Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-21
The Cipher Resolution.


ton OF $4,000 TO investigate the socalled cipher
dispatches alleged TO have passed between some
OF Mr.. Tiiden's known confidential agents, had
the effect of drawing to the House side OF the
Capitol to-day the largest audience which has
been gathered in IT this session, save. perhaps,
the opening day aHd the days on which the
funeral services over deceased members were
held. 1twas one o'clock when the clerk finished
the reading of yesterdays journal The floor
was tilled with members. During the reading
of the journal Gen. Butler passed over to the
democratic side of the chamber. took position
in Chairman Potter's seat, and for full half
an old Congressional Record He wore the
customary rose bud In the left lapel of his coat
Chairman Potter took a seat in front OF Gen.
Butler. After the reading Of the Journal Gen.
Butler returned to his own seat in front OF the
Speaker, on the republican side Chairman
Potter brought the subject before the House by
renewing the resolution of yesterday, for an
appropriation OF $4,000. He said that there
was no disposition on his part to cut Off de-
bate, but that as the request had been made OF
him 10 dispose OF the matter within an hour
by republicans and democrats alike he would
call the previous question, which would limit
the debate TO that time. Mr.. Whitthorne, of
Ienn., 0fered an amendment that the com
mittee further inquire whether any telegrams
in cipher have been destroyed and suppressed.
and If So by whom. Chairman Potter re-
FUSED to accept the amendment, because
he Sald the resolution as framed already con-
templated such an inquiry. MIR. Potter spoke
but briefly TO the resolutions. and only to dis
claim the imputatiOn Which had been attribdtei
to him, that he desired to prevent any inycSti-
cation with the Cipher teiegTams. He said II
had been within the power Of any member TO
move such an Investigation, but no one had
taken advantage OF the privilege on either side
OF the House until tie resolution was Offered by
himself, by uirectiCn Of the committee OF which
he was chairman. Mr Potter, with some feel
ing, also alluded to the imputation that he had
offered the resolution lie did last winter for an
investigation at the instance OF GOV. Ttden
He said that he did not know that he was to Of
fer the resolution twenty four hours in advance
of his Offering it, and he did so, not in pursl-
ance of any bargain with GOV. Tilden or any,
body else, but because he had been invited TO
do so by a joint democratic caucus OF the two
houses. lie 0hered now the resolution to inveS-
tgate the Cipher telegramS, because he had
been directed to do SO by the committee OF
which he was chairman, and for no other
reason.
General Butler was next accorded twenty
minutes to explain why he would vote against
the resolution. He hac. he said, no friends to
wanted no bad precedent established. He said
that the resolution did not ;lllege that any vote
OF any onlcer of returning board was intitl-
enced. and hence there was no jurisdiction Oh
the part OF the House. what then" said he
without jurisdiction is expected?' Either
somebody must be vindiCated or punished, ana
with each the House has nothing to do. II
should not take the public money Of the people
TO crafty the p1urient curiosity OF the friends
OF Presidential candidates. He said the nation
should be like a family. never investigate its
private matters. unless a divorce is prayed for
He thought too the Investigation would serve
no good public end, because it would be only
1ragmentalT, as the committee 5uulu moi get
dispatches Of both sides He minated that he
had some kilograms In ciphers, which no mortal
man had yet ever read. lie asked the democratic
slde which faction OF its own party it wanted
VlDd1cated. Turning TO the republican side, he
said. suppose it should turn out in the inyeS-
t1gdtlon that republican committee OF the
senate culled out democratic dispatches. and
destroyed those which passed between the re-
reSiit
for the investigation would be to stir up some
thing which had better not be seen or felt o:
slhet. 81, Better said he, give the s2oooo to
Tie family OF some poor working man, than to
waste IL III StlTflns up private scandals or pri-
VaIe wrongs" II the frauds had succeeded il
pu1tlDg IEden In the CHAIR, he would harn
Favored an investigation, but as they did not;
the House had nothing to Go with them.
Mr. Hale OF Maine, followed, advocating the
passage of tie resolution. lie thought it waS
due g TO the poor Old man in New York who had
been drawn from his business To run aS Presi-
Dental candidate that lie De given the oppor-
tunity TO GcnGunce with virtuOuS Indignation
the ShcItColnlhS OF his friends cO-paFcenecs
aid nephew
MIR. Conger also thought the Investigation o;
the dispatches should be proceeded with II.
had hardly warmed up the subject when hi
time expired. An effort was made to eyten
his time, but objection was made ..Then.
SAID Mr. Conger wit sarcasm, Mr.. Speaker.
IT another time Will continue these remarks
Mr.. Hewitt said. as the chairman OF the ma
tionai democratic committee he had last Win
ter given the Western Union telegraph com
pany authority to print any dispatches which
had passed between himself and others; that no
teieSfanS Offering the use OF money had ever
been sent TO or received from any officer of the
national democratic committee. He said the
Investigation. lie knew, would establish, beyond
question. that no telegram Offering the use OF
money, rpronerngi ii, was ever sent Or received
by the late national democratic Presidential
candidate.
THE VOTE IN PROGRESS
When the hour expired ana debate was closed
MT Garfield iose 10 a question OF privilege and
in o1delst0 extend debate moved to reconsidei.
the vote whereby the main question was order
ed. The democrats opposed il, and Mr.. Harris
OF Ienn. moved TO lay the resolution on the
table. 1hlS the republicans, with the exception
OF Gen. Butler. unanimously opposed By a
rising vote the republicans carried the motion
by yeas les to nays ll6. The. democrats, how
ever. called for the ayes and nays, ana at 2:I5
O'Clock The roll call was being proceeded with.
ANOTHER NoTARY.-The President today ap-
pointed John ID. COughlan a notary public Tor
the District of Columbia.
A POLAR WAVE has visited canada and New
England. Tie thermometer at Toronto yester-
day stood at - degrees below zero. The signal
service reports to-day show that at 80 a. m.
the fhelmometer at Burlington, VI, stood de-
glees below zero, and at Eastport, Me. below,
While Albany, y. Y. was recorded as the cold
est station III the United States, the mercury
being ) below zero. AT Washington it was .
degrees above. rise OF degrees in q hours.
END OF THF SCHURZ SHERIDAN WAR-Lieu-
tenant General Sheridan is in receipt OF letter
nom General sherman, under date OF Washing
ton, January nth, saying:-"I have for the
first time had to-day referred to ne the COM
munication OF the. Hon. Secretary OF the In
terror. Mr.. Schulz, of January 9Th, with en-
closure, with an endorsement from the War
department, No action This communication
was puDllShed about the day Of its date, and
mas oodotiesS been seen by you. | make the
explanation that you may not expect an official
copy. My own Judgment is that your answer
10 former communication was ali-Sufficent,
and perfectly satisfactory to me ana to the Sec
fetary or War, and that Mr.. SchurZS rejOinder
was addressed to the public and is in no man.
iief caicHiat ed TO reconcile conflicting opinions,
Improve the condition of the Indians, or make
the lhstTumentality OF the army in Indian man.
a2eMent more harmonious and effective. For
,nese reasons the controversy should end, and,
therefore, shall instruct the Adjutant General
10 place THIS communication OF the Hon. Secre-
'at5 oI lne interior ON file."
'oRcORAN GALLERY OF ART.-The sixth an
hual meeting OF the board OF trustees OF the
,orcoran Gallery OF Art was held last night at
me taiiery, when, after the usual portS were
ieau and accepted. all tie officers of the inSti-
.atioh We're reelected ior The ensuing year
i3 ~ tiie cafatorS report it appears that during
VIZ VIZ past year i've works OF art have been pur-
enasea and placed on exhibition. or these four
81 nf OH paintings, the most important OF which
II BieFSt3QtS Mount COrcoran: and one work In