New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-08
THOSE DREADFUL CIPHERs.


TIE TRIBUNE given below.
THOSE DREADFUL CIPHERS
IuF POTTER COMMITTEE POSSIBLY TO TAKE NOTICE
OF THEM COMMUNICATING ELSE now
Tor rHF COMMITTEE TO ATTEND TO, REALLY.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.i
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE Potter Committee
viii hold a meeting on Thursday when II IS cx-
pected that something may be said by the Demo
cratic members about the cipher dispatches. Al
though no policy is known to have been agreed
upon by Mr.. Potter and his Democratic colleagues,
tie opinion seems to be gaining ground among men-
hers of both parties that II Will not he considered
best by the Democracy TO allow this session OF Con
gress To adjourn without some notice OF the ciphors
Mr. Potter said before the recess that II was very
probable that his committee would have TO make
an inquiry into the cipher conspiracy, but that he
did not proposc to be forced to aside from the
line Of investigation upon which he was then en-
clred until he had completed it. What the line of
investigation was to which he referred has been
shown by the visit TO Nev-Orleans the result of
which was reported ia g special dispatch from that
CITY to THE TRIBUNE.
This branch Of the inquiry is probably one about
which Mr. Potter will care to say very little IN hls
repor; Nj. Potter was certainly not anxious 20
spend part of the recess IN NewOrleaus, either TO
give Mr.. sherman an opportunity 10 call witnesses
Of ntlmIdati n in 1876 or to inquire about the
form of the certificates from Louisiana which were
counted in 1877. lie hi ght have ascertained from
Nh Shermans counsel in this city that the Secretary
did not care pursue his side of the investigation
further as we'll as from Judge Ray in New Orleans
Indeed il was announced on the authority OF cecre-
taTv sherman. last summer. that the investigation
had taken such a turn that he felt no further in
terest in it, Nor is this all. If subcommittee was
going to New-Orleans for the purpose Of examining
Of Soc ROT or
Sherman, the latter would certainly have been i'll
formed of that fact before the committee started,
and the Republican members would have been in
yted 10 take the lead 1t would have been a strange
way Of doing business TO start a subcommittee
from Washington TO New-Orleans for the
purpose of taking testimony III Dir. Shermans be-
half without ascertaining whether MT. Sherman
desired to have such testimony taken or not. The
other explanation, that the committee went 10 New
Orleans TO learn something more about the cleo
toral certificates from Louisiana. which were ac-
cepted by the Electoral Commission and counted
ny Congress- is equally incredible. The most Of the
previous testimony on that subject had been taken
in Washington, and the number of witnesses re-
naming to be examined was very small. Mr.. Potter
has had too much experience as IN investigator to
make a Journey of 800 miles order to examine
two or three or al the most half dozen, witnesses
IN regard TO a matter of so little importance.
But MI Potter unquestlOndDiy SuppoStu 'Hd' Nv
had struck bonanza mine of sensation in the
jerks package OF letters. and went TO New-Orleans
10 obtain possession of that package. After the
close of the session Of the committee IN Nev-lork
last Summer there we're many rumors that the com
mittee had IN reserve some document which when IT
was produced would cause a great sensation ana
bring great confusion upon the Republicans These
rumors finally took shape in assertion made by
General Butler to a friend, that Mr.. Potter either
lad or would obtain the genuine original OF the al
legged sherman letter. and that 1t would be pro-
duced AZ meeting Of the committee to be held
before the assembling of Congress, and when Its
effect upon the Fall elections would be greatest
The publication of thus report called forth sort of
half denial from General Butler; but the CORE
spondcDce between Mr.. Potter and the people IN
New-Orleans IN regard TO the jerks package OF
documents recently published, proves that at the
time the reports referred to were In circulation, MI
Potter was arranging to have these jerks docu-
meuts produced before his committee. What Mr.
Potter thought about these papers may be inferred
from the fact of hls having made the journey 10
Aew-Oreans.
The trick played upon him by Mrs. jerks has
made the committee more ridiculous II possible
than the spending of two DAYS time III Ncw-IorA
last Summer in the examination of a lunatlc. No
committee ever raised By Congress has brought to-
cether such an array of profession liars political
tricksters and practical jokers as the one over
which Mr.. Potter prcsdeS, and no set OF men has
shown such credullty as the Democratic majority OF
it, unless II was that Democratic committee OF the
XLIVth Congress which sOlemly examined Big
gems about the annoyance he suffered from General
Grants spirit which lie said came through the key
hole and disturbed his sleep at night. The Rcpub-
lcan members of the Potter Committee are III no
way responsible for Mrs. jerks or her tricks. They
did not call her in the first place. and they have
taken no part in her examination and no stock III
her stories They have been content 10 allow Ten
,ral and the Democrats to manage her. The
Republicans knew nothing about the truth of the
story she told. but they proceeded on the assump-
ton that if she told the truth the Repub lcan visit
ing 81 atesmen would be vindcated, bar If she was
lying would be dangerous TO have anything to do
with her testimony.
Unless the committee begins an investigation III
regard to the cipher dispatches its work Is probably
about done. The Republicans of the House have
not changed their minds during the recess az To
the wiscst pllicy to be pursued by them III regard
10 the ciphers TIE Tribune has made out the
ease they saw aud il the Democrats can afford to
Jet II stand as it Is, the Republicans certainly VIII
not seek 70 reopen the matter. As n Republican
representative said TO a Democrat to-day " In
the language Of - game know something about
but do not play we hold the age II YOU do not
bet we shall rake in the pot, and if you do shall
call your hand
A TEST BY MR. EDMUNDS.
THE DEMOCRACY OF The SENATE TO BE INVITED
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