The New York herald., 1871-11-14
BROOKLYN REFORM.
Organization Of the Investigating Com
mittee on Election Frauds.
Bringing the Heavy Siege Guns to
Bear on the Citadel.
WHAT WAS DONE ABOUT 1T.

WHAT WAS DONE ABOUT 1T.
The Committee OF Forty chosen at the Academy
mass meeting Friday evening last to investigate
the frauds perpetratad at the recent election In
Brooklyn AMI to bring the guilty parties concerned
therein to the bar OF justice met last evening IN the
Directors room IN the building named, to perfect
o plan OF organization.
Mr.. e. J. Whitiock, President OF the Board OF
Education, called the meeting to ordcr ana nomt-
mated ex-Alderman Whiting as Chairman pro tenn.
and Mr.. Schroeder as Secretary.
The names or the gentlemen appointed to act as
the committee were then read, when the following
named answered the roll Calls. d. Chi;tenden,
Seymour L. Hustled, Franklin woodruff, George
Klnkle, Thomas Carroll, henry G. Bowen, W. Mar
snail, Frederick Eckers, John 7. Martin, s. Is.
butcher, L. Davis, Chauncey Perry, W. w. Good
rich, u. r. Tracy p w. Potter, Il. c. White. George
II. Roberts, II. G. Reeves, James JOurd1n, James
Murphy, Robert Johnstone Andrew Cunningham,
Samuel Mclean and others.
Mr. GOODRICH read letter from A. A. Low,
Chairman OF the Committee Of Forty, In which that
gentleman regretted his inability to participate In
the proceedings OF the meeting upon that occasion,
owing to prior engagement. He suggested that
the sphere OF It's duty be enlarged, in order that It
might embrace an investigation of the accounts
OF the city. In order the efficiently to carry
out this plan 1t would, he believed be advisable TO
increase the number OF members from forty TO
seventy five one hundred Names To act as Presi-
dent the committee would require strong, per-
sstenr determined man, such rs he deemed Mr.
Samuel Mclean to be-and therefore nominated
him for the position
MIR. POTTER arose and moved that the letter be
laid The table, ADD that for the present the meet
ing be confined to the members or the commits ee.
He did not intend any dsc0urtesy to the members
a sad e was which
wb Sra sSsS sss an9 1o ne he He
COMMITTEES. We arc here TO do whal the citizens
expect or free from party aillaton for the solo
s e eesa san GS snd y
| for the great wrong done.
Mr.. POTTER thought that the discussion organizing
| papers, There would doubtless be differences OF
opinion arising among gentlemen N debate ana
as wcil that the public should not learn Of
Mr. OnlTrENDEN said he sympathlzed with both
gentlemen IN their reasons diverse upon the ques
would be- anxiously watching to learn what
we mad done IN the matter. It was also
true that the discussion may be calculated 10 mis-.
lead the public. There are names which can be
added on the increase suggested by Mr.. loves
BILE In the prosecution OF the work. Any view that
they took oi the question: would be agreeable. They
only. and could have, therefore, nothing in secret
from them. What we desire Is goou plan OF
organization. We should receive the letter, which
is dictated In sincerity AMI suggestive OF wise coun
sell Courtesy demands that ne receive the letter IN
Mr. POTTER said that 1t was his intention that the
letter should be received and laid before the CON-
mtttee for Its action.
| Mr. DAILY was In favor OF the motion to proceed
to organize IN secret session. as there certainly was
mass Of testimony Already taken by The Committee
| OF Five ON the election frauds which should not
reach the parties implicated through the press.
While WaIe II W would be very ine moisel q news.
be taken into mind that should weigh with this
body II ought to be as secret as the Grand Jury
The question was then called for ani put by the
Chair:-"fhat the meetings OF this committee be
confined TO the mcmbelS or this committee"
Mr. JAMES w. HUNTER objected 10 '.S;ar ChamDer''
business OF the order proposed. Tn wanted to
matter or ierretlng them out as they went along.
| MIR. ROBERT JOHNSON said he would state that
| there was an immense mass or testimony already
before Ine Committee OF FIVE. which would impIi-
justice would be done to- some men who now
appear 70 be concerned in the iraudulent transac-
the session should be in secret, ne thought. the
committee would report IN q few days the result OF
Its ab0rs when the press would be duly informed.
Mr. MURPHY spoke in favor or open sessions, and
was willing to act upon the suggestion to increase
the committee to seventy-ive OF 100 members.
Mr.. GOODRICa said that the Committee of Seventy
In New York did not exclude the press from the
chosen by meeting OF lOur thousand citizens, who
were as Interested as they were In what was going
Messrs. briggs aud Carroll endorsed this view OF
the matter, aud Mr.. Potter still insisted the ex-
Mr.. WnTTiNG favored an executive session. He
said our movements are to be directed against an
utmost confidence In the gentlemen who comprised
the committee and believed that there were not
city, YET we have 10 exercise every possible preca
ton 10 guard against treason In our committee.
e ms who crush s s 70
and we cannot be too cautious In combat
ing the s New York ceHmss wss Of awsG
don't know that We have ono such IN this commit
tee but 1t Is unsafe to let the enemy know the
who were moving 10 crush them 1t Is not polite,
nor was 1t wise, to open the door Wide as 10
allow the enemy to come in and capture US. The
subcommittee should not be made known.
MIR. BUTCHER favored the open door to the press
Results were what the people wanted, and as tne
be designated to attend that canvass.
The motion to permit the press to remain was
adopted by vote Of II in the affirmative to 70 In
The following code OF bylaws for the government
OF the body was then read by Mr.. Goodrich and
adopted, section by secton:-
1.-The known as the Citzcns'
Reform Committee OF Brooklyn, and shall consist OF
ART. Ats objects shall be-
election be conveniently used 10 OF
\ ITO pro:ccus promptly and y 70 s cenyeon every
20 ss as.. as 10 pevsn Sf .ns ns
fairly .es.sd from proa,ipDg y these Frauds
s:y
curing the ends OF justice may be found needfui.
JfI.-s officers shall president presi-
dents secrearv and secretary and whose
and dulles shall be such usually appcran such
officers respectively.
Any, lv.Ihsrc shall be the following sub-commttecs,
each to consist OF seven members:-
Section Ia prosecuting committee whose duties shall
those named in the hrst second and third sections OF
cleI
Section "A committse on legislation whose duties shall
Sc I'm "a finance committee, whose DUTY shall be tho
raising e funds for the carrying Of the
.ssifn An executive COMMITTEE whose duties shah be
those named In section OF artcs L. who shall be
with oil her matters not assigned to other committees
ART. Where shall be meeting OF the mmttee on
each Monday ngi, eight O'Clock. Spccia meetings shall
be called by the President written OF