Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-02
PANELECTRIC INFLUENCE
SENATOR HARRIS EXAMINED
ON THE POINT.

No Understanding that the Members Of
the Company Wore 70 Use Their ON
ctal Position in Securing tho Instltu.
ton of Suit by the Government,
WASHINGTON. April Senator Har-
ris' examination was resumed to-day by
the tolephOnlc inyestigation committee.
The witness stated that be had never re-
iercd TO Mr.. Garland in connection with
the government suit from the day he re.
ceired Dr. ROGERS suggestion touching
the government suit. Without having
examined the question at all he did not
believe that with Mr.. Garland at the head
OF the Department OF Justice he would
have taken any action i'm the matter. The
witness was sure he would not il in Mr..
Garland's place, and he had the same
opinion Of Mr.. Garland as of himself. He
had no sympathy with the idea OF pre-.
senting any such question TO the Attorney
General and had had no conversation
with him upon the subject
INDORsING HIS FRIENDS.
Mr. Ranney inquired if the witness had
done ANYTHING TO secure MIR Garland,s
appointment as Attorney General The
witness replied that he had written a
Z.
Garland TO the President as an able and
very eminent lawyer. Mr.. Atkins he mad
known from his hoyhood, and he earnestly
desired his election as Clerk Of the House,
He had also recommended the appoint
/ ment Of Gen. Joseph Il. Johnston TO the
place he now held.
MIR. Millard inquired II the witness dia
not regard it remarkable proceeding for
the solicitor General 10 act in matter OF
such Importance by ordering suit with.
out consulting the Attorney General.
Inc witness replied that be did not, for
he presumed that the Solicitor General
understood his rights, powers and duties
a great deal better than he (the witness)
did.
NOT INQUIsIrWE.
Mr.. Millard inquired ifthe witness had
ever heard OF a similar proceeding, ia
which he responded that he had never
looked lnto the practices Of the Depart-
ment Of Justice.
Mr.. Hale called the witness attention
to the fact that the supplementary agree
ment he supposed be mad signed seemed
to bind all Of the stOckhOi1 1ers-incIudiug
Mr.. Gatland-tO Use all Of their influence
TO secure tho institution Of a government
suit.
The witnessreplied, with some surprise,
tnat he had no idea that they had com.
mitted themselves in tnat manner. The
officers of the Department Of Justice
would undoubtedly substantiate his tes-
timony as 10 the occurrences at that de.
partment.
THAT PHASE NOT STATED.
Certainly IN telling the stockholders
what he had bound them to do, that phase
Of the contract was not stated, and surely
Mr.. GWland knew nothing Of it, The
agreement that the witness understood to
have been made went only to the extent
Of dividing the expenses IN the litigation
pending.
Nr. Hale inquired whether he disa-
vowed the contract, and would say that
II had not been signed or authorized by
The company. HerepIed that no one had
been authorized to sign. He had no idea
up to this moment that he had ever en-.
tered into an agreement TO use his infiu.
ence in that way.
Mr.. Hale asked If he was sure he had
signed a duplicate of the supplemental
contract. The witness could not be GER
tain. lie bad signed but one contract.
aud that had been brought to him az
Memphis by Mr.. Yong.
This concluded the examination Of Nr.
Harris, ana the committee adjourned
untll noon tomorrow, when Mr.. Atkins
will take the stand.