will now, by virtue of the de-

AS THE validity OF bellS OTlSinal leic-
phone patent will now, by virtue of the de-
cision of Secretary Lamar, become the sub
ject of prompt and thorough judicial inves
tigation, beginning with suit of the United
States Government brought in SOME one OF
Its many circuit courts, it becomes matter
of no little Importance that this suit, in the
language of Secretary Lamar, should be
instituted at such point and in such court as
will best subserve the purposes OF public
convenience and full enquiry" The federal
court of Tennessee to which the then acting
Attorney General Goode gave several months
ago-it may be little prematurely-his au-
thority for the proceeding in question, will
not, tits presumed, in view of the significant
suggestiveness of the above.quoted words of
the ruling authority in this matter, be the
second time selected by him for the pur-
poses of this great controversy. The plain
est mind must perceive on the instant of
reading the Secretary's unmistakable express
sions that centrality of location, easy IA
cilities Of travel for the parties litigant,
their witnesses and the general public, near
ness in respect of distance both to the de-
partmental records at Washington and the
large array of skilled and scientific persons
whose testimony will likely be needed in
the elucidation of the case, are the consider
atoms which in the judgment Of Secretary
Lamar should determine the place Of this
coming momentous trial. All things con-
sidered, the federal court of this district,
sitting in this city, is the one best fitted to
the requirements laid down by the able
Secretary. A number of the judges in the
Eastern and Middle States have already
pronounced opinions committing them to
the validity of the Bell patent. But the
Virginia courts are not only not committed,
but in the nature of things are entire strang-
ers to every interest and influence growing
out of the bias of preconceiyed views or the
pressure of sentiment resulting from the large
holdings of stock by spectators or other
interested parties in close personal relations
to the judges. The personnel OF our federal
court, too, as we'll as the convenience of the
place, invites the selection of Alexandria.
II was here that Judge Hughes, few years
azo, gave his memorable decision in the
great suit of the Lees and theUnited States,
involving the title to Arlington. A decision
In which against the weight of authority as
was supposed at the time, be struck the
Supreme Court full in the middle, dividing
eight Judges into two even bodies, and final
" securing the necessary five after the az
pointment of the ninth man, Jugde Batch
ford, of New York, and a protracted and
powerful rearguing OF the cause. Judge
Bond ranks high with some ofthe bench and
bar, for independence and boldness ofjudicial
action. he would, of course, be present at
the trial of so weighty case. But, most
important of all, Chief Justice Waite would
in all probability preside, as this is one OF
the courts to which he is assigned, and his
decision would go far towards shttling the
matter, which will, of course, naturally fnd
its way to the Supreme Court of the United
States. There is no other court where
economy, convenience and an authoritative
decision can be as well combined az at
Alexandria.