New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-03
NETWORK, MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1878.


duress from the Democrats He declared that he
was not free agent in tabulating his statement,
and that he had fears of difficulty in getting out Of
the parish.
Under this state of affairs. Secretary Shermans
letter, ii there is such letter. was written to en-
COURAGE Anderson to stand mp to his duty,
and not to be intimidated by Democratic bull
dozers, or bribed by Democratic corruptionists.
That there danger of the latter is shown by one
Of the letters which Anderson himself presented IN
had been offered 1000 by Colonel Burke on behalf
Of the Democracy.
It is claimed for Secretary Sherman that his re-
ceptiOn Of Anderson here, according to Andersohs
own story, was not such as Sherman would nave
been likely to have rendered to o man whom ne
thought had him in his power Anderson says tha n
Sherman snubbed him and declined to give him an
office in his own department or to help him to secure
one in Secretary Evarts's: Mr.: Shermans opponents
written letter which he thought could compromise
him he would scarcely have treated Anderson In
that manner.
SCENES IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM.
BAD ACCOMMODATIONS FOR JOURNALIsTs-THE PER-
soNAL APPEARANCE OF THE wITNKss-A DIS
COURTESY TO sENAIOR-BUTLER's KEEN CUES
TONS
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSKI
WASHINGTON, June 2.-The arrangements OF the
Potter Committee for conducting its investigation
are far from good. The committee voted on Friday
to admit representatives Of the press but when the
correspondents appeared to take the that had
been unwillingly assigned them, there was found
to be for them only small space ut one end OF the
room. separated from the committee by a temporary
pine railing with small table and six chairs for
the more than thirty journalists whose duty it was
to be present. The witness at the opposite end
of the room. and on account of the low tone OF
bo and he
the voices of the crowd who stood just outside
the door of the committee room, much OF
his testimony was inaudbe TO the correspondents.
For seven hours the representatives OF the press
listened to the story James +. Anderson told mostly
standing and during part Of the time crushed and
Iostled by n crowd of twenty or thirty lobbyists and
hangers-on about the Capitol.
The witness is an intelligent. red-haired. red
faced red-mOust ached boysh-lOOking man, OF about
tbirty-four years Of age. He was neatly dressed,
had great sclf-possession and created favorable
impression. The correspondents present were
little surprised to hear him announce when his ex-
animation began that he had all his life been
journalist, and is now night editor OF The Phiid-
delphia North american. He was apparently master
of his story, and made 1t fit into the documents
which he presented with great skill. A half dozen
questions were sufficient to call forth hour of
talk.
The members of the committee need no introduce
ton to the readers of THE TRIBUNE. Mr.. Potter,
who sat at the head of the table, took very little
part in the proceedings Mr.. Morrison, who sat on
his right was apparently bored to the last degree,
and much of the time paid very little attention TO
the .sa M q s s lighted soc
after the proceedings began, and placed upon his
head battered, lghtbrown soft hat, to protect bis
shining pate from the breeze that came IN at the
tlarr 0f be fee
were ranged along the table, at which were also
Secretary sherman. the official reporter Of the com
mittee shorthand writers for Messrs Shellabarger
and Wilson and the Associated Press. and several
members Of Congress.
The room in which the inquiry is being conducted
is one of historical associations In i the great
Credit MobiIier conspiracy was unravclicd. Oakes
Ames sat at the same table for many hours testify
reading out Of his famous little menorandum-book
the fatal entries which brought SO many men high
In political life into dlsrepute.
The investigation was chiefly conducted by Mr..
Mcmahon who had apparently spent much time in
familiarizing himself with its details. From time
to time he drew from a large envelope the docu-
ments which he submitted to the witness for iden-
tifcation and framed his questions in such n way
TO give Mr.. Anderson the utmost latitude in making
The committee unique In one respect in its
proceedings. II was guilty of an unheard OF dis
courtesy to member Of the Senate. u has been 2
when reflections have been cast upon the name
of any member of the other body immediately to
suspend the investigation and to inform the Sen
at0r or Representative of what has occurred This
practice was not followed yesterday. and for six
hours the name of Stanley Matthews was freely and
unpleasantly used and no notice was sent TO him.
One of the most interesting passages OF the day
was the brief ss-exainnati0n by General Bntler
In regard to the copying Of the documents which
Anderson produced. No sharper or more searching
questions have been heard in committee of inves-
tjgation for many year. and the witness was made
to contradict himself several times, though points
not necessarily important This part OF the exami-
nation was chiefly interesting because il shows
what a power General Butler will be on the Repub-
can side il he enters into tn defence of the party
with his customary zeal.