New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-14
TRYING TO DECEIVE A COMMITTEE.

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBUNh'l
WASHINGTON. July l3.-The investigation by the
House ComIn tee on the Judiciary into the means ny
which CODY of the Nebraska census of 1874 was
palmed off upon the committee as a copy OF 'no
census of 1872, has become decidedly interes'ine'
and enough has been developed in the last lor'y
eight hours 10 make the situation exceedingly un-
comfortable for several aspiring Nebraska po.'-
ticians In Washington disp'icn W
THE TRIBUNE Of last Saturday .ne
facts so far as then developed oy .Ho
COMMITTEES were set forth. On that day ana on i'S'
Monday Colonel Majors the contingent Non
oressman-elect. was before the committee as a VIII
ness He was asked TO produce the letter wrl''en
70 him by Schwenk inclosing tie spurious census u
1874 aud replied that he had destroyed IT. as pois
of no great consequence. Up 10 yesterday tDe 'cSu
,nony taken by the committee tended strongly "
show that Scbwenk in the excess OF his zeal ior
Majors had inserted the figures 1872" in the Ger
fiicate which Alexander. the Nebraska secretary
of State. had obligngly left blank when
ne handed it to Schwenk, attached 10
a copy of the census of 1874. The
efforts of the committee therefore directed 10
fbe matter of finding out whether or not the hgnies
.lS72" were i'll the handwriting OF SchwenR' anu
two or three witnesses, including he1reSen'"ViN0
Valentine, of Nebraska, were summoned 10 produce
specimens of his hand writing. Yesterday nicih-
Der of the committee received an ih'iina'o" Una.
Majors had in his possession letter rom och"ehA'
and as he was again under examination ne was to
onired to produce it. He explained to the commit
tee that he received the letter at Lincoln NED
20 which place it was addressed IN care OF
sscretary of State Alexander. Immediately after
reading il he handed il TO Alexander. who, after
lapc,nc at its contents returned it, saying that he
tnew what II contained as he had just received a
similar letter from the same person. The letter re-
ceiyed by Majors reads as follows:
HOUSE OF REPRESENT ,TIvEs,
WASHINGTON ID. G., May l3 leSz
Fp,xSD Tom; Val seen the comfy today aud they
vii not hold of any onger than Monday when they VIII
der and Inc must liz up old Copy pretending 10 De
from GOsper 50 a tSa' h hs aGedayit when
as Pat %:. mas here Hie' it H' will bear out
SO s COPY AMI say that he took this for correct Pat
and Thai Gosper stated that he had 70 write 10 every
County will make plausible story, NU~ i av
Thing 10 ANYBODY so need not be mentioned III con-
c,oTy satements Now Tom don't fail with this
matter and that sly attends to this. Yours >v
r. S-Destroy this
"TomD 10 contingent" Congressman-e!e elect
Majors. "yal" is Congressman Valentine, Pat
is ex.contlngent" Congressman-elect Patrick o.
Halves. Sy Is j. JOSIAH Alexander, Secretary OF
STATE and a prominent candidate for Governor of
Nebraska. and Gosper was Secretary Of state eight
years apo when Pat " contingent Con
Sressmauelect II is understood that the testimony
taken by the Judiciary Commttee tends strongly
nj least oil had hand in e cooking up" case
which would satisfy the committee and insure re-
mort in favor of Majors. The letter appears strongly
r. snstain this view. 1t was the understanding
that only one member of the Judiciary sub Com,
mIttee needed to be convinced, and the Interested
nersons thought thai his scruples would he more
easily satisfied than the event proved. AleXander
who il a candidate for the nomination Tor Govern
or; Majors who wanted to come to Congress- val
,vhn 10 al
come again Halves who was once "a " contingent ,
congressman and would like the Congressional
salary for a couple of years and Schweuk are an
snod friends and of course willing 10 help each
other ali they can. 1t is understood that
the committee are not yet satisfied
as TO whose hand inserted the hguIes
I1s72D and thus attempted to deceive the
Committee and the House for the benefit OF Majors
The investiga ton will be continued wlte view 70
OF less Importance since the discovery OF Schwehk
letter 10 Majors.