New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-15
PAN-ELECTRIC "REFORM.,
wAsrEFUL AND IMPROPER EXPENDITURES
THE FEES OF THE" OLD ROMAN"-PUBLfC MONEY
TO HELP PRIVATE sUITORS-A SERI.
Gus ACCUSATION.
fer TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

fer TELEGRAPH TO THE rafBUSg.I
Washington, Oct H.-whatever may be the fate %
the Pan Electric Government suit, effort ought TO
DO made to di5coycr how much money has beer ex-
pended by this Reform Administration In trying
aid the speculation Of the an-Electc gff states
men. 1t Is now asserted by persons who claim TO
know that Part of the large sum Of money thus
expended for services rendered by special counsel
employed by tho department Of Justice In or mof1
Of the telephone Infringement suits which were DE-
cdcd by the Supreme Court Of tho United States al
the last term. n this assertion lie true, the money
was Improperly expended II may be remembered
that among the defendants In those smis-al Of which
wero argued and decided at the same timewere the
Molecular Company and no Dolbcsr Company. To
none of the suits then decided was the Department u
Justice n party. although the sues Involved, and
upon which Judgment rendered against the do.
PENDANTS embraced every upon which The De-
pertmcnt OF Justice relies In its socallcd Govern
mentn prosecution. There was no authority, there
forc to use public money TO pay counsel fees or other
legal expenses OF defendants in the infringement
suits.
1t may be remembered that the Government" bi
was dismissed by the United States Circuit Court In
Ohio on the ground Of want of jurisdiction, in sep
tember 1886, and that proceedings In Boston wers
begun in January, 1857. In the interim, however,
services charged for and paid b. the Depart
mcnt Of Justice, amounting TO several thousand dollars
For example @. F. Lowry received s2,'15 for go IL
hours work In New-york, between October Is aud
December 3, Ios6, besides Zoo for two days SER
vices, and S5o - for expenses Of trip to Columbus
December A and . to consult Judge Thurman.
II should be remembered that during the period
mentioned no Government suit pending. and
that special for the Boston proceedings were
not appointed until January IS, 1e5s. IL Is asserted
that during that period Sir. Lowry was busy prcpal-
Ing the case of the Molecular Company, which was
defendant in one Of tho infringement suits thru pend
in fhe DeD1Timent K
Justice pay Mr.. Lowry for his services in the Mol
ocular case, to which the Government was not .
party IS pertinent question. II Is asserted that
such was the fact
within the period referred 70 other expenses wers
also paid from the public funds the order Of tbs
Department of Justice as follows Molecular Tcle-
phone Company $40 40, and Ia John Coode, Allen
g. Thurman. Hunton and Chandler and c. 3 Whitman
various sums, aggregatnS several thousand dollar.
Prior to the dismissal Of the bill IN Ohio bills for
the services Of experts had been pad amounting 10
some 90, 900 and the case pre-. umed TO be ready
for trial It's merits, far the Government Wal
concerned. On this point IT may be well to note hero
that down TO September 90 1887. moro than $500,
including $40 pad TO the Molecular Telephone COM
pany. had been pad for services Of experts In
proceeding which to this day has never advanced
beyond the consideration Of purely legal questions. IN
voving first. the Jurisdiction OF the United states
Court in Ohio; second, the power OF the Attorney
General to institute and maintain suit 10 annul
patent without express authority from Congress and
third, as TO whether the Government bill contains
any matter or Issue which cannot be set up BY a
defendant In suit for Infringement All the eN-
pendtures for services of experts therefore, have
been barren OF results down to the present tma
1t cost the Department Of Justice and its Leaned
and experienced special counsel more than S2l,O0o
to ascertain that a suit against a corporation whoss
home is IN Boston cannot be maintained In United
staie, Court I'm Cincinnati. Tho proceedings since
that uruc have cost the Government pretty penny,
but the exact amount has not yet been ascettaned,
although 1t known that the aggregate Of tis paid,
bills allowed and liabilities incurred exceeds $4,000,
and probably will exceed $4,000 before the suit can
be brought trial, even IL the judgment Of judge
Colt shall be set ASIDE By the Supreme Court.
Following Is statement Of the amounts allowed on
account Of expenses of the suit TO promote the Pan