The New York Herald Newspaper, March 7, 1879, Page 4

UL CUE BESPATCHES. ‘Majority Report of the Pot- ter Committee. THEFT OF THE TELEGRAMS EXPLAINED. Sharp Practice of Republican Leaders and Their Tools, THE NEGOTIATIONS CONDEMNED. Mr. Tilden Exonerated from Any Con- nection with Them. STATEMENT BY NEPHEW PELTON, Wasuixcton, March 6, 1879. ‘The Potter Committee huve made the following re- port on the cipher despatches :— The Committee for the Investigation of Frauds in the Electoral Count, which, by the resclution of the House of January 20, 1579, were directed to inquire into certain cipher despatches, &c., respectfully re- ort:— Pephat in the autumn of 1876 the Western Union Telegraph Company gave orders to its employés at all points to or from which such despatches nd been sent or received or repeated, to forward to its main office at New York all despatches and copies of de- spatehes relating to the Presidential election of 1876, aud the same were theretpon collected and forwarded to New York, where they were assorted in packages with reference to the points from which they came. The purpose of the company was to keep the despatches from being exposed to process from the courts and from Congress, and thus k them from publication. With that view they di- reeted that the assortment of them be conducted wn- der the care of ‘ur. Cary—office attorney of the com- pany—and that when assorted they should remain in his charge, as being a person less likely to be au moned to produce them than the proper officers of the company. In this selection all cipher and other despatches referring or supposed to refer in any way to the olection,-including all despatches in + of which the operators were in doubt, were collected and came into Mr. Cary’s charge, to the number of something over thirty thousand, Sub- penas having been issued by the Committes of the Monse of Representatives on Louisiana Affaira, of which Mr, Morrison was chairman, calling for particular Louisiuna despatches, and by the Com- nitttee of Privilegesand Elections of the Senate, of which Mr. Morton was chairman, calling for par- ticular Oregon despatches, the same were selected from the mass thus putin thecharge of Mr. Cary and a particular inventory of them tuken. 8 nent! a general subpeena having been served upon the members of the Executive Committee of the tel company, commanding them to produce all spatches relating in any way to the election of 1571 before the Morton conrmittce, the company directed Mr. Cary to deliver to Mr. Whitney, the manager of the company at Washington, all the despatches in is charge, and Mr. Whitne; heving taken therefrom ‘the specific Oregon and Louisiana de- spatches aforementioned, placed the rest of the despatches, amounting in number to 29,275, im a trunk, taking un inventory only of the num- ber seut from or to particular points, but no further designation of the date, sonder, receiver or contents. The particular despatches required by tae Morrison and Morton committees were delivered on the 23d and 24th of January, 1877. The remaining 1,275 despatches were on the 25th day of January, 7, pursuant to the direction of Mr.'Sargent, one of the Morton committee in charge of the matter, delivered by Mr. Whitney either to the clerk of that committee, Mr. Burbank, who was a brother-in-law of Mr. Morton, or to the person for the time being in charge of the committee room, locked in s trunk, the key of which Mr. Whitney at the same time de- live to the clerk of that committee. DESPATCHES ADSTIACTED. The Louisiana despatches received by the Morrison committee were in due time returned to the tele- graph com} ke Those received e the Morton committee, both the specified lot of 241 Oregon de- spatches and the remaining lot of 29,275 undesi despatches, remained in the custody of that com- mittee, not open to general or careless inspection, but, on the contrary, on close and under guard unfii the 13th day of March, 1877, when the telegraph. company, having been notified they could recover the same, agplied through Mr. Whitney to the off- cers of ‘the committee, and received back the trunk in which they had deliveret the despatches to the committee, locked, together with the key of the same, accompanied by the statempnt that there were ull the despatches which had becn delivered by the company to that committee. This trunk, with the despatches thus believed to be enclosed, wus forwarded to New York, aud in due time, under the regulations of the company, was opened ‘aud the despatches thevein contained desiroyed by burning. The telegraph company were not aware at the time that thero had not been been returned to them all the despatches which they had delivered to the Morton Committee. In point of fact, however, @ large number of despatches had been abstracted while they were in the custody of that committee, Of these about seven hundred were, as late as May, 1978, in the possession of one ‘George Edward Bullock, of Indieua, who had been the lmesseuger to that committee, and a protéxe u 10 ot its chairman, Mr. Morton, and Be- cnred, upon the recommendation Mr. ‘Thomas J. Brady, of Indiana, the Second As- vistant Postmaster General, and others from that State, an appointment as Consul at Cologne. Upon the eve ot his departure, in May, 1878, and just after your committee had been appointed, Bullock delivered these despatches to his friend, the Hon. J. 1, Evans of this Mouse, who passed them over to Mr. Brady for alleged safe keeping, who had them copied, and, after consultation with Mr. Hale and others, furnished those copies in part to Mr. William E. Chi secretary of the National Republican Committee, and in part to the New York Tribune, 80 that {rom Mr. Brady or Mr. Her, either directly ot through others, copies of all these despatches -came into the possession of the Tribune. THE PUBLICATION. Some of the originals thus assorted by Bullock ont of the whole lot of 29,275 telegrams Mr. Brady for- warded anonymously to the Tribune at a time when it wes claimed that journal bud no original tele- grams. The rest of the originals Brady gave Mr. Chandler, who left the same in the office ot General Butler, a member of this committee, in his abpence, without acquainting him trom whom they came, aud in whose possession the committee found therm, The Tritune procured the copies of despatches which it had thus obtained to be transiated by Afr. Hassard aud other gentlemen in its employment, in which work they exhibited v reat capacity, and contd be trame- bé obtained to work upon. ‘hes, so far as they were aphed, and the others, lection, to be printed, We have also caused tue despatches to be translated by Professor Edward of the Noval Observatory, and return his with, although, of course, he wus largely the prior translations made by the fri- dune stat, which, however, from inistakes in the copies or other causes, contained some errors. Generally the telegraph company seem to have exereined due care in respect of the preservation aud privacy of their despatches, and the theft and pubiication of the dexpatches in qpestion do not eom to be in any way their fault. At the same time wo cannot but suspect that Mr, Orton, the president of the company, since deceased, who was an earnest and active republican lew furthered the delivery of the despatches in the itody of the company to ® republican committee of the Senate rather tl to a democratic committee of the House. He had before shown his bias by permitting to be withdrawn from the files of the company, jusc betore it was ox- gress might call for despatches, certain ent during the campaign by the Post- Mr. Tyner. Some of tiese despatches, y testiled, relate to the purchase, in the vreenbock terest, of organs and jeaders in the October campaign in Indiana, others to the transfer tu Indiana « rtain sums of money for the Novem- paign, and were couched in an agreed upon THR “INDIAN APPOINTMENTS.” On the 34 of November, 1876, Mr. Tyner tole- zs hed fom, Indianapolis to Sir, Zachariah chandler, the chair of the Ropublican National Comitteo at Now York :— 4 If you vannot appoiut two Indian agents please appoint one, To whieh Mr. Chandler answered :— Feprosenting the two appoin veal Henk of ledianepas, ns tM Jhandlor then responded :— Te will be done to-day. Mr. Tyner say# that the first of those despatches meant Tho $10,000 for chmpaign purposes will be fornished. And that Mr, ‘Tyner’s reply to this meant :— Put the sat of $14.00 fr campalier parposes te the €redit of the Contes! Bank of Indiagapolis. And that Mr. Chandler's finel rejoinder being trans- lated meaut:— anth® #10190) for campaign purposes will be deposited to. ay. As ont examination has not extended to transne- tiene prior to the Presiden plection of 1576, in tho Stat ot lwiiana, we not porened the , Mavowtigation of this my wut one can seo NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1879.—TRIPLE how very naturally the officials of the tete- | trom Mr, ‘Weed, informing me that seer tema , raph company shi have failed to recognize | in behalf of # majority of the Returning” of hese most improbable cipher despatches as | South Carolina to give certificates te fhe demu- having any concesied meaning, but regarded | eratic electors for money. Domoeratic National them rather as corrup: despatches, which Mr. Orton srmitted to be withdrawn by some of his party riends. That they were able to recollect the de- spatches so nearly and could recall bo other instance of the kind is alike to the credit of their efficiency and of the general man ent of the company, and compares favorably with what happened after the dlospatches came into the hayds of Congress, and suggests that nothing im the protection of de- sputches by telegraph would be gained by trans paso ‘thet Deslacss to the government, but the contrary. NECESSITY FOR CIPHERS, From the nature of the transmission of communi- cutions by telegraph it is unavoidable that what is sent must be known by various persons intermediate the sender and receiver. The resort to cipher in such itches has, therefore, become a necessity for business and State purposes all over the world, This would form a protection to those concerned if despatches remeined invio- late. It is not for us to suggest whether any legislation is required to Piggy rivatq tele- grams from being purloined, or being ex; through the carelessness, partivlity or faithlessness of telegraph employés, while at the seme time main- taining the public interest and Rrovging Se the Rroducson of despatches in proper cases. ‘hile the despatches remained in the Senate cammittee, the Oregon despatches were under’ the direction of Seustor. Mitebell, The Committee ot Privileges and Elections in the House were permitted gocess to these despatches on tho 3d of March, and foun cer- tain despatehes in councction with the Florida and South Carolina election, published in an appendix to their report, which were in a kind of cipher, consist- of @ substitution of “oranges” for Floridy snd “cotton” for South Carolina, and ‘‘warm” for favor- able and “cold” for hostile, or the like, which re- quired little effort to comprehend, and whieh Mr. Chandler styies ‘such a feeble and worthless cipher almost anybody can tell what it means.” (P. 527), REPUBLICAN DESPATCHES. The committee conducting the examination do not seem to have observed any of the despatches pub- lished by the Tribune. This might be either because they had been already abstracted or from inalvert- ence. It is certain that prior to that date Mr. Brady, Assistant Postmaster General, had been al- lowed to withdraw his despatches in cipher when acting as counsel with the republican visitors in Ftorida, No one of the gentiemen of the Senate committee or their employes, except one translator, have been or offered to appear before us, aud owing to Bullock’s absence we have not beon able to secure his testimony or to ascertain what other dea; hes besides those taken by Mr. Brady and those Bullock delivered to Evans were abstracted while these telegrams remained in charge of that committee. From the manner in which they wore assorted into lots, bound by paper or rubber bunds, the expert who destroyed them thought that probably a fourth of the whole number could have been removed, like leaves torn from different parts of a book, without their removal being apparent at the time of the de- struction of the remainder by the telegraph company. Considering the watchful, competent and intelligent | ewe custody in which these despatches ad been kept for fourteen months, first in the com- inittec and ¢l in private republican hands, it was to be looked for that nothing would now come to the light not wanted by the parties in charge, and it would have been most unreasonable to have ex- pected that these expert Indiana managers any more than Mr. William E, Chandler or Mr, Eugene Hale would have left in the parcel that came to the com- mittee any messages reflecting seriously on the conduct of the le eareceenry managers or oo The republicans in charge of the despatches could, of course, ascertain whether they were in cipher or not, by whom and to whom they were sent, and bad the means of confidentially communicating with all their party friends concerned, and of thus learning whether it was desirable to abstract or permit them to abstract despatches or not. And it is very evident, as well from Mr. Brady's and Bullock's uction as from the nature of things, that those who desired would be permitted to avail themsetves of such an opportunity. EFFORT TO MISLEAD. Among the lot which came to our hands, a few @espatchcs sent by republicans, in various ciphers, remain. Most of these have been translated. Some of them, sent by Dennis, the manager of the Alachua frand in Piortda, are in a substituted cipher, which, owing to the small number, it hes been found impos- sible to transiate. It may be safely assumed, how- ever, that if these ever come to be finally trans- lated sane will be found in them reflect- ing w the persons connected with them or w party action they represent. It will be noticed that these repuvlican cipher despatches are disjointed and scattered over considerable periods and detail no continuous action, und they seem to have been leit rather to mistead the public into the idea that there was nothing peg tween the re- pusblicans which required to be kept from view than ‘The translation of the cipher tiattons on the part of cer- ‘ilden, after the election. to of the States of South ‘or any other reason. despatches disclosed tain near friends of Mr. secure the electoral vote Carolina and Florida. NEGOTIATIONS CONDEMNED. is secm to have apprehended that the These electoral yote of those States, which mor believed Delonged to Mr. Tilden, would be corruptly declared for Mr. Hayes, and to have regarded themselves ag justified m endeavoring to defeat this corrupt and fraudulent action by submitting to the payment of moneys which,they were informed some of the cun- vassers demanded by way of binckmail, as consider- ation for withholding from this wrong, and to have freien se entered into negotiations to that end with those claiming to reprosent those boards. But whether this be so or not we do not in an; way justify or excuse their action. They commit & gross wrong, injurious to the candidate they Gesired to serve and an unqualified ou @ upon the great party to which they belong far as appears from the testimony before ‘us these nego- tiutions were not authorized by the Democratic National Committee nor its chairman, nor any per- son entitled to speak for them. Neither has any witness testified that these be ree send were author- ized or approved by the candidate for the Presidency. In the case of South Carolina the negotiations pro- cceded #o far that this Hardy Solomon, claiming to be the agent of the Canvassing Board, came to Halti- more to receive the large sum of $60,000 or $40,000, to be deposited, payable when any of the vote of that State was counted for Tilden. And an ap- plication being then made to Mr. Tilden to advance the same, he at once decliued and refused to have anything to do with the negotiation, whereby the ume was broken up and defeated. In Florida the despatches disclose that two propo sitions were transmitted, and that one of them was directed to be conditionally accepted. In what occurred was made the subject of examination and report by former committees. The persons connected with these negotiations, #0 far as we have secured their testimony, ull declare that their connection with them was in no way authorized Mr. Samuel J. Tilden, whose par- tieular they were. Mr. Tilden has himself voluntarily to corroborate that statement under oath, and no witness has appeared before us to contradict him or to establish that his name had not become associated with these transactions through the mistaken zeal of his followers and friends and without authority on his part. No charge trom any source whatever has a¢ any time attached to the name of Mr. Hendricks. All of which a respectfully submitted. CLARKSON N. POTTER, WILLIAM R. MORRISON, EPPA HUNTON. WILLIAM 8. STENGER, JOHN A, McMAUON. JOSEPH C. 8. BLACKBURN. WILLIAM M. SPRINGER, COLONEL PRLTON GIVES THE HISTORY OF HIS CONNECTION WITH THE BARGAIN AND SADE BUSINESS, REITERATING THAT GOVERNOR TILDEN EXEW NOTHING ABOUT THE MATTER. Colonel W. T. Pelton has up to this time abso- lately declined to be interviewed regarding his con- nection with the “cipher telegrams,” and aside from his testimony before the Potter Committee he has heretofore said nothing avout the case. In reply to a question of the reporter of the Henarp, last evening, however, Colonel Pelton said that, now that the Potter Committee had made its report, there was no longer any reason why he should not auswer any questions put to him. He thought that ft would not have been proper for him to appoar as intending to influence public opinion in advance of that report. Thus encouraged tho re- porter became an interviewer, and the following con- versation occurred: — Berourer—There has been a great deal said of your connection with the cipher telegrams ? Coloncl Prttox—Yes, I think there has, Reronren—When during the campaign did you first use cipher? Colonel Pxirox—Ciphers were used during the whole campaign, otheriviso everything said by us would have been known to the other side, Every business man who desires to keep his transactions private uses acipber, A cipher telegram in business has just the same reiation to an opon one that a sealed letter bears to a postal card. Repoutra—Then the cipher was not usod solely after the election? « : Colonel PeLron—Why, of course not, But I sup- pose you think the points of importance or public interest that are involved in the cipher correspond- enoe aro those concerning negotiations with mem- bers of the returning boerds of South Carolina and Florida, Revorten—Are the translations of the cipher de- epatches aa published correct? Colonel Psuron—While there are some defects, most of the translations relating to thove negotia tions seem to me to be substantially correct. ‘There are, however, among those published many that, so far as I rememigor anything about them, seem to me to be inaceurate, THE FIRST OFFERS TO KELL. Rerouren—What was the first intimation you te- i that any meinber of @ recurning board was PeLros—Telegrams wore received hv me had information that tho re Committee iy te tae precinct electors. m veeched the that these precinct returns hed by the county canvassers. Under these cntoum- stances it was communicated to me that # majority of the Returning Board—-while admitting that the dem- ccratic electors had by the precinct returns a-ma- portly of the yotes cust—had to exact pay r giving the certificates to the democratic cleotors, or, in the event of this being refused, to issue the.cer- titicates to the Hayes electors, Rerorren—Then these telegrams were to you ami Bot to the committee? Colonel PeLron—Certainiy. They were received by me personally, and the anewers to: them were sent-by Me personally. Reporrer--What decutedgp had Governor Tilden or the National Committee of them? Cotonel Pentont-None whatever. This mach T simabere cf tie’ Demvcestie, Hetionat Comaatte members of tho 100, that in answering the telegrams from South Caro- lina aud Florida I acted entirely upon my own re- sponsibility, without consultation with or advice from any one. THE DESPATCRES TO PARK. Reporren—There has been a deul of talk about despatches being to yom.at Grem- ercy Perk, How about that? Colonel Perron-—Well, as a matter of‘fact, the telegrams addressed to me _at Gramercy Bark were delivered either at No. 59 Liberty street or at the Everett House, where I was usut joo be faamd. I had giyen orders to that effect. The telegram ad- dressed to Mr. Smith, at No. 15 Gramercy’ Park, turns showed 3 Int about wht the Potter Committee ing! 60 par ticularly, delivered at the Everett Houwe as I Pecollect, Revonregn—When you went to Baltimore tomest’ Mr, Weed did you have any money with you? Colonel Penrox—Only enough for my personalsex- Penses. ReEPorrER—Then you were not prepared to close the proposed bargain? Colonel PELToN—No; I was not prepared to accept the offer that had been submitted to me to buy the len iat, | Board of South Carolina; but I deemed best for the interest of the party that I should entew tain the proposals and consnit about them. , RevorTen—What assurance had you that stich pro+ posals had really been made? Colonel Petton—Why, when Mr. Weed tol: hed, me that ho had received such propositions was enough for me. I knew it to be true. Revorten—How avout the offer trom Florida? Colonel PeLros—Telegrams were received by me from Florida naming the price at which the Return- ing Board of that State could be bought. I replied to one that the price was too high, a to the others sssenting to the proposition. Lacted with the haste of the occasion—the time was very rt and action secomed necessary. While I assented to the propusi- tions in decisive terms I had neither the means my- oe nor the authority from any onc to consummate NO MONEY TO BUY VOTES. Neither at the time I sont those telegrams, nor be- fore nor after, did I have or control the amount of money that would have been needed to consummate any of these transactions, Frat acme then, did you assent to the pro- ? . Colonel PxLton—I was moved by the belief that the oppo tty was determined to secure a result favorable to themselves at any hazard and at once, and that to thwart this immediate action on our art was necessary. I therefore concluded, without esitation, to reply as I did, and although the terms were thus decisive the transaction was, as it must have been under the circumstances, entirely incom- plete and my assent tothe proposition purely ex- erimental. Besides this, I was prompted by a wish fully and immediately commit who were ready to sell their votes, This effected, I intended to lace the whole matter before the Democratic Na- ional Committee for such action as the committte might think proper to taxe. ReportER—But I understood you to say that these offers to sell were not communicated to the commit- tee? Colonel Penton—That is true, In the case of South Carolina the sepetetioe was stopped at once by any recall from itimore. In the Florida case the telegram saying it was “too lite” foilowed so closely upon my assent that no such comynunication to the committee was necessary and none was made. GOVERNOR TILDEN’S INNOCENCE, Rerortrr—But did you not’ report your action in these matters to Mr. Tilden? Colonel PELTON—No; I did not inform Mr. Tilden of the existence of the correspondence either with South Carolina or Flortda. I purposely kept from him all information I had on such subjects, RevortER—Do you know how the proposals to sell the Returning Board's yotes came to be made? Colonel PrxLron-—All I can say is that those prop- ositions originated in the States from which they came. They were not invited or sought by us. Cer- tainly no person was sent to South Carolina or Florida by the Democratic National Committee or by any one within ny knowledge or by myself with, any instructions or authority to buy any camvassers or returning boards or electors, or to influence them by any impi means. Rerorr 0 I understand you to deny that money was used in any of the States for the purpose of securing any clector or the members of any board? Colonel Pxirox-—I say most positively that no money was used for any such purpose. In no case within my knowledge was any money raised, pro- vided or sent from New York or elsewhere, for the purpose of purchasing or ibfluencing the votes or setions of any returntig board or electors. ‘The small sums red to in some of the telegrams were either for the purpose of paying the expenses of some of the gentlemen who went from here or for the ex- penses of the local managers. THE POTTRR COMMITTEE MINORITY REPORT. Rervorren—Have you read the minority report of the Potter Committee? . Colonel Pxtton—Yes. Revonrrer—Well, what do you think of it? Colonel Perrox—It 1s unfair and untrue. Reronren—Untrue from your standpoint? Colonel Prurox—No. Untrue because it deliber- ately falsefies the evidence taken by the committee. RerorteR—In what respect? Colonet PeLtoN—Ilt asserts that the returning boards of South Carolina and Florida were not for sale, when it is a matter of public notoriety that they wero. Certainly no fact was more clearly proven: by the testimony taken by the committee. Rerorren—Well, you have some personal knowl- edge of the subject? hi Colonel Pzutor—I know that we could have bought the returning boards of both those States had we chosen to do #0. I know, also, that we did not buy them and that the certificates were given to the Hayes electors. I know, also, that the republicans connected with them have received office if they did not receive mouey. But cither by money or office they were certainly bought to give tho certificates in those States to the Hayes electors. UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. Wasninctox, D. C., March 6, 1879. ‘The following business was transacted in the United States Supreme Court to-day :— On motion of W. H. Trescott, John C. Brown, of Pulaski, Tonn., was admitted to practice. No. 1,001. John A. Little et al., plaintiffs in error, vs. Margaret jal_et al.—Error to United States Cireuit Court for the Western district of Texas.—On motion ot J. E. McDonald writ of error docketed and dismissed, with costs. No. 525. H. R. Jackson et al., ants, vs. The Vicksburg, Shi and Texas road Company; and No. 256, The Vicksburg, Shreveport and Foans Railroad Compeny, appellants, vs. H. R. Jackson et s— ment continued by M. H. Carpenter and Joun T. Ludeling for railroad company ¢t al., and John A. pons cor for orale et al. Adjourned until to-morrow at twelve o'clock. LONG BRANCH FIREBUGS. ~ Lona Buancn, March 6, 1379, The police and Messrs. Lelands deny thet an attempt was again made last night to fire the Ocean Hotel, The rnmor is told by the villagers with seoming credibility, but ite origin cannot be traced. It is not likely that the “flrebugs” would have the temerity to fire the building again, espocially just now, as day and night the hotel is guarded by a patrol of watchmen snd firemen, who watch the movements of any stranger visiting the building. On evory Fed and at every door is nailed a notice = aing “Positively no adurittance except on special yusiness."” Several more New York detectives are now at work on the ease, and the native fishermen police of the town are working with zealous zest, seizing on any- thing that seems a possible clew. Nevertheless the case is yet enveloped in impenetrable mystery, LONG BRANCH PIER. Loxo Brann, March 6, 1879, A ramor has been circulated that the Long Branch pier project has fallen through and that there has been # suspension of work. Mr. Warren Leland, Sr., however, pronounces the ramor utterly false. He says it is true that work wie suspended several weeks ago on account of the non-arrival of the iron yirders, ‘These girders are made in Pittebury, and sevoral carloads of them arrived on Monday. Since then work has beon texumod. It is expected that the first iron girders of the pier will be in position inside of + york, when the work will progress rapidly and un- f aagen- ent ‘These first girders are con three wrought iron tubos, securely clamped at inter- vals, and will rest on the sea wall, from which the construction will extend 600 feet into the ovean, ,A CANDIDATE ARRESTED. Aspury Pank, N. J., March 6, 1879, Great excitement prevails among citizens over the arrest of Dr, H, 8, Kinmonth, @ prominent physician | and druggist, on a warrant obtained by Janes A. lira@ey, President of Asbury Park, for violation of the State law prohibiting the salo of liquor in this borough. Kinimouth is a nominee for freeholiler of the new township of Neptune, created Jast month by the Legislatui mibraciug Asbury Park aud Ocean Grove, He has waived trial, given bail and pub- lished a cirenlar denying the truth of the charge. Both men are aniong the largest taxpayers in the townshiv. ‘The election will be held on Tuesday. WASHINGTON. ;FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. Wasuixaton, March 6, 1879, ‘THE SPEAEERSHIP QUESWION-—EF¥YORT TO MAKE MB. TILDEN'’S RENOMINATION AN ISSUE, There is a lull in the excitement about the extra session of Congress, nearly all the members having taken their departure for home. The Speskership question is therefore in abeyance, aud will | probably remain so until the middle of next week or until the return of the old Congressmen and the arrival of the new ones, ‘There is no change in the relative attitude of Messrs. Randall and Blackburn except that there is a disposi- tiom to introduce the iesue of Mr. Tilden's remomins- tion by making Mr. Randall the representative of that gentleman and Mr. Blackburn the candidate of the Thurman interest. The greenbackers are working hard torget their forces pledged to co-operation, but with-as yet no ‘very decided success, The leaders of the movement in town are seeking to have the men. elected on the greenback issue put themselves down in writing as agresing to stand out for o greanback candidate; but this the Intter natu- rally rofuse fo do, ss they desire to come-here and look over the ground first. Some of the Southwostern members, especially’ those who were in favor of the Mississippi levea -and Brazilian subsidy bills, are outspoken in the-assertion that thoy will not, underrany circumstances, vote for Mr. Randall. RUMORED BECALLtOF MINISTER +FOSTER. FROM MEXICO. It is rumored that President Hayes has decided to recall Minister Foster from Mexico. Tho objection to Mr. Foster is said to be his unpopularity with the Diaz government, the recognition of which by the United States government he is changed with having i strenuously opposed. A report to this effect Is brought by the Chicago excursionists who recently “visited the City of Mexico, GENERAL WASHINGTON .DESPATCHES. Wasninerom, March 6, 1879, PRESIDENT HAYES ON THE EXWRA SESSION AND THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION OF THE DEMO- CRATS—A BEVOLUTION NOT. EXPECTED—CON- DITION OF THE REVENUES. Ithaving‘been mentioned byta visitor to the Presi- dent-to-day that much surprise and dissatisfaction were-expreseed at his calling amextra session so soon after the:adjournment of the latte Congress, the Presi- dent replied thet the proclamation for thet purpose was issuedson the informations that the earliest prac- ticable day-would be acceptatc to the majority of the menzbers elect, although it was natural that some of those re-elected and. living at remote dis- tances from the capital might complain, as they would not have:time meanwhile to visit their fami- lies and return, The President was indisposed'to.converse on the declared object of the democrats, through Senator Beck, to insist on the enactment of certain measures as acondition-for grunting supplies. He had not yet seen the programme and thereire could not pass an opinion upon it; but he cotfid not believe, in the absence of such information, thet any revolutionary movements were contemplated. He said, in reply to a question concerning the German mission, that the appointment would be promptly announced when made; but this would be eferred until the extra session, as the appointees would not care to enter upon his duties until.con- firmed, and as he would now have only a short timo to wait. Although there is no semi-official basis for the announcement, there 18 reason to believe that the President's Message to’ Congress will be brief and confined to the subjects for which it will be con- +vened, and that he will, at the instance of the Secretary of the Treasury, ask that measures be adopted for an imerease of the revenue, it having been decreased to-the extent of $10,000,000 by the passage of the Tobacoo bill. The Secretary said to-day but for this he would have $28,000,000 of sur- plus revenue with which-to pay the arrears of pen- sions recently authorized-by Congress. He was not prepared to state the cxact amount which would be on hand, as the books wonld have to be examined to ascertain it. MEXICAN VETERANS WHO ARE ENTITLED TO THE THREE MONTHS’ EXTRA PAY, ‘Lhe recently enacted law giving three months"extra pay to officers and soldiers,ond to officers, seamen and mariies employed in the war with Mexico, does not in- elude those in the volunteer service who have already received three months’ extra pay under the provisions of the act of July 19, 1848, The records of tne Second Auditor's office show that atleast ninety-nine ont of every hundred who were entitled under that law were paid the three months’ extra pay at the time of discharge, or soon attor, upon rolls prepared by pay: masters general or by settlement of claims in the Auditor's office. It will, therefore, be & useless expense for such persons or their attorneys to present claims that must be dis- allowed under the act of February 19, 1879, ‘The claims of officers and soldiers of the regular army and of such of the volunteers as have not re- ceived the three months’ extra pay should be pre- sented to the aceond auditor, while those of tho officers of the navy, seamen and marines should be filed with tho fourth auditor. THE PAY OF LETTER CARRIERS. The proviso in the Sixth section of the Ictter car- rier act has been held by tho Assistant Attorney Gen- eral for the Post Office Department to apply only to the establishment or discontinuance of the free de- livery system. It was not intended to affect the pay of letter carricrs as fixed by the act. THE UNSOLD GOODS OF EXHIBITORS AT PARIS. Commissioner General McCormick will open an office in the Post Office building, in New York city, on Monday next, the 10th inst., where all informa tion may be obtained regarding the arrangements for receiving and distributing the unsold goods of the American exhibitors at Paris. The goverment ships Supply aud Constitution, and the merchant ship Trimountain, will discharge éhe goods at o bonded warehouse in Brooklyn, to bo designated by tho Commissioner General. The goods will be stored at tho risk and ex. pense of the exhibitors, if not called for upon the arrival of the ships, The Supply and ‘Trimountain ate expected to arrive noxt woek. The Constitution will probably not arrive for several weeks, She has small quantity of goods for New York, after the discharge of which she will proceed with the bulk of her cargo to Philadelphia, NAVAL INTELIAGENCE, Wasuinctom, March 6, 1879. A board of naval officers will convene at Annapolis, on the 20th inst. to examine the midshipmen of the class of 1876 for promotion to the rauk of ensigns. The detail is as follows; Commodore, A. Bryson; Captains, F. A. Moe an Greer; Comma: J. A. Howell and A. T. screit mgt erase =e ARMY INTELLIGENCE. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE FIRST ANTILLERY, STATIONED AT YORT ADAMB, NEWPORT HARBOR, Newronr, B. 1., March 6, 1879. The following is & complete list of the officers ste tioned @ Fort Adams, in this harbor, and who are to tho First United States artillery :— YIKLD AND wravT. deren. ord eo aca ata ae Lieutenant Golonel John F, Hammond, post aur eSeptain Lowis Cass Forsyth, it quartermaster, First Lieutenant John W. Dillenback, regimental quartermaster aud acting commissary of subsistence, BATTERY K. Captain Richard H. Jackson. First Licutenants Richard G. Shaw and Allyn nh. Second Lieutenants Joseph & Oyster and T. C. Patterson, . BATTERY Captain Royal T. Frank. First Lieutenants John Pope, Jr, and Heary M. Andrews. second Lientenant Albert Todd. PATIERY ¥. Captain Chandler P. Eakin. First Licutenant 1. M. McMurtay, Becond Lieutenant Frank Marsh, At present there aro 2038 enlisted men_at the fort and twenty officers, half of which number served during the civil war. Some portions of the fort are sadly in need of re- Pairs, and it is estimated that the Engineer Depart- ment could spend above $40,000 very profitably in putting the fortress in order. CAPTAIN BLAIB'S SENTENCE APPROVED, Wasarnctox, March 6, 1879. ‘The Prosident’s approval of the court martial sen- tence in the case of Captain Thomas Blair, Fifteenth infantry, dismissing him from the service, is off- cially promulgated to-day. An order was issued toeday directing General Hazen, Colonel of the Sixth infantry, to rejoin his vegimnat by the iat of . -, The Equipment Board, now in session in this city, has to-day been ordered to close its business on or before the lst prox., where! its members are im- mediately to resume their regular post. THE RENO INVESTIGATION. REPORT OF THE COURT OF INQUIRY—DETAILS OF THE OPERATIONS AT THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG HORN—RENO YXONERATED, Wasutntoy, March 6, 1879. ‘The following is the report of the Reno Court of Inquiry:— The Court of Inquiry, assembled apecial orders No, 255, dated Headquarters of the Army, Washing: ton, November 25, 1878, reports in obedience to that order the following facts involving the conduct of Major Marcus A. Reno, Seventh cavalry, in to = bess of the Little Big Horn, fought June 25 and }, 1876, First—On the morning of the 25th of June, 1876, the Cader top Cg Th rates Mpc Si be RE commanding, 0} inst hostile is in Montana Territory, near the Little Big Horn River, ‘was divided into four battalions, two of which wero commanded by Colonel Custer in person with the exception of one company in charge of the Ke train, one by Major Reno and one By Captain # W. Benteen. ‘his division took place from about twelve to fifteen miles from the scene of the battle or battles afterward fought. ‘The column Soiee Captain Benteen received orders to move to the left for an indefinite distance (to the first and second valleys), to hunt Indians, and with orders to charge any it might meet with. The battalion under jor Reno received orders to draw out of the column, and doing go matched parallel to and only a short distance from the column commanded by Colonel Custer. Second—About three or four miles from what after- ward was found to be the Little Horn River, where the Aghting fac’ ele Major Keno received orders to move forward as rapidly aa he thought prudent, until, coming up with the Indians, who were reported fleeing, he would charge them and drive everything betore him and would receive the sup- Port of the column under Colonel Custer. Third—In obedience to the orders (given by Col- onel Custer) Captain Benteon marched to the left (south) at an angle of about forty-five degrees, but meetir yn impracticable country, was forced by it to march more to his right than the angle above in- dicated and never approaching a lel route to the trail followed by the rest of the. Reriercbh : RENO'S MOVEMENTS, Forth—Major Reno, in obedience to tho orders givon him, moyed on at a fast trot on the main In- dian trail, until reaching Little Big Horn River, which he forded, and halted for 3 few moments to reforin his battalion, After reforming he marched the battalion forward toward the !ndion village down the stream or in anortherly direction, two companics in line of battle and one in support, until about half way tothe front, where he finally halted, when he brought the company in. reserve forward to line of battle, continuing the movement at a fast trot or gallop until after passing over a distance of about two miles, when he halted and dismounted to fight on foot at a pointof timber upon which the right flunk of his battalion rested, After fightin, this formation less than halfan hour, the Indians passing to his left rear and appearing on his front, the skirmish line was withdrawn to the timber and the fight continued for a short time— half an hour or forty-five minutes in, all—when the command, or nearly all of it, was mounted, formed, and at a rapid gait was withdrawn toahillon the opposite side of the river. In this movement one oflicer and about sixteen soldiers and citizens were left in the woods, besides one wounded mun or more, two citizens and thirteen soldiers re- Joini: the command afterward. In this retreat jor Reno’s battalion lost some twenty-nine men in killed and wounded and three oflicers, including Dr. De Wolf, killed. { BENTREN’S RETUEN, Fifth—In the meantime Captain Benteen, ited carried out, a8 far as was prvcticable, the spirit o! his order, turned in the direction of the route taken by the remainder of the regiment, and, reac! the trail, followed it to near the crossing of the Little Big Horn, arriving there about the same time that Major Reno’s command was crossing the river in retreat lower down, and finally jomed his battal- ion with that of Reno on the hill. Forty minutes or an hour later the re train, which had been lett behind on the trail by the rapid movement of the command and the delays incident to its march, joined the united command, which then consisted of seven companies, together with about thirty or thirty-five men belonging to the companies under Colonel Custer. OUSTER’S FATE. Sixth—Atter detaching Benteen’s and Reno's col- amuns, Colonel Custer moved with his immediate command in trail tollowed by Reno to # point within about one mile of the river, where ho diver to the right (or northward) following the general direc- tion of the river to @ point about tour miles below that afterward taken Major Reno, where he und his command were destroyed by the hostiles. The last living witness of this march, ‘Trumpeter Martin, left Colonel Cus- ter’s command when it wes about two miles distant trom the field where it atterward met its fate. There is nothing more iy evidence as to his command save that firing was heard jug from its direction from about the time Reno retreated from the bottom up to the time the pack train was approaching ithe sition on the hill. All the firing wnich indicatea dating was concluded before the ins: preparations of Major Reno's command for the movement which ‘was atturward attempted. Seoenth—Atter distribution of ammunition and » proper provision for the wounded men Major Reno's entire command moved down the river in the direc- tion it was thought Custer’s column had taken and in which it was known General Terry’s command was to be found. This movement was carried out sufficiently to discover that its continuance would imperil the entire command, upon which it returned to the position formerly oceupicd and made a suc- cesstul resistance till succor reached it. Tho defence of the position on the hill was a herote one against fearful odds, Tho conduct of the officers through- out was excellent, and, while the subordinates in some mstances did more for the safety of the com- mand by brilliant displays of courage than did Major , there was nothing in conduct which Tequires animadversion from this Court. OYINION. It is the conclusion of this Court, in view of all the facts in evidence, that no further proceedings are necessary in this case, and it expresses this opinion in compliance with the concluding cleuse of the order convening the court, JOHN H. KING, Colonel Ninth Infantry, President. J.M. Lex, First Lieutenant and Adjutant Ninth Infantry, Recorder. GENERAL SHERMAN’S INDORSEMENT. General Sherman makes the following tndorse- ment:— The of the Court of in the case of Major Reno approved ‘anil Hs ings are Se forwarded to the honorable tary of yur. ‘The final indorsement is as follows:— i the Prondent findings are approved by EORGE W, MoCRARY, Secretary of War. CAPTAIN BLAIR RELEASED, Captain Thomas Blair, of the United States Army, who was recently tried and convicted bys court martial upon acharge of bigamy, was yesterday re- leasod from the custody of the United Ststes in obedience to an order of the Secret ot War. This action is taken becuuse since he has dismissed from the army his alleged criminality no longer Lies under the diction of the milivary authority. PAIGE'S CONSPIRACY TRIAL, Bostox, March 6, 1879, In the Paige conspiracy cuse to-~lay evidence was introduced by the defence to show ‘that the books of the firm were wrapped in @ horse blanket aud sent off by Steteon in the hands of colored porter to the stable, where Stotson kopt hie buggy, and that Stetson was not reliable, Other evidence was adduced to show that it was the custom of the auction and consignment business to occasion: consign goods in the name of « clerk, in pend transactions. The defence rested their case and asked the Court to rule on certain questions pro- by tho defence, aud con- mado. INVIOLABILITY OF DESPATOHES, ‘ Torxa, Kan., March 6, 1879. The situation of KL. Smith, manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company of this city, who is confined in the Capitol to remain there until the adjournment of the Legislature, unless he gives to the Investigating Committes the telegrams sent from and received at his office in regard to the late Senatorial election, remains unchanged. Mr. Smith is still Arm in his resolve to hold inviolate the mea es which are intrusted to him and which he con- wt as sactod. He is banishéd from the floor of either branch of the ure, and confined to ® certain floor of the State House, but practically bo fe aa much at liberty as any clerk who sleeps t! Accompanied by ® detailed asnintant are, ne is allowed to go down town when necessary and is 10 the House Senate whenever he ploasos. ‘Lhe Investigating Comniittes fe severely cavsured for delaving their ranerten bia esa Tho order AMUSEMENTS, UNION LEAGUE THEATRE—CHAMBER MUSIC SRRIES, The lovers of classical music last night had another opportunity of enjoying the treat afforded UY Mr. Max Pinner and Dr, Leopold Dymrosch in their third chamber soirée at the Union League ‘Theatre. These artists, in themselves excellent, were assisted by Mr. Franz Remmertz, the well known basso, and Mr, Frederick Bergner, the violon- cellist. ‘The first feature of the programine was Joachim Raff's sonata in E minor, opus 73, for Pianoforte and violin, embracing four_movements— allegro, molto vivace, adagio and finale, Mr. Remmerty then sang ‘Bitte’ Gacifeatis mae, No. ew by Robert Franz, fo! one it with*Robert Schu- mann Grolle Nicht” (I'll not repine), opus 43, No. 7, . Pimer played very handsomely Lisa! sonata (B minor), and received @ round of applau: Mr. Reinmerta then rendered “Alt Heidelberg, Feine,” song from ‘Der Trompeter you Siickingen,”” Stuubers trio foF planoforke,vieiae nad etn apy mG olin and violoncelio The audience was extremely select, and the music i " both thee arti fe aud Tite xi, the cultured taste of MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC’ NOTES, Mr. W. H. Lingard takes a benefit at the Broadway Theatre this evening. In addition to the regular pro- gramme of “I Ladroni” and ‘The Sorcerer” he will give his well known character sketches, The matinée and evening performances at nearly all of the city theatres to-morrow promise to be largely attended, There is no other reason for it except that the managers are giving attractive entertainments. At Mr. John White's free organ recital at Chick- ering Hall to-morrow afternoon Mr. George Martin Huss will sing “Sublime Evening Star,” from the Tannbiiuser, and for the first time in America a new song by Faure, called ‘‘Crucifix.” : The fourth Staten Island Philharmonic concert of the fourth season will take place this evening at As- sociation Hall, West New Brighton. The programme embraces strictly classical sclections. The soloists are Miss Laura Schirmer, Mr. Franz Rummel and Mr. Richard Arnold. Miss Ada Cavendish is suffering from a serious at- tack of bronchitis, and, under the advice of her phy- sician, Dr. Phelps, will be compelied to relinquish all professional work for at least a month. This will, of course, interfere with her announced appearance at the Broadway Theatre next Monday. General Mite, one of the Midgets now exhibiting at Masonic Temple, has been presented with a little sister. She weighed nine and one-half pounds at birth, and the General, who is fourteen years old and only weighs nine pounds, is somewhat aston- ished. He looks at the mitter philosophically, how- ever, and crows over Sefiorita Lucia Zarate, who only weighs four and three-quarter pounds, although shé is Gfteen yeare old. i A notable concert will. be given to-morrow even- ing at Lyric Hall, Sixth avenue and Forty-second street. This ontertainment will be for the benefit of “Our Girls’ Guild,” a deserving charity, and will en-- list the services of the following combination :—Mr, Edouard Reményi, the violin virtuoso; Mr. Maxi- milien Vogrich, the young composer; Mr. Ferdinand Duicken, pianist; Mr. Theodore Toedt, tenor; Mr. Locke-Bichardson, recitationist, and Miss Henrietis Beebe, soprano. It is expected furthermore that Mrs, Florence Rice-Knox and Mr. Caryl Florio will be added to this attractive list. THE TICKET SPECULATORS AGAIN, Brooxixn Park Tueatne, March 5, 1879. To THE Eprror oy tHe Henatp:— Tam glad to see that you have taken up the ques tion of theatre ticket speculators, and hope you will continue the good work until either the Legis- lature st Albany or the authorities of the cities of New York and Brooklyn pass a bill similar to that Proposed in the Hrnatp of Sunday, March’3, which to my thinking is just the law wanted, covering, as t does, the entire questiop, Now, let both press and public “strike while the iron is hot.” Yon say that “it is absurd to pretend that managers of theatres cannot prevent the ticket speculators from gobbling up all the good seats in the house.” In that you are wrong. The writer will give you his experience as far as the Brooklyn Park Theatre is concerned. Ihave been fighting the ticket specue lators for the past four years in Brooklyn. On one occasion I had s speculator arrested for obstructing the doorway and sidewalk. Hoe was detained in the station house all night, and the next morning I was informed that he could not be held for trialas he hada license, sud heeven threatened asuit for damages, so that I was gled to let the matter drop, How is it possible to prevent “speculators” from buying tiok- ets? My orders‘at tho box office are that no tickets are to be sold to ‘‘speculators,” and Iam willing te swear that my instructions are faithfully carried out, but whon the “speculators” send strange meu, American District meyer os and even ladiesto buy two or more tickets at a time, and have strangers ta & into line at the opening of the ticket office and ay, the same os the general public, what then, I ask, can the manager do? I have wpon several oc- casions put an agent in front of the theatre with twenty-five or thirty tickets, with instructions not to offer any for sale until the “speculator” had @ customer, then to offer them at the regular price, saying, ‘he was so instructed by the manager,” but what was the result? The cunning ‘‘speculator’® would quietly wait until my agent's tickets were all sold, then sell his at fifty cents or moro advance on the yular price. I have also placed & man in front of the theatre (and, indesd, stood there my- self) telling the public not to buy’ of the “specula- tors;”’ that tickets could be bought at the box office, &c. I have advertised in the newspapers, asking the ublic not to buy of speculatora, but to no avail, it week I called on Mayor Howell and expleined the matter to him. He gave orders not to issue any licenses to “ticket speculators” from the 1st of April, and 1 fee} confident that the citizons of Brooklyn will thank him for thus abating tho evil until we can havo slaw The | of Brooklyn issnes licenses to ten speculators at $3 cach per year, giving the city’a revenue from that source of $30 per year end [ will venture to say that the citizens o! Brooklyn often pay $150 profit to speculators in one week in front of my theatre alone, and on opers nights at the Academy as much as $200 por night. 1 have refused an offer of $100 per month for the privilege of selling in the lobby of my theatre. WILLIAM E. SINN, Manager Brooklyn Park Theatre, OPPOSING CONVICT LABOR, The Committee of Arrangements, of which Mr. J. B. Ridge, a Newark working hatter, is chairman, last night completed their plans for the holding of a grand mass mecting of New Jersey mechanics this evening at the Newark Rink to protest against the defeat of the shoemakers’ bill in the State Senate, It prohibits shoo- making in tho State Prison by convicts. Asforeshad- owed in Monday’s Henann, the bill, which wns to have come up that evening for special consideration, was laid over for one week by request of oe ‘ing. men, It is to come up as special order for next Monday evening. Meanwhilo the workingmen have been saltving their forces in support of the bill, and delegates will be presout to-night from Hudson, Passaic and coun: ties and all the bye) in the State. Prior to the meeting there will be a grand ered a manu. facturers are in hearty hog) ciireeng with the men, hes will be made by William D. Yooum, of Now manufacturi tter; ex-Mayor Fei Ora e-Agwombiy en MeBonald, o¢ Hudson: 3. Br wiige, 3, Healy. 2. Fol, Willian Otis andhothers. If the weather is favor there will also be au out. door meeting in front of the Rink. WEST BOUND FREIGHTS, Pool Commissioner Albert Fink stated yesterday that the question of pooling Wost bound freights from Philadelphia, Boston and Baltmore was not dis- cussed, as reported, at the meoting of the representa tives of the verious railroads which wes held ia Philedetphia on Wednesday. The matter under div cussion was simply the maintaining ot rates by West oust pocting arrengetie fiona Dunleset. i) ua ita ry Fits Satin Boon fa ssa a ape the meeting of the railroad and thes they had gone into offect on March 1, The business for the diferent roads had been apportioned accord+ ing to the New York plan, bat the to cach, upon, ‘ork, road have not, as yet, beon PRODUCE EXCHANGE; ol on Tu , at clovon A. M., the proposition to po Gol droinetor for testing 7 & =