Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-07
JONES SCORNS THE PELF.
TIMES TRADES ON PAN SCAN
DALS PURELY PATRIOTIC.

tereSt Of the People and not Tor 70
IiticaI or Selfish Motives-A Cor
respondent Alleges Friendship
for Garland, but Fear of Being
Beaten Prevented Him from Civ
ing the Attorney General a Fair
Chance.
WASHINGTON, May 5.-George Jones,
OF the New York lines, was the first wit
ness called before the telephone investi-
eating committee to-day. He said ne was
related to the Times as an owner, and
had a small voice in its editorial manage
ment. He declined TO naEe the chief OF
the editorial stat, on the ground that the
committee had no right TO inquire INTO
the internal affairs Of the paper.
POSITION OF THE TINES.
The position taken by the Tunes in the
matter under investigation had been that
inquiry into the manner in which the
Bell patent had been issued and its valid
ity. considering its immense value, prob
aoly the most valuable private monopoly
there was en- earth, and proper eXami-
nation OF the manner, in which the Bell
Company had been given its franchise, was
entirely correct. II it was Legitimate
there certainly could be no objection to
having it examined. Some examination
was also proper into the manner IN which
the patent mad been rushed through the
Patent office, which somebody had char
acterized as "like a streak Of creased
lightning.'
Mr.. Boyle inquired if there had been
any attempt m ide TO influence the course
OF the Times by The Bell Company, or any
person connected with il.
THE ONLY INSTANCE.
The Witness-NOt to my knowledge
directly, but there was an instance.
received letter from John Nj. Forbes, an
old friend of mine, telling me that his son
was largely interested in the Bell Tee-
phOne Company, and requesting me to
write TO the President of the United States
advising his Intervention to prevent the
bringing of a government suit. / cOnsid-
cred it an improper thing to do, and did
not answer the letter. | could not ind 1t
when 1 came, and presume it was thrown
away.
The Chairman-Was there anything
looking to influencing the Times as
public journal.
'sNo, sir" responded the witness.
The Chairman-Can you give US any
Information that would enable us to as
certain if such efforts have been made.
DIcKERsoN's HAND.
The Witness-While l was absent Iun-
derstOod that a lawyer named Dickerson
called to tbs Times Office and offered mat
ter.
Mr., Willard Objected to hearsay evil
hence, and the witness said he had no
personal knowledge of the transaction.
The story had been told him by several
persons in the Office. Chas. r. Miller, one
Of the editors, was one OF those persons.
He believed that Mr.. Van BenJhuysen
had inserted some advertisements in the
paper. The article treating Of the Bell
Company that had appeared in
the issue OF Jan. last had
not been published by any arrangement
Of his, but had been procured by the al
vertising agent. He knew that general
paper had been Issued called "New York
Cify's Growth and the Commercial Devel-
epment of the American Metropolis"
and that 96 different kinds OF business
had articles in 10, all marked with stars,
Indicating plainly that they were paid
advertisements.
HIGH PRICED ADVERTISING.
They were all, (including the Bell arti-
ele) paid for at $500 a column and ST
a line. The Bell Company took 1000
copies OF the issue. Other firms took
more or less copies Of the papers
containing their notices. No money
had been paid TO the Times
in this connection, except for advertise
ments. 1t had paid ont for kilograms,
correspondence, etc., three times the
amount IL had received for the Bell adj
Nertisement. In procuring and present
ing facts in the interest OF the people not
less than $1,000 had been so expended.
The Chairman wished to know the wit
ness reason for surprising that other
New York papers had been in the pay OF
abe Bell Company.
HIS GROUND FOR SUSPICION.
He replied that he could only say that
AFTER Mr.. Dlckerson's visit TO the Times
office a number of long articles contain
ing about the same arguments as had
been included in Mr.. Dickerson's article
had appeared in three or four papers,
which had led to the suspicion that there
was some influence.
The committee could Judge what IL
was which caused the publications. 1t
seemed that the subject had suddenly
become interesting to three or four pa
pers simultaneously.
The Chairman remarked that the Times,
had spoken of the Sun and Tribune as al
lies of the Bell Company, to which the
witness replied that he had covered the
subject in his preceding answer.
sINGLING OUT THE SHEETS.
The Chairman wished TO know what
papers the witness had reference to when
he said ''three or four papers"
He replied that he had reference 10 the
Sun, World, Tribune, and EJeRil10 Bulte-
TN. ne nau nOblceu bndL dlleF the gen.
eral explosion the articles had been con-
lined to very small space.
"After what period was that" inquired
the Chairman.
"After the idea was mooted that they
might have had some personal interest,"
replied the witness.
The witness said that he held no tele-
phone or telegraph stock, and knew OF no
person connected with the Times who
neld any.
Mr.. Ranney asked If the witness under.
stood that Mr.. Forbes had asked him "a
do anything improper, to which be re.
piled: Il think 1t was an improper thing
for me TO write 10 the President Of the
United States on the subject l believed
be bad no more TO do with IL than the En-
beror Of Russo"
NEVER PAID FOR.
Mr.. Ranney wished 90 know how much
Mr.. Van Benthuyssn had paid for his adj
vertisements in the Times.
The witness said he had paid no money
He would not respond 10 the bill. IL had
been returned marked IN. c." He wished
20 say that the whole subject had had nc
interest for him. He had taken no pains
To investigate the Rogers letter and had