New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-04
WHO OPENED THE DoORsf
TIE DEMOCRATS FEELING VERY MELANCHOLY,
INDEED, THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD ENTERTAIN
SUCH VIEWS IN REGARD TO THEM.


INDEED, THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD ENTERTAIN
SUCH VIEWS IN REGARD TO THEM.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUSE1
WASHINGTON, June 3.-SOme OF the Democratic
members Of the Potter Committee assume TO be suf-
fering martyrdom in what they term the reckless
misstatements of the Republican press. Their chief
complaint is with regard TO the responsibility for
the decision whether the committees proceedings
should be open or secret. The facts are as follows:
On Thursday of last week report gained gem
eral currency and was teegraphcd to papers repre-
senting both political parties, that the commit
tee had decided that the investigation should be
held in secret. 1t was even said, and the report
was published on Thursday evening in Washington
and elsewhere that the motion to sit with closed
doors had been made by General j. ID. Cox, one Of
! the Republican members of the committee. No
such report was sent to TIE TRIBUNE. Nothing
could be further from the truth, for General Cox
saws that he. as well as Messrs Reed and Hiscock
have from the first favored open sessions, and that
their opinions in this respect were well known to
all of the committee. General Butler, the only re-
| naming Republican member, advocated as openly
the other plan of closing the doors, giving as
son his desire to keep from the public any scandal
! which might ba developed concerning prominent
men, until the committee should have opportu.
nifty of learning its truth falsty. While these pO
sitions of all the Republican members of the com
mittee were well known from the start, the Demo
J cratic members abstained from committing them
selves at least in the presence Of the Republican
members and no vote was taken in full committee,
whatever may have occurred at the private consul
tations Of the Democratic members, up to I hurs-
day night.
The report so generally circulated at that time
was doubtless put out feeer of the public senti-
ment on the question, and the majority of the Re-
OubIoans were known to favor open sessions 1t was
naturally assumed that the Democrats were Oppos-
ing them. Whatever may have been the truth of the
| matter the result was unmIstakable. Even Demo
Gratis condemned the mysterious character which 1t
seemed was sought TO be thrown around the pro-
ceedings. The only Democratic paper in Washing
ton. in an article headed "TOO much mystery"
] characterized the Star Chamber plan as silly, while
| from all quarters the demand that full daylight
! should be thrown upon all proceedings Of the com
| mlttee was unmistakable. AS a consequence, the
Democrats on Friday evening said to the Republic
! cans 1--WE leave il entirely with you 10 decide
! whether we shall admit exclude the public, and
upon Won shall rest the responsibility for any damage
which may result to private character II you vote
| for open sessions" The Democrats seem thus TO
have made virtue Of necessity, and their vote TO
! leave the point with the minority to decide was,
| under the circumstances, equivalent TO voting 10
| Open the doors.