The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-06-17
Potter's Committee Slack Off
in the Good Work.
The Game Not Worth the Candle
Since Old Usufruot is to be
Left Out in the Gold.
An Interview with Minister Noyes--.
He Wants All the Visiting
Statesmen Put on
the Stand.
Potter Investigation Losing Its
EIavor-Slim Amount of Tesft.
mOny Saturday-Doubts as to q
Hub.DelegatiOn 10 Louisiana.

Sub-DelegatiOn 10 Louisiana.
WASHINGTON, June 15..-The Potter
Investigation seems about to fizzle out
The emphatic declaration by Congress
| that there shall be no assault upon the
title of Hayes has taken the snap out OF
the proceedings. 1t is known that the
Democratic majority were driven to the
declaration made yesterday by the over
whelming weight of public opinion, but
the fact remains that this declaration has
made the original Investigators very
lukewarm. The fathers of the move-
ment seem no longer to care what the
result may be, seeing the upsetting OF
Hayes is now impossible. In this they
are Joined by a number of disgruntled
Republicans, who have been helping the
thing along upon the express understand.
ing that Hayes was to be ousted. The
useless to go further, as the chief end for
which they labored is put out of reach
by the action of yesterday. The di-
minished interest was noticed this morn
ing when the committee met. 1t was
some time after the appointed hour before
a quorum appeared, and at no time was
the full committee present. The attend
ance of reporters and distinguished
statesmen was less than at any previous
meeting. The proceedings began with
the examination of Clark, Kellogg's right
hand man, who was supposed to be
charged with valuable information, but
he knew nothing of Importance. The
examination Jagged slowly along while
the committeeman yawned and smoked.
The whole affair was very spiritless, and
If to-day may be taken as an indication,
the funeral of the Potter investigation is
near at hand. 1t iSfreely predicted that
unless the committee strikes something
fresh and entertaining within a few days,
the bottom will fall out of the whole
thing, and the great fraud hunt come to
an abrupt termination. Before IL o'clock
the committee took recess until ], but it
was before quorum could be secured.
Clark was briefly examined again, when
the committee adjourned until Monday.
The delay in putting Mrs. Jencks and
w. q. Weber on the stand is owing to
doubt as to the character of their evil
dence. Hints are thrown out that these
witnesses will ruin what little is left of
the Democratic cause, and that there ex-
animation is not desirable. From what
can be learned of Mrs. Jencks she will
deny that she ever had in her possession
q letter from Sherman, or that he ever
wrote one TO Weber and Anderson, to the
tell the Democratic managers what she
will swear, and they are in doubt whether
it is safe to put her on the stand.
The disgruntled Republican witnesses
who have an interest in the affair to get
Hayes out are deprived of that hope and
take no further stock in the investigation.
This is especially the case with Dennis,
the great Florida fraud exposer, II
transpires that he knows of Democratic
frauds, which he will now expose If put
on the stand.
1t is conceded that the subcommittee
made wild.goose chase to Florida, and
came back without having accomplished
anything. -McLin's testimony was even
weaker than his sworn statement, and the
Democrats only saved themselves by get
ting that statement incorporated in the
testimony. 1t is now understood that no
sub committee will go to Louisiana, and
that all testimony as to that State will be
taken here. Senator Kellogg says that
he is ready to go before the committee
any time and tell all he knows. He in.
Inmates, however, that his testimony will
not be comforting to the Democrats. In
this affair he has no intention of claiming
his privilege as Senator.
Proctor Knott was in his seat to-day,
and submitted his individual report on
the 30. called Blair resolutions, the major
ity having reported yesterday. He asked
that he might read from the Clerks desk,
which was granted, but when the MEM
bers saw the formidable roll of manu-
script which he drew out of there was a
good deal of opposition to the waste of
time. The opposition was compelled to
subside, however, and Knott read his long
opinion, which is spoken of as able,
though, as a matter of fact, very few list.
ened to it.
General Butler has prepared report
which he will present to the House at
the first opportunity, in reference to SEN
ator Matthew'S refusal to respond to the
summons of the Potter Committee. The
report is accompanied by a resolution,
couched in polite language, requesting
the Senate to release Matthews from his
public duties long enough to testify be-
fore the committee. Butler thinks this
will be more embarrassing to Matthews
than an attempt to coerce him.
The Matthews Committee will not meet
again until after adjournment. The Pot.
ter Committee expects to take recess oi
two or three weeks W hen it has examined
witnesses already here.