New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-09-24
THE POTTER INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.

The CHAIRMAN, MIR. CLARKsoN y. POTTER, DENIES
THE WASHINGTON REPORTS OF lRBEGULAmuEs
IN THE COMMITTEES EXPENDITUrls
To the Edttor Of Thc TrtbHao.
SIR. THE TRIBUNE of this morning states that
mot a voucher is on file TO show hO@ the $4,000
first appropriated for the expense Of the Commit
tee Of Investigation, of which ! was chairman,
"was SPENT
This is an entire mistake. The las required tho
Scrgeant-at-arms 90 report the expenditure OF this
money. accompanied by vouchers in detail which
report and vouchers when examined and approved
by the Committee Of Accounts Of the House, shall be
deemed sufficient settlement of his acconnta-
tilitv - and the vouchers for the whole sum were
duly approved by and filed with that committee,
and still. as learn. remain GA file.
As to your suggest ton lAai there mast have been
something ia tr. expenditures OF tle committee 10
conceal desire to tax, fms occasion TO state that
nothing of the kind existed. Tic Ser<,ani-ai-arms
was authorized 10 pay for tine expenses IT
the main committee only upon my appr"valj
for the expenses of the subcommittee
only upon the approval Of their rcspec-
tive chairmen. ] took care that the voucher, Of
the main committee except in particular cases' such
as payments specially ordered by the committee
and the like should be approved not only by my
self, but by one OF the minority of the committee
and. generally, Governor Cox kindly and patiently
discharged tuat duty. The vouchers, thus approved,
then went TO the SergoanI-at-arns TO be paid, and
when paid were by him reported 20 the House. and
then referred to the Committee OF Accounts for oX-
animation.
I know that there was no dollar Of this fund I'M
properly spent for the main committee or about
which there was any occasion for concealment
Whatever. and am confident the same is true OF
the subcommittee No money was paid for induc-
mg testimony, or for secret agents. secret
services or. indeed. in any bat strictly legal and
legitimate ways. And. In March, before leaving
Washington. took occasion to go myself, with the
Clerk Of the Committee of Accounts, over the youch-
ers that had been paid for this whole 500. 900; in
order that | might be sure that there had been no
mistake in the amounts paid, and the receipts for
the same: and then found all the vouchers Oh file
and correct Your obedient servant,
CLARKsoN n. POTTER.
No. 81 Uall-st, Nclc- York, sept. 23, 1879.
1.-THE whole question Is as 10 wseTo these vouchers
are on file The brief paragraph in The TRIBUNE
which has drawn out Mr.. Pottei's letter was based
ON the disparches showing that 10 vouchers from tie
Potter Committee file m the regular place.
Such accounts pass through the hands of the First
Auditor the First Controller and the Regis
ter. No one of these officers according to
the dispatches, has ever one of the
Potter Committee vouchers. We have no
doubt. however, that Mr.. POtteTs statement
is exactly correct. To be complete it ought. per
baps to add that by the peculiar, and it IS said I'M
precedented provisions of the appropriation for the
Potter Committee the scrutiny of the usual officers
il escaped. The resolution provides that the SER
qeant-at-Arms's report of the expenditures. wheH
opprored by the House Committee Of lccouas shall he
held ga sufficient settlement. I'D