New-York tribune., 1876-12-21
EGRAMs NO LONGER PRIVATE.

YORK PosT-OFFlCE'
Icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-The House, following the
Deoedent set by itself at the last session. has taken
The most extreme ground possible in regard to the
talegraphc controversy. 1t has declared by large
majority that an investigating committee can issue
its subpoena upon every telegraph operator in the
country, directing him to bring before 1T
the entire files of his Office, and that
the House must enforce such demand. Three dis
tpct propositions were presented by the Judiciary
Committee this morning Mr. Lynde, representing
the majority of the committee consisting entirely
of Democratic members submitted resolution
which maintained the right of Congress, whenever
any material issue is involved, to enforce the pro-
duction of telegrams without any such description
being furnished must necessarily be made the
basis of their production in a court of Justice
MIR. Hurd, for himself and the Republican men,
bers of the committee, substantially denied this
right to Congress; and while he maintained the
mower to call for any kilograms bearing on the sub
ieet under investigation, he would require at the
same time that basis somewhat similar to that re-
uured in the courts should be laid; in other
words the kilograms which the committee
desired in his opinion must be identified
by some description or convenient particu-
larity. His resolution did not require that
the exact contents of the telegram or even its SUBJ
stance should be given in the subpoena, nor that Its
particular date should be stated, but simply that
the names of one or both of the persons between
whom the dispatches passed should be furnished
the general subject of them named, or some other
description given which would enable the person on
whom the subpoena daoeS tecRm was served to identify
them.
The Knott resolution which received the support
of no other member of the committee, went still
further than either of these, and declared i'll so
many words that telegraphic communication is
entitled to no more privilege than any statement
made orally; that in short the telegraph company
can have and can protect secrets but is compelled
TO deliver ND the entire files of its offices upon the
first demand of an investigating committee, whether
that committee describes the dispatches which
it needs or not. The most notable speech OF
the day was that made by Mr.. Hurd in support OF
his propositon This gentleman at the last session
of Congress distinguished himself as lawyer OF un-
usual ability and clearness Of perception and his
remarks to-day in defense of the constitutional right
of the citizen to be protected his person, papers,
and effects against unreasonable search, able
as any of his efforts previous occasions. The
House adopted the Knott resolution by an almost
strictly party vote.
1t is to be hoped that President Orton viii still
fuse TO elbow his employees produce dispatches not
40 described as to make their Identification possible
in order that judicial decision in regard to the
power of the House to throw out its drag-net over
the files of telegraph Offices and gather in private
dispatches by the wholesale, may be given.
Some remarks made by Gen. Garfield, who took
the ground that telegTaphic dispatch was as
sacred as a letter sent through the mails, called
forth from Mr.. Hewitt most startling accusation
against the New-York Post-Ofice. He said that he
holds the same position on that point that Gen.
Garfield does but that even letters passing through
the New-York Post-Ofice opened and
examined before they are received by him.
In regard to the dispatches which as chairman
Of the Democratic Committee he had sent over the
telegraph lines he wished TO say that he had no OBJ
lection whatever to their production before any COM
mittee and that he had already informed President
Orton of the Western Union Company that he was
at liberty to produce any and all dispatches which
he had sent during the campaign. Mr.. Hewltts
serious accusation against the New-fork Post-
Office created a great sensation IN the
House and Mr.. Platt Immediately offered
resolution providing for q committee of
members of the House to make an investigation OF
the charge. This was objected to by Mr.. Luttreh,
and as it could only be received by unanimous con-
sent was not brought before the House. Mr.. Hewitt
privately explains that his attention was first called
to the matter by an anonymous letter written TO
him by person who said he was a clerk in the New
York Post-O6ice and who told him that his letters
were all opened by the use of steam and examined
before he received them. subsequently ne no
tced that the flaps of q majority OF the Iet-
ters which he received from that office were
wrinkled as though they had been opened,
while those received through other pOst-ofces were
almost invariably smooth. He had shown these let
tens to q number Of experts who gave 1t as their
opinion that the letters had been opened and re-
81. al Rf
The Post0ice officials TO this fact because he had
supposed it would be utterly useless TO do so.
PoStmaster- 3eneral Tyner, who occupied seat on
the floor when Mr.. Hewitt made his speech, said to
those who spoke with him on the subject that he
never had received any intimation that Mr. Hewitts
letters had been tampered with, and that the accu-
satOn now made surprised him very greatly. II MI.
Hewitt suspected any such interference with his
correspondence he said il his duty to report u
70 the department. Any such report would nave
ieeeived immediate attention. The department
has the means of aseertaining witmn 10
houB whether letters are opened In any
particular post-office or not public accusation
like that made by Mr. Hewitt this afternoon MT
Iyner said, would put the guilty persons on tne'r
guard, if any such there were, and make the detec
ton Of the crime more difficult 1t is hls purpose
however, to request Mr. Hewitttc give him all The
AarS on Wh1cn ne D;tseS DIS SusplciOh; Hhu w
athOrough investigation of it, 1t is not understood
that Mr. Hewitt suspects Postmaster James OF hav-
ing any knowledge whatever Of this matter. That
officer has the confidence of the entire kewI1 ORR
aeegation, without respect TO party, and M. new
~ himself in brief speech which he made last ses-
sion. spoke in very high terms Of Postmaster James,
recognizing his efficiency and upnghtness In the
conduct Of bis Office
THE PARTIES HOLDING OFF.
rue JONI COMMITTEE OK THE PRESIDENCY NOT