The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-13
REFERENCE TO A SELECT COMMITTEE.
sLukewarrnness OF the More
Prominent Democrats.
THE RESOLUTIONS TO BE INTRODUCED.
Senate Amendments to the House Dis
tnct Government Bill.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPOND ENT.

WASHINGTON, May 10, 1878.
TEE FLORIDA FRAUDs-AN INVESTIGATION TO
BE MOVED.
The Investigation movement docs not precisely
Ianguish but 1t would flicker altogether II it
not industriously famed by the few democrats who
have It in hand. 1t has not had, from the nrst,
the favor OF the prominent leading democrats in
either House Few OF these have been at all con-
suited about It, those who have, fought shy OF It,
snying only that 1t is matter IN which no mistakes
ought to be made and that 1t was not useful to carry
into Congress revelations OF petty frauds, the SUBJ
stance which is already known and the proofs OF
which could be laid before the people without Con-
gressona inquiry.
Tho Democratic Advisory Committee, which does
not OF the most solid and prudent members OF
the party has elaborated about The for week
past and desired the House judiciary Committee to
Introduce q resolution, but the Members Of that
mittce, being careful men, demanded first to the
papers which inquiry should be based and having
looked over these papers they concluded. without
any formal elaboration on The subject, that for tho
present. at least they preferred to wait II Is UNDER
stood that the Investigators next went at tho
Speaker, who, however, thought that the judiciary
Committee ought to be asked TO act and inclined
70 leave the question TO tnem. He said, very
senslbly, such inquiry could best be mi de by
contains general tho abcst lawyers In tho House
OF both parties that refer IL to select committee
would TO the country perhaps like choosing
new courI TO try political case.
THIS was Mr. Randalrs original position, but he
has been urged by the investigators to change his
ground, and it Is said this evening that he had
long consultation to-day, which he agreed to tho
form Of resolution to DO offered, which Is intended
send the inquiry to a select committee, the pru-
dent and sensible action OF the Judiciary Com
mittee, and its chairman, Judge Knott, having
ospeased the investigators This report which
from persons who favor investigation, adds that the
resolution. when introduced will DO put through tho
House possible under tho previous question, with
the view Of preventing the republicans from Offering
their proposed amendment which, II would seem, the
democratic investigators fear. II Is not probable,
however, that enough democrats will be found In tho
house 10 support this ridiculous ana dsgracciu plot
The resolution which II Is said tonight has been
agreed begins with prea reciting that the State
OF Maryland officially declares that II delrauded
OF electoral vote, and thereupon orders the APP
pointment OF special committee Of eleven, consist
democrats and four republicans to investigate
tho allegations OF fraud in Florida and Louisiana,
with power to send persons papers. II Is not
easy to believe that tho Speaker has agrcod
resolution this, which seeks directly to reopen
the Presidential question, and II Is pretty certain
that 1t would not get the support OF
than half the democrats In tho House,
If so many. Tho movement for inquiry into
frauds has been tolerated by most OF the democrats
only the distinct understanding that to
have for object to reopen the Presidential ques-
hon, and only the ground that II there
was testimony which connected prominent
republican paccmcn with these frauds THIS
was a matter about which the House in tho
public interest might make inquiry II Is understood
that the strongest lawyers the Judiciary Commit
tee do not regard the Blair complaint rs q proper
matter for consideration. They have had this CON-
plant and tho Kimmci bill for testing tho Prcsi.
dental title before them Tor month ana
have not, go far as is known. ever thought 1t even
worth whIo to take 1t up for consideration judg
ment before the committee 1t 10 safe 10 say that
they will very report either TO the House.
IL generally believed hero that this whole invcsti-
CATION hubbub is stirred In Now York. and by init
mates OF Mr. Tiden, II not by him. Ii has been toll
eratcd by prominent democrats mainly because they
before they woro told what evidence there was In
hand, and there have been constant reports that
some terrible and damaging secrets would be divulgcd
though tho posscssors Of these very positively
refuse TO tell even leading democrats what they are
IT, therefore, resolution is Introduced 10 Will BIO
only urgent and long continued pressure
from New York, ana tho House will 20
nsked to commit itself 10 inquiry without any
knowledge whatever OF what there Is TO be revealed,
for IL Is generally admitted that the Florida nldavits,
which have bcen published, would justify Con-
vressionaI inquiry.