The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-17
SUPPRESSION OF THE REPORT.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1875.
Here is the curious story Of how Mr.. George F.
Hoar, OF Massachusetts,, tried desperately for five
days to suppress the truth about the Louisiana
election and the dispersion OF the Legislature ana
failed at last.
On Monday last the subcommittee, consisting
OF Messrs Foster, Phelps and Potter-two republi.
cans and one democrat-made their report to the
Louisiana special committee, OF which they we're
q part. The report was unanimous, and 1t told an
ugly tale for the President. which he had pru-
IDENTITY refused to hear. The committee after
brief consideration OF the report, on the sugGes.
ton OF Mr.. HOar recommitted 1t, in order that an
addition. trifling and unimportant In its nature,
might be made. At the same time Mr.. Hoar. who
is chairman OF the committee, denied the jurlsdic
ton OF the subcommittee to make an independent
report at all, asserting that they had been sent
down to New Orleans to ascertain whether it was
advisable Tor the rest OF the committee to go
down. When this got out in the House the jokers
began to ask Mr.. Foster whether he was really
Mr. Hoar's errand boy
EFFORTS TO srRANGLE THE REPORT.
Monday night, Tuesday and Wednesday the re-
port, now the subject Of q fierce BATTLE lay in
MIR. Fosters hands. Rumor says that Efforts were
made to induce him to change the wording OF the
report and even Its meaning. AS the report how
ever, only recapitulates the evidence, and makes
no suggestions, 1t was impossible to change
1t, and Mr.. Foster, who is man OF
honor, would not put himself in the ridiculous
position tf making a false report, which would
aiterward be contradicted by the evidence. Last
night, the report being amended as ordered, a
meeting Of the fnll committee was held, which
lasted very late and IN which renewed and des.
peraIe Efforts were made by the partisan mem.
bers OF the committee to prevent the publication
OF the report. Unucklly Tor those who wanted to
suppress 1t, they discovered that If they insist cd
on rejecting the report entirely. whicn was their
first attempt, the subcommittee would be at
liberty to give It to the public over their own
names. which undoubtedly they would have done.
1t was, therefore, accepted by the committee; but
with the hope mat this acceptance would be q
means Of It's suppression.
HUMILIATING EXPEDIENTs FOR SUPPRESSION FAIL
The committee then attempted to amend the
report by adding supplement- containing con-
illusions at variance with the facts. This was re-
sisted, but defeated Only after sharp contest, in
which 1t Is said that high words passed between
several members OF the committee. When this
expcdicnt failed, nothing remained but the ad0p-
ton OF the report by the whole committee; but at
this stage OF the proceedings Mr.. Hoar made an.
other and final effort at delay and suppression.
SCHEME TO KIDNAP THE DOCUMENT.
The House having adjourned over until Monday,
aud Mr.. Hoar having announced his intention to
leave on Monday Tor New orleans, he now wanted
time 10 read over the report. and It was seen that
II he took enough time he might get out OF the
way, and being the committees chairman, who has
to communicate with the House on their behalf
the report would. AFTER all, have been suppressed
The subcommittee were, however, awake 10 the
determination to suppress them. They had
already fought fercely In the interests OF truth.
Mr.. Hoar and Mr. Phelps had had angry words, and
Mr.. Potter had threatened, unless the truth was
permitted to see daylight, that he would resign
his position on the committee and publish the SUBJ
stance OF the report over his own name, in which
It Is believed, Mr.. Phelps would have Joined him.
Seeing, therefore, the imminent danger OF Mr..
Hoar pockcting the report at the last moment,
protest was prepared and would have been pre-
sentcd to the House, stating the facts in the case
and under fear OF this, 1t is understood he at last
agreed that he would present the report to the
House yesterday afternoon. which ne did, and 1t
was ordered to be printed.
MR.. HoAR's FLArrERING DEFEAT.
And SO, at last, Mr.. Hoar, who wished to report
that the Legislature. whose assembling had pre-
viousy been depicted, was "a tumultuous and
irregular assembly," was obliged to adopt and In
troduce report, over his own signature, by which
the House and country are informed that ION the
Sd OF January the people OF Louisiana had q free,
full ana pcaceaDle electlon, Dy Wnlcn q conserva-
tive majority was elected 10 the Legislature, who
were deprived OF their seats by the Illegal, unjust
and arbitrary action OF the Returning Boardn-for
these are the words OF the report. 1t must be
added that the pressure brought to bear on
Messrs. Phelps and Foster to vary from the d.
rectness OF their report OF the strongest kind.
FALsEHooD HURLED AGAINST THE CHAMPIONS OF
TRUTH
The local papers here having exhausted the COM
mon terms OF reproach, this morning discovered
that Mr.. Phelps was drunkard, ana kilograms
from New Orleans announce that proofs would be
forwarded from there OF his corruption. Not only
THIS, but Kellogg sent despatch to Mr.. Hoar as
serfin1 that the committee had refused To MAKE n