Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-01-30
Letter from Washington.

TO Br APPROPRIATED SoR THEIR INvEs-
IIGATIoN-now POTTER, BUTLER. HALE.
CoNGtR. AND HEWITT rosED AND STOKE
GIN. BUTLER HAS A TRUNK ruLL ~ O.
rHEK pisPATCuEs-A uB-CoNMirTEE TO
TAKE THE EVIDENCE OF GOV. TILprN.
prom our regular CouespondentJ
The protracted dizziness OF routine bust
ness, pension. pstent, and appropriation
bills. was broken yesterday by the intro
daction OF the Potter resolution TO inve-ti-
gate the cipher kilograms. For the fret
time in weeks the gallery Of the House was
crowded In anticipation OF sensations. ana
"hc" Mr. Potter srose TO make the motion,
expcctsii0Q was on iiptoe. Mr.. Potter
gave his reasons for making the motion
now. and for not having made it before. In
slow and measured woris. and with de-
liberation OF speech altogether at variance
with his usual lightning dictlon. He !,
usually the most difficult member ol the
House for the photographers to take down.
utterins more words TO the minute than
any other representative. Amer he had an
imajveried against the misrepresentation
OF the press, and squared himself before the
country. he yielded 20 minutes Of his time
to the gentleman from Massachusetts. This
WAS the moment looked for. Gen. Butler
arose, rested his left hand on the corner OF
his desk. crossed his short LEFT leg before
his right. aud placing la, night hand on his
hip, was fac simiIe In prose of Florence in
the Almighty Dollar" But those who
expected 10 hear something rich and racy
about election frauds In Massachusetts
were disappointed. His short speech con-
tanned hint on this subject. but It was so
yelled In phraseology that few discerned il,
and the best caricaiured statesman in
on the broad grounds that il would not pay,
sat down. leaving all who had CON. TO see
fun. disappointed. The next star was Mr.
Eugene Hale OF Maine. His speech was i'm
the guileless old man. surrounded by
friends and nephews. who would now have
an opportunity to vindicate himself from
the charges OF having attempted TO pur-
Office to which he was not elected by the
people Mr. Hale was followed by 0mer
ID. Conger from Michigan, whose speech
was hardly up TO his usual efforts.
To Mr.. Hewitt Of New York, as chair
man Of the Democratic National Campaign
Committee, was accorded the privilege Of
concluding the debate. He read from q
printed manuscript strong argument In
favor OF investigation.
The motion authorizing the Potter Com
mittee to investigate the cipher kilograms,
aud appropriating $4,000 to defray the
expense of such investigation. WAS passed
with scarcely dissenting voice.
Mr.. POtter's Committee held long pri-
vate session this morning. The Democrat
ic members first brought up the question
whether st. Martin should be called as q
witness by the Republicans VI discharged
by the Committee.
Mr.. Shelabarger, in behalf OF Secretary
Sherman. thereupon presented letter. in
which. after criticizing the course of the
Committee in not recalling st. Martin on
their own motion, he asked that st. Martin
be recalled for further cross-examinatiop.
on the testimony given in New Orleans and
on the sffidayits which be recently filed
with the Committee. The Democratic
members manifested disposition TO acaui.
esce In this request. although Il was still
contended that the Republicans ought to
call St. Martin as their own witness. The |
question then arose whether the committee
should cali any witnesses In regard to the |
cipher kilograms in advance OF the passage |
by the Senate of the House bill making an |
appropriation for the expenses Of the in |
vestigatisn. their funds being wholly ex-
hausted. This question also went over for |
decision tomorrow.
The sending Of . sub committee to New
York to investigate the cipher dispatches.
was discussed. No conclusion was reach.
ed, but the committee seemed about even.
y divided, whether to conduct the investi-
CATION in this city or in New York. tits
thought that all OF the witnesses needed |
will be summoned TO Washington except
Gov. Tilden. and that sub eo,llaittee will
sit In New YORK to take his Testimony. |
Gen. Butler informed the Com. that he had
in his possession cipher kilograms number
ed from 70 $50 inclasive. He said he did !