New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-10-30
THE PORTER INVESTIGATION.

AN EXCITING SESSION OF THE BOARD.
SHARP WORDS BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE
RECORDER-ACTIoN IN REGARD TO GENERAL
POPE.
The hearing in the case of Fitz John POr-
delayed yesterday than two hours by the
absence the president MaiorGeneral SchOfeld When
the board called 10 order. the Recorder offered
dispatch which had been just received from Major
General Pope relative to his appearance witness.
General SchOeld ordered the dispatch laid before the
board before being read. and then began the read
mg OF the dispatches which had passed between
the board and General Pope The first dispatch
was the request sent on October II BY order otthe
board that he would before 1t as witness. This
was followed on the next day by disnatch sent by
General schoheld West Point, requesting him TO
bring dispatch books and those OF his sla officers, II
possible and all dispatches received from Porter during
the period Of operations. on the same day General
Pope acknowledged receipt Of the dispatches OF october
II aud ls and thrce days later forwarded TO Major
Gardner In his official capacity as Recorder OF the
board, the dispatch ALREADY published In The TRIBUNE
IN which he declared himself entirely willing to respond
to subpoena, but not 10 appear "a vOlun-
tary witness On the same day he sent TO General
schohcld at West Point the Information that he had
sent the dispatch, saying also that he presumed 1t
wond cause no delay he could not leave Fort Leav-
enworth for several days IN account OF I'M
pOrtant public business relating to Indian affairs.
on the same day General SehOheld replied that In &c
!
lin formal subpoena 20 appear Us Ni1cS iul 'ho
United states, and said THAT the case could not go on
0rtoprr 20 n General Pope could inform him when
he would appear and the following day General Pope
retary NJ War where he until further or
Having finished reading General Schofed con
zone OF these dispatches has been made public by the
Recorder by reading n when the board was not III
sr-cu and without FIRST acluaiutng the board win ITS
iot"ps may snb-st hctw Genera, Pope and Their e.
4 hat
ma hnt an uuc OF thr proceeding, AZ may npces-
.ary correct Il IN this regard must be stricken from
As the FIRST words Of this rebukc cnuncated with cold
pr,rlson fell from General SChoheld's ips, Major Gard
urr rose 10 his feet aud with whlte face and gtterBg
ewes stood waiting the cnd.
'"The statement" ne began made nv the presi-
dent Of the board, makes IMPERATIVE Teplr Dg1 he
IL not "A matter for discussion by the Recorder"
Major Gardner, pers.ting in his attempt to speak,
General SchOdeid exclaimed:
'slcncc sri Do you know to whom you are speak
"protest against such censure from YOU IL shall be
brought TO the attention OF the President" reortec
the cruSured official. .
said General schoh-d in a low voice Tie Recorder
Will submit IN writing any explanation he may wish TO
make and it will be considered by the board" ,.,,
desire st 10 know thi. Is the opinion OF the full
board, only Of its president"
But persist in the me ne f Hns
manned session for more than an hour When
the doors opened no traces OF the disturbance
nn understood the matter bet err and General Scno-
field SAID thai the board had no thought OF lmpugnng
the motives of the Recorder.
Major Gardner then read the following dispatch from
General Pop:
Major GARDSER, Recorder !:
am informed bS the Secretary OF War In telegram OF
this date that the President declines Ia order me TO
appear or not 10 appear before your board as
a witness. but leaves the matter TO my dis
erection. In view Of this fact and of the
Geographic instructions of the Secretary of War for the
guidance board copy of which the secretary thas
sent me- u must adhere TO tn. position taken IN INV
telegram Of the Dist instant to General scho-
hrh Nevertheless, although the counsel tor the
Government refuses to subpoena witness for the
Government, and the petitioner declines to sub
pDna me as witness for him, and therefore am sub
pnnaed by neither party II the board requires any in
formation III my power to give Oh any point brought
out la this Investigation, ] Will cheerfully give
IL. either by sworn replies 10 written inter
rogatories or if the board deem 10 necessary by al
pearng in person before 1t for this purpose due noti
ncatiOn TO that effect.
JOIN PoPH, Brevet Major General.
Fort LedreHrOrth Kan, oct 20, 1873.
After argument by the respective counsel In regard 70
the arTiOn Of the board the room was cleared again
The board when opened announced It's conclusion that
as General Pope under the direction of the President,
has declined 10 come Tor "A DISCRIMINATION. but
only to give information points brought out ON this
nyestigatUn board thought 1t mcXpcdient 10 take
further action the board having exhausted It's powers
10 compel his attendance as witness.