The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-15
BROOKLYN'S BURDENS.
.>->~~o~--~>o|~>0~""~~
The Bulwark Of Liberty 10 Ee
Held Invielable.
----'"--a w
The Committee of Seventy Render an
Account Of Their Stewardship.
Glaring Evidence of Criminal Vioz
latiOn Of the Law.
Eleven Thousand Fraudulent
Votes Cast Last Election.
Thirty Indictments Of Offerld.
ers Procured.
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Speeches Of Samuel Mclean, Demas Barues Colo
mel Davis, A. a. Low, 8. L. Woodford
Glaring Evidence of Criminal Vioz
latiOn Of the Law.
Eleven Thousand Fraudulent
Votes Cast Last Election.
Thirty Indictments Of Offcr(l-
ers Procured.
Speeches Of Samuel Mclean, Demas Barnes, Colo
mel Davis, A. a, Low, 8. L. Woodford
and District Attorney Britton.


and District Attorney Britton.
The unblushing attempt to defrnud the honest
citizens OF Brooklyn out OF the inherent right
of each sovereign OF this republic to give expires.
sion to his win through the ballot box last fall called
forth an indignant and overwhelming Outburst OF
popular sentiment on the part Of the people. The
tidal wave OF justice and reform started in New
York, swept across the stream which separates the
two cities and washed away the ignominy and dis.
grace, to a certain extent at least by BRING
Ing the perpetrators OF the frauds to
trial and punishment Immediately following the
announcement OF the returns from the districts
and wards long headed citizens moving In the po-
ltical arena OF the republican side OF the house."
Tor the greater part put their knowledge boxes To-
getner and commenced to compare the figures re-
turned by the canvassers and inspectors Of election
with the census and the preceding years returns
from the same districts. In many instances the
increase OF votes returned was preposterously
out Of range Of reason that 1t became evident on
She face OF things that heavy stufng Of the ballot
box had been resorted to. There were also
.IDnumerable complaints made against the
suspicious action OF many OF the inspectors
OF election, the peculiar behavior of certai n
policemen and firemen 'What Is to be done about
~" was asked upon every side, until finally 1t was
meeting. and there have them speak for themselves.
call was issued IN accordance with this decision,
and one OF the most enthusiastic assemblages of
citizens ever congregated in Brooklyn met on the
evening OF November 10 at The Academy OF Music.
sThe situation" was eXpounded by prominent
political leaders irrespective OF party; the palpable
evidence OF baliOt-box stufIing false counting
repeating &c, laid before the people,
aud the result was that committee
OF seventy-nve gentlemen OF integrity
ana wealth was selected to "examine into the
frauds upon the ballot box; to bring the perpetra-
tors to trial and punishment; to devise measures to
be presented to the Legislature for enactment for
future prevention OF Frauds and TO take such other
steps as IN their Judgment seemed proper to guard
The rights Of the citizens OF BrooSlyn." The COM
mittee set TO work with will to faithfully perform
The duties devovng upon them. The progress
made has been published from time to time in these
columns Last evening, as per public notice given,
the committee assembled at the Academy OF Music
and gave an account or their stewardship.
Shortly after eight O'Clock Mr.. FRANKLIN WOOD
BUFF. Chairman OF the Committee OF Seventy five,
came forward and read q brief statement OF the
work which had been performed by the committee
since Its organization. About Que thousand per-
sons were present. and the reports were each re-.
celved with expressions OF approval by the au.
.aience
deputy COmptrOjIcT IL. NJ. WHITING Jr., secretary
>Of the committee, came forward upon the conclu-
mon OF Mr.. Woodrud's remarks and read
report, showing that the frauds Oh the part
Of inspectors, canvassers, &c, proved the
great necessity OF stringent registry law.
had Deen punished, and the committee were in.
formed that others indicted would soon be tried
AS means OF projection in the future the committee
had prepared and forwarded to Albany an election
law and asked the approval OF It from this ting
They had endeavore1 TO act the interests OF L6e
citizens in the charter and not In partisan SPIRIT
The committee had been forced TO considerable ex-
ness yet an opportunity would be given to this
meeting TO contribute toward It's liquidation.
then read By w. oS@ m
Set forth that the committee had entered upon their
work IN the midst OF great puolic Indignation. Tue
attendance of witnesses aud obtain documents, they
were restricted to the statements of those who came
County CLERK Herman, City Clerk Bishop ana others
1or their courteous conduct and their Willingness TO
Out Of the ISL inspectors OF election only FIVE mad
given any Information OF fraudulent acts com.
where gross frauds were committed the inspectors
Jailed 10 detect them ana refused to give any i,or
amounting to Soo, cast last Sovem den DEMON HS
strated the urgent necessity of obtaining from The
had sTassn' 5eTs ss Tine Tine
evidence eve evd IN WINCH justified an indictment
AND the names Of The we're sent tS cas e
District Attorney between November Is and Decem.
uer :, 1871, Iwenty.tDree indictments were found
by Inc GTand jury and or those Six were tried, one
OF the accused being acquitted and five convicted
and sentenced The report then went on to charge
some OF whom were drunk and left the Counting
10 lie done by those who remained sober enough.
gangs and respectable citizens were driven from
the polls. Employees OF the Water Board sought 10
induce nor. residents TO vote. Inmates OF the Asy.
,um az New Utrecht were taken TO the polls ana al.
Dsra 10 vote although some OF them had not been
hrsne ,W eex' Attempts were made TO
N
a au@ n Jailed The lnspe was Knocked down
sne Iact tnat the poll lists OF eight eecon districts
w.re never I've niea IN the County Clerks ONCE as re-
which they deem 1t proper NOT TO disclose a. pre-
Ex- state Senator W. W. GooppIcu read the renort
OF the Legislative Committee stating taa, eey ad
s Saused 10 ne introduced into the Iegis.
nIsce e P pr sne wS or two commissioners
power Of the new Board that it shall be the agent
" Tue Common Council In CARRYING out all plans
with particular reference to the peculiar necesstes
OF the CITY. Thirdly, an amended charter. large
mittee on Clues, 70 whom these acts
THIS report was written the amended charter mad
D .ss reported by Senator Perry In the Senate
IN the Senate, ana had obtaned a favorable report
a9a ~ would be soon considered in the committee
Oh, me Whole Senate 1t was TO De feared that this
In woula De lost sight OF by reason OF The inlro
upctlon OF registry law applicable to ali the cities
VI LIE ofate Ine committee believed that the bill
proposed by them should be passed substantially In
~ present form. As to the charter there had been
ot ~, msapprehenson on the part OF the public as
~ us purport, DC AS basis The charter or 1854
, ,au Deen adopted. A new charter had not been I
reaIed put merely the old one amended it con-
,G,h iuted power IN the hands OF the Mayor and
iiluermen, conhdtng 10 them control OF Tie heads
~ ooepartments abolished Irresponsible Offices
M as far as possible ali departments to
.n LIZ NVilmon COUNCIL winch should make cOntracts |
dme person. ~ ''0 onoe' W ''ie
hen r Congressman JOHN W. HUNTER Treasurer.
he ,nIai .ne report OF The finances showing that
IA ano V'si amount received from ali sOurces was
he com M which $3,bs3 80 had been expended by
INV c,1,nan tee: The Treasurer suggested that II
% OF me organization they would he hsanv