Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-01-22
FROM Is.7SNzITG TOY.
ESPECIAL TO THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
WASHINGTON, D. O.. Jan. D.


WAsBINaToN, d. O.. Jan. -
The Potter committee met this morn'ng.-
General HuptoD waa not prescof, laHlng gone
TO Vireinia to attend court! General butler
made the remarkable statement that Tor long
time past tho famous cipher dispatches had
been in his possession, but that how 80 1t was
impossible for him to tell, as he really did not
know; that after they had come iato his posses
sion, they, by means also upkoown TO him, got
away from him and into the hands Of the Ne"
York Tribune, and had sioco been returned 10
him, but that the process by which these trans
fers had been made was as lnexpllca6lc 10 MN
a il must be to the rest CT the committee. tie,
however, had them now in bis pcssesso2, and
if tho committee would comply With certain
conditions be would impose he would deliver
them up, though fer tho same reasons be ad'
yarced ia bis speech in tho House yesterday
he would edvis, the committee to have nothing
more to do with them. Tho committee III
stIucted him to prepare a resolution stallog the
conditions upon which he would surrender the
dispatches and then adjourned. Tho session
was private, but MIR. Potter. from whom the
above Information was obtained. SAID that
though proposition was made to defer action
until tho Senate he'd concurred 10 the resolu-
ton making the necessary additional approprl.
alton, the committee would doubtless Proceed
Immediately with tue Investigation.
Judge Harris, Of Va, to whom as sub
committee Of one the Judiciary Committee re
ferred The Royal bill for the extension ci the
jurisdiction Of tho federal courts, presented to
the House by Mr.. Tucker, at the request OF
Gen. Huutop, has made an adverse report,
which has been adopted by the whole commit
loo, and the Judge has been directed by the
committee TO report it to the House when tho
committee is again called upon for reports.
Several members of tho Finance Committee
of tho Senate are absent, and to day the i'm
preston seems to be that no report will be
made this week on the bill to reduce tho tax
on tobacco.
Speaker Randall in The House 10 day cx-
planned that 10 tho taking Of votes 90 the no.
ton to extend debate on the Potter resolution
yesterday the mistake Of recording tho ages
10 noes" column was discovered before it bad
reached tho "C.'s and that az examination
of the tally sheet showed that the mistake had
rot affected the correct result of tho vote.
The House to day was engaged for so,aa tinlo
after the reading Of the j1urnal Oh bill! ap'
propriatiDg $4,000 to supply deficiency IN
the contingent expenses OF tho House tor TIE
use cf the several investigating committees new
at work.
MIR. Lydecker, who WIS removed from the
New York custom house with the other Conk.
liog appointccs, has arrived here With the
answer to the charges made against those ap.
poiutecs presented to the Senate in executive
session By Secretary Sherman last week These
answers will be laid bt orc thu Cemmittec on
Commerce CT tho Senate to morrow; that COM
mittee will report adversely on tho contirma'
ton of the President's appoiDtces. but whether
enough democrats can DO obtained 10 secure
the adoption of tho report remains to be tested ;
President Borst, Of the Washington and st.
Louis Narrow Gauge Railroad, is still here Do
ipg all he can to advance the interests 81 his
road. lie told ma this moroiug that Mr..
Buckuer had informed him that the bill Tor his
road would be brought up as soon AZ possible,
probably during the next few days. However,
as the session is rapidly drawing to close, per.
sons not 80 sanguine IS MIR. Borst, seem to think
that nothing will be done With the bill ty this
Congress-.
Tbrco clock this afternoon is the hour for
tho introauctionn the House Of the resolutions
Of respect to tho memory Of tho late member
from the first district ID Virginia. Is. Is. Daug
lac. Though it is nos two clock it 10 not yet
decided who shall present the resolutions. At
q meeting Of the delegation shortly after tho
death of Mr.. Douglas tho presentation @! the
resolutions was left to either Mr.. Gooda or
Judge Harris, as those two gentlemen might
determine, and it was supposed that judge
Harris, the oldest member OF The delegation,
would introduce them. 10 day, however. i,
was stated thel Gen. Hutton, who had gone
home, had requested Mr.. Gocde 10 present.
tho resolutions on his part. Among thoao who
will make speeches on the occasion arc Messrs.
Goode. Tucker and Pridemorc.
There is rumor atloat here that Postmaster
Forbes, Of Nchuond. is in some danger RI
losing his Office.