The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1878-05-31
WASHINGTON.
Secretary Keys Letter Sub
jected to Severe Senator
ial Criticism.
A General Opinion That he Has
Made an Ass of Himself.

WASHINGTON, May 29.-The senate com
merce committee, by holding an all.day
session, finished the consideration of the
river and harbor bill, and it was reported TO
the senate. The gross amount appropriate
ed by the house Is Increased 100000.
STEPHENS and KEY.
The manitcsps of Post Master General
Key and Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia. have
been widely discussed to-day. Mr.. Key is
generally considered to have landed him
self squarcly inside the Republican party.
while Mr.. Stephens is believed to have at
least cut loose from the Democratic party.
! In fact, he has announced that he il going
to he an independent candidate for re.elcc-
ton to congress, and bis recent conduct in
the house undoubtedly had that object ~
view. Some ct the southern Democrats
think Stephens was justified ia his making
his reply to Potter, but they are quite bit
ter on Key, and declare that he has harmed
himself Il good deal more than the DEM
cratic party in the south by his action.
senator Harris, of Tennessee, spid today
that the publication OF tbs letter was I'M
fortunate for Key in his state Keys OBJ
ject, he said. was to dsorganizc the Demo.
cratic parry and build up
AN ADMINISTRATION PfiTY
in the south. The senator thought that
Key lcw as well as any body else that the
majority Of Democrats had no intention Of
disturbing Hayes title. Senator Morgan,
of Alabama said that one effect of Keys
letter on the people of the south would be
to disgust them with the author He had
heard Key declare he believed 1lden hon
cstly elected. Key cannot disorgeni2e the
Southern Democrats. The latter would not
allow member Of Republican cabinet to
take out letters Of guardianship over them.
Senator MaXey of Texas, said that Key had
made fool of himself. His position did
not enttlc him to write such letter, rs
neither the Democrats or Republicas now
have any confidence in him. Mr. Maxcy
added that he did not approve Of the in
ycsligaton, hut he never believed that the
investigation meant to impueh Hayes tide.
Mr, Atkins, chairman Of the appropiia-
tons committee, to-day offered 100000 to
ply the expenses of the Potter investigating
committee Mr.. Conger, OF Michigan, made
point OF order that TIE bill appropriated
money and must first be considered in com
mittee of the whole. Mr.. Atkins acquicSccd
and the Republicans bcgon to tillibustcr,
much to the dis.i>t Of such men as Foster
and Hale who consider the question settled
when once the resolution is adopted Mr..
Atkins will, if further captiouS objection
be offered, tack his bill TO one of the gen
| cra appropriation bills.
PoTTERs INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
| held long session this afternoon and its
members are maintaining double paddock
seal Of secrecy, which it was decided to-day
was necessary in the present phase Of the
| business TO be inquired into. 1t is known,
however, that there was discussion of the or
der in which witnesses shall he examined.
II generally understood that arrange
mcnts have been made to send two sub
committees. one TO Louisiana, OF which Mr..
Morrison will be the chairman. and the OF
her to Florida, headed by Mr.. Mcmahon.
! These subcommittee will probably be
| composed of four members each leaving
no more than three members here. 1t has
| been further agreed that no evidence will
he taken here. until the subcommittee
have time To collect evidence and report the
same here. The Injunction of secrecy
which was to-day put upon the proceedings
of the committee, together with their de
termination to sit with close doors, is already
calling out untavorablc comment. There
are all sorts of rumOrs as to the motive for
this course, one Of which is that instruc-
tOnS TO that effect have been received di-
rect from GramerCy Park