The sun., 1892-06-17


the Attorney General. was the owner and
holder Of just s500.000 in the Pan-Electrio
Telephone Company which might be worth
par IL tho Bell patents could only be can
celled. Tho Doctor confined himself to his
own hopes and aspirations. leaving the Attor-
ney- General to perceive tho rainbow over the
Attorney q enc erals S500.000. After indicating
the grounds on which tho Bell patents might
be attacked, tho Doctor notified his part
ner. the Attorney General. that he wns too
poor. individually. to fight this monopoly.
and politely requested the Attorney-General
Ito instruct a United States District Judge 70
take immediate action in the premises. he
also inclosed for the information and instruc-
ton Of tho Department OF Justice newspaper
slp referring to case in which the Govern
ment had become party to private suit to
cancel patent for painting on glass.
Having achieved this masterpiece OF Pro-
motion. DR. Rogers OF Parthenon Heights leaned
back In his chair and dreamed dream.
The beatinc vision which he saw would have
staggered Mulberry Sellers The Doctor saw
the Government OF the United States lending
its mighty aid and its practically ine2haustible
treasury to the enterprise OF breaking down
the Bell patents. and thus enriching beyond
the dreams Of avarice certain modest poet
and certain impecunious statesmen. his
mean to each OF the Pan Electricians ? In the
first place. there was tho individual share OF
S500.0OO which had cost nothing. and which
would 60 to par at tho very least More likely
1t would 60 to q million or a million and hall.
Next, there was tho S40.000O00 OF stock In
the e.ghs licensed or local companies. OF
which 40 per cent. or $16.000.OOO. was
held by the parent concern: one-tenth
OF this. or $1.8OO.OO0. belonged to each
original Pan Electrician. But supposinC tho
Bell patents were smashed. there would be
not merely eight but at least fifty subordinate
corporations. each with S5O00.0OO capital.
meaning $40 OO0. 600 for each holder Of $780,
600 in tho present company. Eleven and
half millions. let us say. for the poet and for
each OF the impecunlous statesmen. II the Gov
ernment succeeded in cancelling the Bell
patents. Golden visionl Beauteous dream!
This is what DR.. Rogers Of Parthenon Heights
saw when he had finished his letter to tho De-
partment Of Justice: and this is what he hoped
his partner. the Attorney General. would see
as soon as he got his morning mail.
The Atorney-General read the letter.
thought over it. and piceon-holed 1t. Tho
proposition as conveyed by the enthusiastic
and exuberant Doctor was quito too crude for
a public officer with any regard for his official
neck. The Attorney-General did not write to
his partner. tho promoter Rogers. thanking
him for his suggestions pointing the way S
fortunes for them both. and promising to order
the Government suit at two o'clock that Same
afternoon. He made no answer whatever to
the Doctors communication. He omitted even
to put 1t on the department files.
Nevertheless. the Government suit to cancel
the Bell patents was ordered By the Cleveland
NIL the same: and It Is In prog
ress at the present day.
Iv.-More Ways Than Ono to XIII Cat.
Now began series Of attempts on tho part |
Of the i'm mpecunious statesmen to carry out DR.. |
Rogers's great idea and commit the Govern
ment to the Pan n-Electro cause. without too
serious wound to the delicate official sensi-
biities OF their partner at the head OF tho De- |
partment OF Justice.
There had been bitter hostility. for reasons |
not necessary to explain. between the Pan
Electric people and Mr. Van Benthuysen's New |
Orleans company. the National Improved Tel |
,phone Com pany Of Louisiana. Tho quarrel |
asted until common distress brought the two |
together. Both were In the position
If infringers of the Bell company. and both
we're undergoing prosecution. The Pan -Elec-
Trio had been enioined at Philadelphia,
and Q motion for an Injunction was pending
against Its sub-company at Baltimore. The |
Baltimore sub-company had applied to the |
parent concern for support and defence under
he guarantee. and had received answer from
he impecunious statesmen to the effect that
While they were willing to accept millions as
ribute they had not ono cent for defence
The other sub-companies took alarm. refused
o pay in any more money. and the Pan
electric business was at a standstll. As for
he Van Benthuysen company. 1t was sorely
aoAIk kuth thHp pan Lat
uit at Pittsburgh. Such was the situation
vhen 1t occurred to Casey Young that there
Ire more ways than one to kill q cat
Tho Hon. Casey Young thereupon journeyed
o Pittsburgh. whore Van Benthuysen was de-
ending his case In court. and made the per-
onal acquaintance Of that gentleman. In tho
Interview which took place between the Presi-
lent OF the National Improved and the Treas
lrer and attorney of the Pan Electric. Casey
1oung incidentally dropped the remark that
bill had passed Congress requiring the At
orney- General to institute suit. In the name
II the Government, to annul any patent upon
he application Of any citizen presenting suifl-
'ient proof 1t happened that tho bill In ques-
Ion had not In fact passed Congress and be-
,ome q law. but Mr.. Van Benthuysen jumped
It the idea and Immediately prooeeded on the
mistaken impression derived from Mr.. Casey
ioungs misinformation.
The idea OF attacking Bell over the shoulders
md from behind the broad back OF the United
states Government struck Van Benthuysen as
apital.
"Well."he said. why don't you get Garland
o do IT. ?"
"Mr. Garland" replied Casey Young. with
roper solemnity "is member OF our COM
'any has boon our counsel, and would not
ak him to do it 1t would DO delicate mat
er. and would not ask him."
II will do it." rejoined Van Benthuysen.
The President OF the New Orleans com pany
vas person OF impetuous character. 1t owl
lently did not occur to him that a Govern.
nent suit, inspired and controlled by tho
National Improved Of Louisiana. and with the
Fan Electric left out. might not be the thing
Which OF all things Casey Young and his Pan.
electric associates most desired. Van Ben
huysen put in an application on his own re-.
and In behalf OF his own company
hat same day or the next day 1t was re.
eived by the Attorney Gen eral mt Wasbinpto