New-York tribune., 1879-02-01
THE OBJECT IN COMING HERE.

M SECRET MADE OF MR.. POTTERS DESIRE TO Is
CAPE QUESTIONING MR.. TnDEN-oTHER PRESS
ING REASONS
lnY TELEGRAPH TO TUE TRIRUNEl
WA.UfNG1ON JAN 31.-MT POtteTs Committee
ac.idcd to-day to send o subcommittee OF five
,ocnbers 10 Newly 0rk to take testimony III regard
to the cipher dispatch conspiracy, instead OF con-
ductiuc the investigation here in Washington. This
ulan was most earnestly opposed by Governor Cox
and Mr. HiScock. who were the only Republcans
prc,cnt Mr.. Reed being detained at ms rooms by
sickness. but it was carried by the majority.
There are many reasons for not calling the CO.
parccners to this city which governed the majority
In the first place, if the investigation should be
held here il would be conducted by the full COM
mittcc with Mr. Potter himself at Its head Inc
duty of examining Governor Iilden, Manton Mar
ble ct al, is that would naturally DC
vcry distasteful to MI Potter, and he
has not concealed his desire to escape
it if possible. BY sending eub-com-
mittco TO New-York, Of winch lie is not a mem
ber, tlns is accomplished. If, therefore, there had
been 10 other reason for this plan of procedure
MIR Potter would have favored the course adopted.
But there were unquestioDably other reasons. By
sending the subcommittee, which has been named,
Ihe Democrats control the investigator, ana can
limit or extend its scope much better than II
the full committee should sit in Washington.
General Butler having been omitted from the SUD-
committee, has no opportunity to capture the IN
uuiTy as he did last Summer Mr. Mcmahon Is
lhe only Democrat on the subcommittee who
takes much part in the proceedings, and he Will
have entire control of the inquiry if lie goes to
Eew-York at the head of a subcommittee
Again. the investigation will be more secret If 1t
lakes place in New-YOrk than here. BY this it is
not meant that it will not be as fully reported by
The newspapers "a though the examination were
conducted here but that the audiences will be Of
4 different character. and such as it will be
pleasanter for the cOparccners to face. Ii Cover
nor Tilden should be examined in Washington,
the committee-room would be crowded with Repre-
lcntatives IN Congress, and there might he Senators
present. In New-York he could surround himself
by friends who would be in sympathy with him.
But probably the principal reason which has IN
Buenced the majority of the committee is the pur-
nose 10 spend the time that should be devoted TO
lhe investigation of the cipher conspiracy in push
Inc an inquiry in another direction hoping thereby
Io rake ND something on winch to base an attack
npon the Republican party, and then by sort OF
Chinese gong mode of warfare draw OIL pub
lie attention from the infamy of the Democratic
ronspiracy that has already been exposed It's as
serted land there is good reason to believe that the
assertion is trueD that when the subcommittee ar
rives in Ncw-York instead Of investigating to find
iarv "u, or The Democrats will summon the bankers
who had custody of the campaign funds of the
National Republican Committee in 1876, and pub
li.h TO the world the details of Mr.. ChandlerS
financial operations in the last Presidential cam
raign There is no evidence that Mr., H. Chandler
Will object to this, except that 1t is not pleasant to
have ones private affairs hauled over by uirlcndly
uands in spite of the fact that they are all correct
The examination will of course be barren of sen
saiona results but even then II may serve us pnr-
pose in postponng the real investigation which the
country demands until il Is too late TO make IT, 1t
begins TO look very much as though the Potter
Committee proposes To put a coat OF Whlte"dsh
anon Mr. Tilden and the cOparceneTS. y,
The subcommittee, as appointed, CONSISTS 0i
Messrs Mcmahon, Springer SteDgeT, Cox and HIS
cock Mr. McMahOn who has been chosen char
man is reported to have said that he will dc cline, on
he glOund that he has too much to do here. Mr..
Potter does not want 10 20 either. The CHAIRMAN
,hip will probably fall to Mr.. Springer if MIR. Nc
N.hnn ra1llV declines.