Note 36 — Chapter IV · The Purchase of the Telegraphs
Reading edition
Special Report from the Select Committee on the Electric Telegraphs Bill, 1868.
Mr. Leeman cross-questions Mr. Scudamore.
2,331. “Did you agree with the Telegraph Companies till after this Bill was sent to the Select Committee?”—“No.”
2,332. “At the time this Bill was sent to this Committee you had petitions against you, had you not, from 25 or 30 different interests?”—“Yes; quite that.”
2,333. “Since that time, have you, with the exception of the interest which Mr. Merewether now represents [Universal Private Telegraph Co.], bought up every interest, or contracted to buy up every interest, which was represented by those petitioners?”—“Yes, subject to arbitration and the approval of the committee.”
2,334. “They had largely, upon the face of their petitions, controverted the views you have been expressing to this Committee?”—“They had endeavored to do so.”
2,335. “They had in fact?”—“They had endeavored to put forward a case against me. I do not say it was a good case.”
2,336. “In direct opposition to the information you have been supplying to the Committee?”—“Undoubtedly.”
2,337. “The Electric and International Telegraph Company was the company most largely interested, was it not?”—“Yes.”
2,338. “That company had put forth its views controverting in detail what you have been stating to the Committee in the course of your examination?”—“Attempting to controvert it.”
2,339. “By your arrangements, since the time at which this Bill was submitted to this Select Committee to inquire into, you have in truth shut the mouths of all these parties?”—“They are perfectly welcome to speak; I am not shutting their mouths.”
2,340. “Do you propose to call them?”—“No, but they are here to be called.”
2,341. “You do not propose to call them. This is the fact, is it not, that this Bill was sent to the Select Committee, with special instructions to make inquiries into various matters raised by petitions from 25 to 30 different interests, and you have, since that time, subsidized every interest that could give any information to this Committee; is not that the fact?”—“Not quite.”