Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-07
G00DE CLEARS GARLAND.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL NOT
CONS SUITED.

Bringing OF the Suit Based on HIS Ell.
animation at the Application end tho
Advice OF other Department ofiioers-
n New Programme to be Followed in
tho Columbus Suit
WASHINGTON, April 6.-solicitor Gen.
eral Goode continued his testimony be-
fore the Telephone Investigation COM
mittee to-day. lie produced the various
papers received from District Attorney
MeCorry, with the Exception of two docu-
ments. which he said bad accompanied
Mr.. McCorry's application for leave to
bring suit. These were an affidavit BY
Mr.. Van Benthuvsen, and certified
| copy OF file wrapper of the Bell patent
specification which the witness said
could not be found. The witness said
that he spent the day (the papers had
reached him about IL O'Clock In tho
morning. and evening in reading the
papers transmitted by Mr.. McCorrY.
MI Ranney occupied the greater part
OF to-day's session cross examining MIR.
Goode. Mr.. Ranney inquired why there
mad been such haste IN passing upon the
application-why had not the witness
awaited tie return OF the Attorney Gen.
eral?
The witness replied that he did not boz
lieve there had been any haste.
HARD WORK.
II Mr.. Ranney could see the amount Of
business transacted in the Department Of
Justice he would realize that tweuty.four
hours was about rs much time as could
be devoted To an application 81 bring suit.
As to the law and facts in the case tho
witness bad been sustained by the Inte-
rior DEPARTMENT In reply to further
questions Mr.. GoOde said 81 based my
action on an official letter Of a govern.
ment officer and the document il trans
mltted, and the impression made on nv
mind as to the prOpriety Of the suit
was denied entirely from those
documents. | had no conference with
| Mr.. Young on the subject" Continuing,
| the witness said that ne did not profess 10
be inlallible. He may have made mis-
take, but wanted to lake the lull respon.
sibility on himself. II he had known OF
the prior applications OF DR.. Rogers and
| MI. Van Benthuysen; If he had known of
| the Attorney Generals interest in Pan
Electric, he would have acted precisely
as he bad done, especially IN view of the
| fact that the Attorney General had de-
clined 10 act on the ground Of supposed
disability. In addition he had had the
formal application OF a government ofi-
Ger, accompanied by papers that seemed
to justify the action.
MIR. GARLAND ExoNERATED.
The witness said that there was Ons
/ point he wanted to make clear, and thai
" as that Attorney General Garland had
| no more 60 do with the Institution Of TINS
SUIT than any member Of tue committee
| Mr.. Ranney inquired il there was a
| single issue In the Columbus suit that
/ had not been raised In cases already tried
or pending beto'e the Supreme Court.
The witness replied that the associate
counsel were engaged in an examination
OF those matters. He would say that the
Columbus suit would be altogether diff
tel ent from any suit tried in this cOun,
try.
Tne Chairman remarked that the wit
ness had better not disclose the governs
ment's line Of pr, sdure.
The witness remarked that he would be
careful Ia that respect.
MIR. RANNEY's BoLDNEss.
Mr.. Ranney again put his question reh
alive TO the issues 10 he raised, and the
witness replied that the government un-
doubleday meant to raise new issues.
"What are they" inquired Mr.. Ran@
ney.
81 don't feel at liberty 10 tell you" re-
sp0nded the witness. as the examination
touched upou the visit 10 the department
by Messrs. Harris and Young. Mr.. Oates
asked IL II was customary when Senators
and members cal at the department to
ask about some matter ot business to de.
mand: "What is your business; what ia
your interest"
The witness smiled and replied thab
that was not his style.