New-York tribune., 1878-07-24
THE POTTER COMMITTEE.
A BEGINNING AT ATLANTIC CITY.
A TWENTY MINUTES sEssioN-sEcRETARY SHERMAN

a bbSSlON-SbChEiAht
on THE GRoUSD-DYMOCRATs WHO HAVE BEEN
SUMMONED FOR VACATION.
IBr TELEGRAPH TRrBUSE.1
ATLANTIC CITY, n. j. July 23.-The Potter Com
mittee is one of those large bodies which move
slowly. The members of 1t began TO drop IN one by
one yesterday General Butler having sent an avant
courier to engage rooms and make arrangements.
The General himself was one of the first to be on
hand. The Philadelphia reporters we're lying in
wait for him all day yesterday, bnt he avoided
them Mr. Hiscock also arrived last night. Messrs.
Potter and Springer spent the night in Philadelphia.
and with the deputy sergeant-at-arms and messen-
ger came to Atlantic City the first tram this
morning.
The meeting at this place was called primarily to
examine the Republican visiting statesmen" who
went to New-0rleans to witness the counting
of the vote of Louisiana. and who have been
summoned at the request Of Secretary Sherman.
The Secretary came himself yesterday and was pre-
ceded on Sunday morning by his counsel, Judge
shellabarger. Judge William ID. Kelley, the only
other Northern Republican who was in New-Oreans
yet here except Mr.. Parker, of New-Jersey,
had been spending several days at Atlantic
City, and has prolonged his stay until after he is ex-
amined by the committee After Secretary Sher-
man had asked that the Republican visiting states
men be examined 10y the committee, the Democrats
determined to call their representatives also. No
body knows why they should have been called.
Nobody has accused them Of conspiracy with the
Returning Board. But then il would not be fair to
give the Republican statesmen vacation at the sea-
shore at the expense Of the Government without
giving to the Democrats an equal share of the
plumber. None Of Mr. Tilden's representatives have
come yet. except ex-senator Trumbull, who came
down this noon. None of the MaeVeagh Commission,
whom General Butler has insisted on calling, have
yet reported.
The meeting of the committee was delayed to-day
by the nOn-aival until late in the afternoon Of the
box containing the papers, testimony thus far
taken, ETC., and even after it was found several
hours were consumed in making preparations to
begin 30 that il was after o'clock in the afternoon
before Mr. Potter called his associates to order
The first witness was Congressman Lorenzo Dan
ford, of Ohio, who was member of the Morrison
Committee which went TO Louisiana in 1877. Mr.
Hiscock examined him. He said that he was ac-
quainted with James f. Anderson, who has figured
80 largely in the present investigation, and had
conversation with him IN NewOreans, in which
Anderson exposed TO him some of his tricks during
the registration in Louisiana IN 1876 There was
very little in his testimony that was new, the
point of il being that Anderson mad described the
attack made upon b IN IN East telciana farish'
which he now SAYS was put-up job as reality.
committee adjourned until tomorrow at lO:3O
o'clock.
The meeting of the committee was held in
large airy room N the United States Hotel. FIFTY
or sixty ladies and gentlemen occupied the chairs
and sofas about the sides of the room, and the win
dOws on the shady side were filled with sghtseers.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN COMMITTEE.
lGESERAL PRESS DIsPArcnl
ATLANTIC CITY, n. j., July 23.-Representa-
tive Dauford was the first witness called by tue Pott'r
Committee to-day. Representative Hiscock conducted
the direct examination Mr. Danford testified that he
was n member OF the Morrison committee. He visited
Neworleans, and fhere met James T. Anderson whom
he had frat known a Washington correspondent OF
Newspaper IN his district lie had ;ull conversation
with Anderson who spoke generally Of the condition OF
East FcIicaua and OF its being the worst buIdozed
parsh OF the State and said that while travelling from
some point 20 the parish seat on a dark night ne was
nfed a his clothes being shot through and that he en-
eaped By reason OF the darkness Anderson said that
after leaving the parish seat he went TO NewOreans;
be said that some army officers doubted the truth OF the
story about the attack he also spoke Of having made
protest on which the vote OF East FeciaDa was thrown
ont he spoke OF having put IN circulation story that
during the pered OF registration he came 10 SeWoeans
and informed the Republican Committee IN
Guiding Governor Kellogg, that his parish was
rs,orr,e the coored vote being largely that size,
and that had been ADVISED Oy Governor kellogg ana
the Republican committee that he shOuiu eliIei nor n
tnrn 30 ire parish a. al, of come t ah ~ Id bs baI
mi the story In circulation in the hope that the
IN .nor-ttic Committee would make him an Oner OI
money aud when by the offer Of money be had thrIn
COOS aud fast, ne would expose the authors anu DOH
1bem sky- -hign. Mr. DanfOrd aid not near Anderson
aursfIon the truth OF tne protest nor complain That
fyere had been Interpolation. 80 .. 90
Tne eommlttee then adj aurned until hall-past 10
oeick to-.n.rrow mo- ming. Representative Kelley
Will Dc examined with reference 10 the "0Or'ho1Se
Parish depOsitiOns. -, n
Mr. Potter contrndics the statement OF special dis
patch rom Washing gton. published In Tie Phiadeiphd
TIrgraDh that committee mas agreed 10 make PIE
II.ry report before iEc FAN elections, ana that ne
Ia. u,sde n statement Ia the easo expected To DE
,ve ar the effect Of the action Of the Electoral Com
mission.
FugcDe Hale arrived this evening