New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-11
THE DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE.
The DEMOCRATS INSPIRED By MOTIVE WHICH I
NOT ANNOUSCED-THE PROCEEDINGS.
LEY TELEnRAPM ID NE IRLnuNRL

NOT ANNOCSCED-TIE PROCEEDINGS,
my TELEGRAPH u HE TRIBUNI.I
WAsUINGTON, Jan. 1O.-The Potter Committee
held a meeting to-day, having waited IN vain for
General Butler toreturn. and with much apparent
/ reluctance took cognizauce of the cipher dispatch
conspiracy. The meeting WAS delayed IN order 10
enable the Democratic members to hold prellml-
nary conference. In the secret of the COM
mittee. Mr. Mcmahon offered the following rcso-
luton:
Whercas, Alleged dispatches In CIPHER have been pub
Presidential election Of 1870 10 Influence by
money or other fraudulent methods the votes
~ tie states Of louisiana Florida. south Carolina.
and Oregon Therefore.
Besoired, That the chairman Of this committee be di
reced 10 apply 10 the House for authority 10 investigate
The sane and other matter come cted with tHe d
inquiry.
The Republicans of the committee took the
ground that the subject covered by the resolution
was one in which they had no especial in
tcrest They said that they were not in
the FIRST place, in favor of any inycstl-
CATION that was calculated in any event
10 shake public confidence in the title Of President
Hayes and that nothing had occurred since the III
quiry began to cause them to change their minds.
The cipher dispatch conspiracy was not
matter about which the Republicans had any
especial concern, and they should leave the
Democrats to take any action on the subject that
they pleased. The Republicans would not oppose
the resolution. In the language of one of
I the Republican members of the committee
| &c We said TO them in substance that
had no dead man on our hands who needed
/ 10 be buried. The departed does not belong
TO us. He IS not even our cousin. and we aceuot
mourners. Under these circumstances. we do not
propose to weep or even 10 assist NJ the wake In
short the Republicans, after explaining their posi-
ton. declined to vote upon the resolution, and It
was passed by the Democrats.
The Republicans Will probably pursue the same
policy in the House. The minority members of the
committee will advise their friends not TO oppose
the inquiry by the Democrats, but not to become in
any degree responsible for it.
MOTIVES or THE INVESTIGATION.
There are two theories advanced in Washington
tonight TO explain the action of the Potter Com
mittee to-day. The fist Is that the Democrats
acted in consequence of request from
Nr. TIlden that they should do SO. The
other is that the movement orlgl-
mated among Democrats who are unfrlendiy
to Mr.. Tildcn and hope by the investigation to de-
stroy him a. a possible future candidate for the
Presidency. If Mr.. Tildcn has had communication
with member, of the Potter Committee the fact
has been kept a. a very closely guarded secret.
II Is true that rumors of request from
the statesman of Gramercy Park for
the cipher dispatch inqurr7 10 begin were current
about a week ago: butthey probably arose from the
fac, that certain Democratic members Of the COM
mittcc were at that time limiting that an iu-
vcsticatiou would certainly take place.
The more probable theory is that the late election
in Ncw-York City has alarmed some of the D'mo-
Gratis, and that, convinced that the inquiry
proposed Will result in III" utter desfruc-
tIon OF Mr.. Il!dcns political influence they
have brought n about Tor t4hai purpo,,''
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