Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-18
WASHINGTON NEWS.
The Pan Electric Telephone Case.
WASHINGTON, March II.

The Pan Electric Telephone Case.
WASHINGTON, March II.
The special telephone investigating COM
mite Of the House today examined DR.. J.W.
Rogers. He said he had been connected with
| the Pan Electric Co. since i,s foundation.
The formation had been suggested BY L. G..
Hine to the witness and his son in 1881 or
81 He discovered some defect in the title,
and at that time the project was abandoned.
About the lst Of January. 1888, the witness
and his son brought house on A street for
q laboratory, but found it cost great deal of
money to hire skilled electricians and buy
materials. Witness suggested that instead of
using their own slender means thev should
form stock company. They naturally
turned their attention to the subject of the
great masses of men of influence In that
view witness wrote to or called upon Gen.
Atkins, then chairman of the appropriation
committee. Atkins seemed pleased with the
idea. few days later witness saw Senator
Harris, who had already talked with Gen.
Atkins on the subject. They came to wit
ness house with Casey Young. Witness
offered each one something like 100000 of
the stock on basis of S5.000.000. They
had hesitated, at least Senator Harris more
than any other, had hesitated about going
into It, and nothing was done at that meeting
Witness said it occurred to him that Sena-
tor Harris might be apprehensive that there
might be some impropriety in his advancing
the enterprise, and had written to Senator
Harris to inquire whether he entertained any
feeling of that kind He had replied in a
letter very frankly that he did
Witness had later received letter from
Senator Harris, in which he said he could see
no impropriety in taking part in a scientific
enterprise such as had been proposed. At a
subsequent meeting Senator Harris, Gen
Atkins and Casey Young were present. Wit
ness proposed that each take $500, 900 in
stock. They agreed and entered the enter
prise. The contract was drawn up some
time in February, following. Gen. johnson
came to witness with letter from Senator
Harris and was shown the inventions While
there was nothing said about it, it was under-
stood that Gen. Johnson had gone into the
COMPANY; so it was with Senator Garland;
witness looked on him as one of the compa.
ny. During his second visit, Senator Gar
land talked over the possibilities of electric
ity, but witness could not remember anything
was said about the formation of a company
When the witness proposed to give $500, 900
in stock to each gentleman, Senator Harris
said it seemed to be little too generous, but
as they expected to make enough money for
everybody, they would accept the stock
The gentlemen associated with himself in
the company were to pay nothing for their
interest. Witness wished to secure the COOP
Grafton of men of integrity and national rep
utatiOns. Without the names of such men
| the stock could not be sold
Mr.. Boyle asked ii anything said by any
of the gentlemen with reference to the COM
M dorivipu oAvo pto froy ~,
position held by any of them.
| The witness replied never a whisper, never
a breath. The object was to bank on their
names and regulations and on my sons
genius. Witness also offerd 100000 in
stock to Randall, who had replied eourteously
that he knew nothing about the matter and
| intimated that he wanted to hear more. He
made the same offer to Carlisle who replied
in very respectful letter that if there was
any Legislation connected with the affair he
could have nothing to do with it. On the
oath of May the witness sent letter to At
torney General Garland asking him to insti-
tute suit against the Bell company. He
noticed in the papers the fact that Attorney
General Brewster had directed proceedings to
be begun in similar suit involving the
validity of the cotton tie. Prior to that time
nothing had been said by any member of the
Pan Electric company in regard to the suit,
The idea originated with the witness | did
not receive any reply. from Garland.
Chairman-Do you remember Youngs hav-
come to your houre and told you and your
son of the interview with Garland?
Enthusiastically. He said a suit would
now be brought and there were good pros
poets OF success. l asked if Garland had
promised and he said he had
Chairman-How did you come to ask?
Witness-I thought it would have to come
through theepromise of Garland.
Chairman-Did Yonng indicate that he had
had an interview with Garland?
Winess-Yes. When he said Mr.. Garland
had promised said very emphatically, .'if
Mr.. Garland has promised he will do it."
Then Mr.. Young said. "but Mr.. Garland has
said that he would refer the matter to Mr..
Goode." Then, said l, chow about that,
how would Mr.. Goode act? Would he do as
well as Mr.. Garland?" "Oh, yes" said he,
81 believe would rather have Mr.. Goode
than Mr.. Garland. He will be all right u
That is the substance of the conversation.
Chairman-Are you clear that he told you
that Mr.. Garland had promised?
Witness-Just as clar as that I exist.
would stake my salvation on it, because
rose up and said, "if Mr.. Garland has prom
The committee then adjourned until to-
morrow.
Successors TO Pillsbury and Chase.
Nothing has as yet been done toward filling
the office of internal revenue collector ir
Maine held by Mr. Chase as locumtenens
The law provides only that the Presiden
shall appoint successor to rejected appointet
''as soon as practicable" Ths President ha
not found it practicable" as yet to make any
step in that direction, nor has anything beer
done as to a successor to Pillsbury in Boston
Three men have been suggested to the au
thori.es here as a suitable successor to Chase
in Maine. They are: Jesse S. Lyford o
Lewiston. He was collector of internal rev
enue under Andrew Johnson, and is urged
for the place for the reaeon, among others
that he is acquainted with its duties. He il
understood to have the support of the Gar
celon party in Lewiston and of the othel
| lights of the democracy there. George
Walker, ex-mayor of Portland, is the secont
candidate named. He has strong support il
4 II hoa NJ