New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-09

comes an exacting scrutiny Of the administra-
ton Of the Executive pOwcf' during the last
four years. The party. indeed, boldly "cha-
lengcs the most searching inquiry concerning
its fidelity and devotion to is pledges" Hard
" had these expressions of boastful confidence
in the integrity Of the Administration been
chccred at st. Louis before MIR. Randall found
il necessary TO dcnounce the cXtrayagan' oX-
penditurcs OF Che Department of Justice caused
mainly b. litigation in the interest of telephone
jobbcIy. Il is not u temple Of justice" eX-
claims that fearless Democrat 1T is sink
Of njuStice"'
The Democratic party, in awarding TO the
Administration the testimonial contained IN the
platform. virtually did what the President HIM
self had done Il condoncd the Pan-Electric
scandal Il justified the prostitution Of the
functions of the Department Of Justice 10 the
base and mcrccnary ends OF Attorney-General
Garland ard his fellow-gamblers. II accepted
Pan Electricity as good sound Democratic
morality. and on TIE strength Of the diSrepu-
table record Of the Attorney VINO re
mains in Office at the Presidents right hand,
il has challenged the most searching inquiry
concerning its fidelity and devotion TO ITS
pledges that public Office is public trust"
What was the fundamental principle Of Pan
Electricity? Il was banking on The names and
influence of Democratic statesmen for the pur-
pose of creating speculative values for Wild
cat telephone stocks The Rogers family
owned patents which had no marketable value.
They gave away $500. 900 cut Of $1,000
eco of paper capital in return for names and
influence which would enable them 10 sell what
no one would buy en- It's own merits. Blocks
Of this stock were peddcd on the floors Of both
Houses Of Congress and taken only ly Demo
Gratis. senator Garland received great guam
THY Of il. giving in return not only his name,
but also legal opinion respecting non-in-
fIingcmont. which induced credulouS investors
TO pay money to the company. This opinion
was advertised although the company had re-
ccyed frcm Nr. Marble, formerly Commits
sioncr of Patents, Il decisive refuation of it.
The coparcencrs suppressed MIR. Marbles opin-
ion and continued - hank on llr. Garland'S
reputation a q Senator and Constitutional
lawyer. They raled in $4,000 in cash,
$4,000 Of which they divided among them
selves after limiting AT the outset individual
liability to $50. Mr.. Garland was one Of
these coparccncrS and prohtcd ly the dishonest
use Of his name and legal opinion.
The FIRST object Il the conSpirltorS had been
the promotion Of Congressional legislation in
favor of postal telegraph scheme Later on
when the sub-companieS were sued for infringe
mcnt, and Nix. Garland's opinion that the Pan
Electric telephones did not infringe had been
shown to be worthless the coniederteS de-
termined 10 bank on the Governments name
Il II 4
promise with them. Mr. Garland was then
Attorncy-G General. and his Pan-Electric asso-
cia;oS held important posts in The Department
of the Interior. The corporatois Of the pa
rent company. instead of defending the local
companies. aS they had agreed to do. made Il
secret arrangement with The National Improved
Company and obtained The support of the De-
partmcnt OF Justice nj the head Of which was
4 Cabinet officer with Sl.0O0.000 Of gift tele-
phone stool, in his private safe. The terms Of
the contracts show that the two companies
mcditatcd strike against the Bell Com
pauy. They secured pcimisS Ga &C. hi.ng suit
when and as they wanted il. without the usual
investigation. with precipitate haste and in
defiance of law. They lad no public end in
view. They meant Simply to bleed 4 great
corporation with the AID Of the Government.
with which they and their speculative states
men had great influence.
The plo; was exposed, but the SUii was aban-
dcncd only to be begun again under the adj
vice Of Secretary Lamar. whom the President
has promoted to the supreme bench. The CO.
parcenerS continued to bank on the Govern
ment. Expensive counsel were hired to prose-
cute the suit one Of them being Judge Thur
man. the noble old Roman honorod by the st.
Louis Convention. The litigation was super
fuous since every question relating 20 the Bell
patents was already before the court Of last
resort: hut il was continued in the private in
tereSts Of the Attorney-Genera and his fellow
jObbers and strikers This is Pan Electricity.
that has converted the Department Of Justice
into what Mr. Randall terms "a sink Of in
justice" The Democratic party welcomes d" an
eXacting scrutiny of it