Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-12

Local circulation in Augusta, Rockbridge, Rock
ingham, Alleghany Highland and Bath counties.
Gives general and local news: stories and mis-
eellany; reliable commercial reports.
II. G. TINsLEY.
A. s. MORTON.
FRIDAY MORNING. FEB. IL. 1885.
THE PAN-ELEC1RIC CHARGES.
The fact that good deal of the news
paper publications and very much of the
clamor over the connection of Attorney
General Garland, U. s. Senator Harris of
Tennessee, u. S. Railroad Commissioner
Gen. Jos. E. Johnston, and others, with the
Pan Electric Telephone Company, are in
spired by the agents of the rival Bell Tele-
phone Co., does not lessen the necessity
for the friends of those gentlemen know
ing exactly how far such publications are
founded on fact. and how far such facts
rebound to their credit. Those facts,
which, from careful reading of the mass
Of matter published on both sides of the
question, seem to be easy to be established.
are about as follows: In 1883, J. Harris
Rogers of Tennessee, a telephone inventor,
or at least representing an invention, was
casting about for influential names to COM
pose bis company. He succeeded beyond
the usual good fortune of such ventures,
and secured for the President of his COM
pany, Gen. JOS. E. Johnston who, two
years after. was appointed U. s. Railroad
Commissioner. by President Cleveland;
for the Vice President. John G. Harris,
then 8 member Of the U. s. Senate from
Tennessee; for Secretary and Treasurer.
Casey Young, then member of Congress
for Tennessee. and for Attorney A. H.
Garland, theE U. s. Senator from Arkan-
sas, and who two years after was appoint
ed by President Cleveland, Attorney Gen
eral of the United States. None OF these
gentlemen were noted business men, ex-
perts In the telephone business, or indeed
had any particular fitness for the places
assigned them, save the value to the stock
Of, their prominent names. The 'capital
stock" was fixed at $1,000 600, of which
100000 worth each, was assigned" to
Garland, Johnston and Harris, another
$500, 900 worth to D. q. Atkins, who be-
came Indian Commissioner under Presl-
dent Cleveland, another $500,O0 to ''the
company" and the remaining two mil.
lions held by j. Harris Rogers. At the
date of these transactions, it is proper to
say there could have been no possible
knowledge by any of the parties named
that the year 1885 would usher in Dem
ocratic Administration and in it they
would find themselves elevated to impor-
tant positions. Nevertheless, it is also
proper to say, Senators Garland and Harris
were members of body which legislates
on the patent laws. There can, we con-
ceive, be but one view of the propriety of
their accepting as present million dol
lars of stock in company, whose success
depended almost wholly upon the defeat
of the Bell Telephone Co. Such defeat
could only be accomplished by an expen-
.;ye suit, something rather difficult to be
borne by company which, as matter of
fact. had no capital paid up and to which
the great names were intended co attract
the confidence of the public and there
by, to some extent, supply the want of
capital.
When President Clevelands adm mis-
tratlon came in, the company" or rather
the inventor, applied to the Attorney
General, Garland, to bring suit on the
part of the United States, to break the
patent of the Bell Go. He recognized the
improperly of such an act and refused.
In his absence from Washington. how
ever, Hon. John Goode, the Solicitor Gen
sral of his department. took steps to bring
the suit. He was checked by President
Cleveland and the matter was referred to
the Interior Department, where all such
matters belong. When it got there, Secre-
tary Lamar ordered the suit to be brought.
There is no improperly in Secretary
Lamar's ordering the suit. His Depart
ment is the proper place, and the only
proper place, according to the U. S.
Supreme Court, where such suits can be
brought.
This, perhaps, is about as fair state
ment as can be made of matter which is
being used as political scandal with
view 10 boost up one and break down the
other of the two competing telephone COM
panies. There has been no corruption by
the Attorney General nor any of the
Others named, but it is useless to conceal
the fact that the Democrats OF the South
will he chagrined at the facts. We haa
hoped that all this sort Of thing was over and
done away with-this thing of govern
ment officers and members of Congress
being the possessors of presented" stock
in companies. 1t is species of kite
tying which is not wholesome, and still
less so, if the stock depends for its value
ia any degree on the legislation of Con-
eminent. And while We can have peril ct
confidence in the integrity of the men and
feel indignant at the gross intimations
that are being made against them, some
for business purposes and some for political
effect, we yet cannot help admitting that
they have, somehow, put themselves in
the line of the shafts, however innocentl7.
THE CHAMB Err OF COMMERCE.
The character of the meeting of the
Chamber Of Commerce Thursday night
was very encouraging to those who hope
for a useful and prosperous career for it
IN the future The room was full, and
almost every business man there showed