The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-22
LIVELY DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
Apparent Rise in Tilden
Stock Reported.
BUSINESS BEFORE CONGRESS,
How an Extra Session May Be
Made Necessary.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON. Jan. 81. 1879.
THE CIPHER EsPArcHEs--cHARAcTER OF. THE
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
The House to-day ordered the Potter Committee to
investigate the cipher dispatches. The debate was
brief and of little moment General Butler made
the only important speech of the day He opposed
the Investigation beyond the rightful power of
Congress- because it had not for its OBJ
ject the Punishment of wrongdoing; because
the inquiry likely to turn into smut ma
chine; because the persons against whom offences
alleged officials. hut private citizens
and because the resolution does not allege that any
influence used to affect votes He said the object
Of Il democratic faction to destroy democratic
Presidential candidate, and turning 10 the repub
leans he adied:-''I ii shall prove that
the republican senate Committee. having had
.ie dispatches. the republican dispatches were de-
stroyod. now viii that looks" He gave curious ac-
count of the way in which the dispatches were
handled All the political dispatches of both parties,
he said. were delivered TO the Senate committee.
They examined them in part; the Senate adjourned
before the examination completed; the chair
man of the committee died; the dispatches were
suffered to lie about loose; whoever could help
himself. He found bundle OF dispatches on his
table. which he had never examined, and no one else
had
At this rate it would seem that the investigation
might vet bring fresh matter if there time
for it, and General Bntlers remarks gave Importance
to Mr.. Hewitts hint in his speech later on, that
of the republican dispatches not destroyed
and might come before the committee
The republicans pretended TO lay the blame Of
delay in the investigation upon the democrats. hut
the plain truth is that they have been very DESTROYS
there should he investigation partly because they
stand very well without and partly because
they not certain what effective
inquiry might develop against them. Mr.
Hewitt demanded the fullest investigation
declared that despatch suggesting wrong had ever
been traced to any person officially connected with
the election, and asserted that the republ
cans had attempted to Mr.. Tilden with their
calumnies in order to hide their own wrongful
seizure of the Presidency
1t must be said that Mr.. Hewitts earnest vindica-
ton OF Mr.. Tilden did not interest the democrats
who dropped out of their seats while he spoke until
that side of the House half emptied. Finally,
after narrow escape from prolonged and useless
discussion, the House decided almost unanimously
that the inquiry should proceed. Curiously enough,
the passage of the resolution there ap-
parent rise in Tilden stock here 1t is understood
here that he has all along urged his friends here to
fNl Investigation. The committee will meet at
eleven o'clock tomorrow.
Congress has but thirty-ive working days, exclud-
ing Sundays left and it has still large amount of
unfinished but necessary business before it. OF
course investigations go on in committee rooms
while other business is transacted in the houses, but
very little time is left for the examination Of wit
nesses and all unfinished business falls with the
expiration of Congress the 4th Of March the
chances that the cipher investigation will not
amount to much
BUSINESS BEFORE CoNGREss-IMMENsE AMOUNT
OF WORK THAT MUST FALL.
Of the eleven regular appropriation bills only one
has far become law. the West Point bill. The
Pension bill has substantially passed, the Fortifca-
ton and Consular and Diplomatic bills have passed
the houses and are before the conference commit
tees; the Indian and Naval bills have passed the
House but linger in the Senate; the Post Office, Army
Legislative Executive and Judicial River and Harbor
and Sundry Civil bills and the General Deficiency
bills still in tho House committees, but all in
state of forwardness, though all have yet to be dis
cussed in both houses and to be finally completed in
the usual committees in which the Senate
imposes its will in regard to appropriations the
House. and generally forces large increase of the
expenditures.
With this condition of business and the two houses
of different political compilations. there is for
the apprehension felt in quarters lest
session may be precipitated on the country. So far
neither party shows openly any desire for call Of
the Forty-sxth Congress. bu. it is undoubtedly in
the power of either side to make it necessary by only
trifng delays in the necessary business
As for the multitude OF other measures before the
House, many OF them OF Importance. IL Is difficult to
eco how than three four are going TO become
laws though many Of them committees have
spent much patient labor. The Census bill comes
under the head of necessary legislation and will
probably pass. The Geneva Award bill is before the
Senate. and will probably fail There is no likelihood
MOI of cU1 Tn fhe dufto Tba
tobacco tax is before the Senate committee and will
hardly get any further The Reagan Interstate Com
merce bnl is before Senate committee and will rest
there. The bill making silver dollars nterchan gcable
Tor gold grcenbacks will not get out of the House
Banking aud Currency Committee. The Mississippi
Levee bill will fail "a q separate measure.
The important legislation proposed to amend
the patent laws. which has been discussed
at length in the Senate has no hope Of getting
through both houses. The Electoral bill IL hope
las. besides these there the Pacific Railroad
Commssioners' bill. measure of importance to the
governments interest: the Texas Pacific bill the
burnside Army bill; the transfer OF the Indian Blu
rcau; the bin for the reclassifcation of mail matter;
u bin restricting Chinese immigration; another re-
turning money TO Japan; some important
legislation regarding telegraph lines
the movement 10 abrognte the Fishery
treaty and the reports OF various committees.
the Hewitt Labor Committee. the Potter Committee.
the Yellow Fever Committee, the Quarantine Report
the Davenport Inquiry. the Robson Investigation
the seward Investigation and the Teller Committee
Moreover the House has still four contested election
unsettled and there four sets of eulogies OF
deceased members be Delivered Messrs. Douglass
schlcirhcr, Hartridge and wiliams---each OF which
usually consumes an afternoon.
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