The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-23
The CIPHER DISPATCHES.

MEETING OF THE POTTER coMMrTTEE-GENERAL
BUTLER MAKES STATEMENT HOW THE
FAMOUS KILOGRAMS GOT OUT LEFT TO THE
IMAGINATION.
WASHINGTON, Jan. ~, 1879.
The Peter Committee held long private session
this morning The democratic members first brought
up the question whether St. Martin should be called
u witness by the republicans discharged BY the
committee. Mr.. sheliabarscr. on behalf of sccrc-
tary sherman, thcrcupon presented letter. in
which, after critcising the course of the committee
in not recalling st. Martin on their own motion,
he asked that 81. Martin be recalled for further
examination ON the tcst .ony given in New Orleans
and the affidavit which he recently MED with the
committee. Tho democratic members manifested a
disposition to acquicscc in this request. although IL
was still conterdcd that the republicans ought 10
call 81. Martin as their own witness The subject
was however. laid until tomorrow without
definite action.
The question then arose whether The committee
should call any witnesses in regard TO the cipher
kilograms in advance of the passage by the Senate OF
the House bin making nm appropriation for the cx-
pcnses of the investigation, their funds being wholly
exhausted This question also went over for discus
sion tomorrow.
GENERAL. BUTLER EXPLAINS.
A member asked. where those dispatches
that were published in the New York 7ri5vncy'
Mr.. Hiscock thcrcupon expressed belief that
General Butler hal them ana the General made a
statement to the effect that certain dispatches had
into his possession ut early period last
spring. He found them upon his private table and
had no knowledge as to how they came there. These
dispatches. IL said. were part of those printed
in tho Tribune 1t SO, he had nothing 10 do with
their publication. They had bcen furnished TO
the Tribune before they came into his hands:
During the summer they missed for several
weeks, and subsequently they found again.
when he had them numbered and stamped amt put
in place OF safety. He was willing to place them at
the service OF the committee. and in doing So he
commended that they should be printed and made
public placed within the power OF any member of
the committee to make public. At the same time.
he protested against the whole system of iuvcsti-
eating the dispatches. aud insisted that IL would be
wiser for both parties not to inquire into them.
However, proper rcceiSts being given. the
nittcc could have the dispatches that in his
possession.
A short discussion followed the Generals remarks
to whether il would be advisable to print the de-
spatchcs at once in pamphlet form, but decision
arrived at.
The committee then adjourned until tomorrow
morning. when they will resume taking testimony in
regard to the Louisiana certificates by examining Mr.
Moses and several other clerks OF the senate II Is
not unlikely, MIR. Potter says that subcommittee
will bc sent 20 New York to- take testimony in respect
of the cipher dispatches. but determination has
yet been reached upon that subject.
The number OF CIPHER kilograms In possession of
General Butler. which he win deliver " the Potter
Committee tomorrow is GAL