The Newtown bee., 1879-03-11
POTTER COMMITTEE REPORTS.
Report of the Majority,


 Report of the Majority.
 The majority report of the Potter committed, which has been adopted by vote of six Democrats to three Repub- licans MT. Butler being absent), says that the confessions of conspirators who have become dissatisfied are worth little. but points to the fact, not generally understood, that in regard to the essen- tial features of the election and canvass iD Florida and Louisiana there is no sub- stantial dispute between the members of the commlttee-the Republicans hav- ing called no witnesses in Florida and only few in Louisiana, except as to the conduct of the visiting statesmen, and incidentally about intimidations. It dismisses entirely the testimony of An- derson, Jenks, Mrs. Jenks, Weber, and that class of witnesses, and deals with the case upon what it regards as the general and controlling facts alone.
 The report then reviews the election in Florida, declaring that the State voted for Tilden, but was illegally counted for Hayes. It then deals with the con- duct of the visiting statesmen, and par ticularly that of Mir. Moves, as contrast ed with that of General Francis O Barlow, whose fidelity to all his obliga- tions, and integrity, independence, fair ness and truth the report especially commends.
 The report draws attention to the fact that such a wrong might be repeated in any State at any presidential election, by the canyassers withholding the an- nouncement of the result of the election until the day fixed for the meeting of the electoral college, and then declaring persons who had never been voted for to be electors, when, according to this decision, such electors would be entitled irrevocably to cast the vote of the State. It therefore recommends a law provid- ing that where there is dispute as to who are the real electors of any State, the judgment of it's court of last resort, if certified to Congress before the meet ing of the two houses of Congress to receive and count the electoral vote. shall be conclusive as to the right of the disputing electors, and which vote from the State shall be counted, unless the two houses of Congress shall other wise agree.
 The report then takes up the case of Louisiana, comments on the powers of the returning board, speaks of it's trick cry i'll getting up false affidavits, and refers to the registration frauds in New Orleans, and the alleged Republican conspiracy in East Feliciana. The re- port says that the returning board would never have so outraged the people but for their encouragement from the visit ing statesmen, and the support which they and the troops gave them. Then follow details as to how some of the visitors were deceived by the local man. agers, and innocently co-operated in the frauds of the returning board, while others did not. It refers very briefly to the alleged bargain by which Hayes, who had three thousand votes less than Packard, got counted in, while Packard went out; and mentions MT. Sherman's s offer to prove intimidation, but says that whenever the committee offered to receive it the evidence was not produced, and they were met by some sham excuse for not producing it; how they had ex- amined many of the witnesses that were before the returning board, who, in al- most every instance, recanted and ex. plained how they came to make their false affidavit in the first place, and how such statements as they made before the
 
 Reference is then made to the Sherman letter, in regard to which the report simply gives the facts as they stand, stating that letter was actually written and largely influenced political action in Louisiana, whoever signed it; and draw ing attention to the attempt-charged to be in the interest of Mr. Sherman-by Mrs. Jenks, whose husband and brother ar y,fc ho fvraa ,x ment, to induce the committee to pro- duce forged letter.
 The report closes with reference to the danger of returning boards, and the greater danger of controlling elections and protecting canvassing boards by federal troops. and, above all, to the crowning danger with which the conn- try is threatened by reason of the enor- nous patronage centered in the presi dency, which makes the presidential office a prize so great that in order to control 1t the grossest frauds and viola tions of the law may be expected on the part of those who tsesire to profit by that patronage. It concludes with the finding that full effect was not given to the electoral votes of Florida and Louisi- ana l; that Moves, Sherman and others encouraged this result that the second certificate from Louisiana was forged as to two of it's names, Kellogg and Clark being privy to the deed. and that Til den and Hendricks received true ma- iority of the electoral vote and were the real choice of the people of the United States Ut the last presidential election.
 The Minority Report.
 The ra1noritu rnnopt If fb Q g.n.y Y,,i fton is signed by the three Republican mem- bers. The report compliments Chair man Potter upon his fairness and equit abla rulings, but dissents from many of tle views presented in the majority report. The report says that the Republicans confined themselves to the task of trying to make the l inquiries instituted by the majority something more than Democratic in vestigation of Republicans. so that what ever was put before the world might have some of the elements of an exam ination of both sides.
 The original subject of the investiga, tion was the honesty or dishonesty oi the election in Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina. For two years prior te October, 1878, the report says, Mr, Tilden and his agents, in season and out of season, had iterated and reiterated the charges that the canvassing boards of the doubtful States had acted fraudu lentIy and corruptly in the discharge o sworn duties. If these charges had been fortified by any proof, the char. acters of those who made the charger would be of no consequence whatever But in fact, the whole investigation, witt l the a. GOO pages of haarsaY and falsahood