New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-05
THE CIPHER INVESTIGATORS.
ME. HUTTON TO ACT As CHAIRMAN. BEING THE
ONLY AVAILABLE MAN.
lBY TELEGRAPH 70 rue IRIBUNEI

ONLY AVAILABLE MAN.
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE IRIBUSE.l
WAsTIINGTON Feb. i.-Mr. Potter returned from
Ncw-York to-day, and with some help has sue
ceoded in reconstructng the subcommittee which
is TO visit New-Yora for the purpose OF beginning
the cipher conspiracy inquiry.
Mr.. MclIahon persisted in his refusal to serve as
chairman OF tho deputy investigators, and Mr.. Hun
ton finally prcva led upon 10 accept the place.
Mr.. liunton was aboat the only Democrat on the
| committee who has any reputation investi-
gator vino could afford to take the lead in over
hauling the cipher conspiracy. Mr.. Potter has per
sonal reasons, which are perfectly understood.
and which prevented him from serving Mr. Nor
rlSOn is too Outspoken in his hatred Of ex-governor
! lildcn to make him available. Mr.. Blackburn is
III training for the Spoakershp of the next House
of Representatives, and ms friends are unwilling
! that he should incur any unnecessary enmities.
/ Senator Thurman is credited with having ordered
| Mr. Mcmahon 10 resign and neither Mr.. Springer
nor Mr. Strnger would do. Mr.. IIunton has no init
mate personal relations with Democratic PrcSidcn-
/ tial candidates. He is not candidate himself Tor
the SpeakcrShip; and he has had experience in the
/ NLlNth Congress and in this which make him well
fitted to lead his party in this matter whatever the
/ position II may be driven into.
The Republican portion of the committee was
/
! Cox said that the minority of the committee cared
very htlc who should 20 to New-lork. but the
minority did think that II was important that the
right to select its representatives. on every sub
committee should not be gwen mp. II was right
! which on every previous o caSon had been rerog-
/ MED but winch in this case had been ignored.
/ The minority had selected NrsSTs. HlScOCk and
/ Reed. but Nj Potter appointed Ex-Governor Cox.
/ The latter therefore resigned from the ~ub-com-
mttce, and moved that Mr. Reed be appointed in
! his place.
Tie subcommittee will leave for New-York to-
! night, and Will begin It's sessions At the tIlth
/ Aycnuc Hotel Tomorrow morning. VT; liuhto1
says that n shall keep at work night and day. and
! shall complete the work of the committee IN New
/ York bv Saturday night. The Republican, viii
! probably summon no Witnesses IN Ncw-lork, but
will cali several from the Southern states after
/ their return. and cause them u be examined here
| in Washington.
! 4 General Press dispatch says that the Potter
! Committee met at 1l}O a. M, anG was IN secret
session for over an hour. The principal subject
discussed was the Craftsmanship of the sub-commlt-
tee appointed to take testimony m New-lorE.
Gcncal lIunton requested to fiji the position
but for some reason. probably because of his con-
ncction with the Electoral Commission, hc ap-
p.ared di~iuclincd TO do 80. Then II was appar
emily decided that Nh Stcuger should act as char
man. and Mr.. Blackburn be appointed member OF
the subcommittee in place OF Mr.. McMahon. Inc
result OF the secret session, however, WIS lildl
, General Huntou consented 10 act rs chairman, and
that Mr.. Reed was appointed As substitute for
Mr. Cox.
The question ma to when the Committee should
begin ITS work was next discussed II va, su--
gcstcd that until the subcommittee had an hand
the phoio-lithogmphcd di>patchc, there would b"
difficulty in conducting the invest cation. The
autographed copies of the Florida dispatches were
handed in. however, during the secret session, and
General Butler ,csitd that the subcommittee
miaht begin with these Mr.. Potter thought the
committee had better wait until the whole were
finished for the reason that To take the dispatches
rlcceIncal would require the calling of the same
men 10 tue stand perhaps half dozen
fines Ii was then intmltrd thar by evening the
hthographlng of the South Carolina dispatches
would also be- finished. Il thcu arranged that
the subcommittee should leave Washington IN the
evening and begin the investigation of the FLORIDA
and south Carolina dispatches AT noon on Wedncs-
| dav.
Mr. smith Weed Will be the first witness called
He will be followed by Messrs Pclton and Marble.
Whether Governor Tldcn will bee called has not yet
been decided.
/ The rest Of the committee Will meet here at II
o'clock on Wednesday, and continue the st. Martin
branch of the iuve>tlgat on. with Maddox aS the
first witness Judge SoutIw"od, II l. salo, VIII not
b called but ne has not yet been dismissed from
h attpudaurp