New-York tribune., 1878-12-30

for the sake of harmonious construction. yield without
reluctance to his Interpretation ot ne statute. very
respectfully, \. q. PORTER FIRST Controller.
A DIFFERENT OPINION.
Acting upon the suggestion contained IN the last
paragraph of tie Controllers letter. Senator Teller
requested the Secretary of the Treasury to refer the
point to the Attorney General which, being done,
elected an opinion from acting Attomcy-Gencral
Philips, Of which the following is the vital point
In my opinion the appropriation chat is to say the
10000 appropriated Dcilaymg tucc penses oi sdd
investigations and nqurca have ALREADY been or NAV
hcrcac" lie directed by the Senate during the period
OF tho XLNth Congress is intended tor any investIGa
ION or inquiry whatever directed hv eScnac as apoVc
The expression quoted above, "sad lnNcsllgagHs ana
inquiries as have already been or may hereafter, I've
directed bv tho Senate" ~ evidently solccism Inc
most natural method Of getting nd OF the hunder Is ny
reading said" sucn. The phrase "sald iuvcstisa-
tons taken per Sc means. OF course inc very IN IN
vestgatlOus bv special committee ordered hy the
House 1t will be readily admitted That this is not the
tine meaning OF The section: because among "th'T
reasons, that investigation had already been provided
for. II IL suggested, then, that said lsintcndod To re-
former section and thus conhne the appro-
pratt IN TO The investigation Of frauds in the late
Presidential election. There il Iohug 10 favor ihis
Interpretation excepting the necessity Of accounting
ioE The tNstcn.r ct the word sad lhat no h3abt
Is necessity of the case hut tHe solution chcrc zoe.
not remove hc eoccI>m which, as have suggested, at
once arrests the attention OF the reader At the same
ilnc II Is lot more probable ihan he explanation that
] have above submitted as true. which docs l"m0ve
etc.," preceded ny "saId" aud followed by aS" points
10 rcadi solution Of the difficulty; mean that which
Very respectfully, /. fHItIWS,
Acting AtOruC, q G'ncral.
As indicated in his letter to Senator Teller, Mr.
Porcr accepts the opinion OF the eAttorncy-Gencra,
and viii be guided by it. He has addressed the
following personal note 10 the chairman OF the COM
mItiec:
Hon. II. VI. T:ILTR Chaimcp:
! gives nc pleasure to Inform You That the Attorney
General has held that the appropriation j. available for
your committee. l s!IaI chccIiuy aciunNcc IN MS
opinion aud regret that could not come 10 that opinion
myself. Very respectfully lUuIs,
\. G. PORTER, FIRST Controller Treasury.
All Obstacles TO the immediate beginning OF the
work of investigation being thus removed, tie sub
commit .,, consisting of Senators Teller Cameron,
Ki!kwooG, Bailey End Garland, will leave Washing
ton Tomorrow or tuesday night for New Orleans.
/; is expected that not more than ten days or two
weeks will be required for the woTi, In Louisiana.
The plans OF the subcommittee prctt definitely
ARRANGED 50 f,r "a the class of Witnesses the Suh-
committee i, 10 examine is concerned, and a. ii is
not intended t. throw ont drag net Cor I'll sorts of
political testimony has been the usual course of
Congressional committees, the time necessary FOR
the completion Of the work is expected TO be brief
Mach, however, will depend upon the progress
which has been made bv United States District
Attorney Leonard in getting wItnCs.rs 20 NcW-OT-
leans. II il 1, found to be true. a. reported that
some Of the witnesses dare not leave their homes to
proceed 70 New Orleans. the committee will 20 to
their homes Il is probable that the : majors will
return to Washington before visiting South Caro-
lima.