The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-06
WASHINGTON.
DaveMpOrt's Testimony,

Mr., Davenport testified that he obtained the
passage of bills in Congress to prevent frauds in
elections. In answer to query he said the fol-
lowing Congressman helped him: Judge
Bingham of Ohio, Mr.. Dawes of Massachu-
sets, Mr.. Dickeylot Pennsylvania Governor
Blair of Michigan, Senators Edmunds, Conk-
ling, Cole and members of the judiciary COM
mittee generally.
Question-Did any Democrats help you?
Answer-No, sir 1 believe every Democrat
voted against the bills.
By Mr. Joyce-What was the nature of their
objections?
Mr.. Garfield objected to the question but af.
ter some discussion Mr.. Davenport was allowed
to answer the question and he said that he
could only Judge by the speeches they made
1t was principally that the law would prove op-
pressive to the people of the SOUTH
Q-What was the effect?
A-To prevent thousands of fraudulent votes
Witness was employed by the Union League
the laws.
There had never been paid to any person a
single cent or anything else towards obtainin g
passage of the law. 1t was applicable in
every city of 10000 inhabitants.
In reply to Mr.. Caulfeld he said it would be
as effective to prevent Republican frauds in
Philadelphia as Democratic frauds in New
York. He had tried to enforce the law impair
TALLY AID prevented at least one half of the
clerks of both parties who came to New York
X.
they could not prove residence there. Only
last night he was waited upon by gentleman
here and asked if he intended to stop the CLERKS
from voting in 1876 as he did in 1872, and he re-
piled emphatically yes, and they then desired
to know what they must do to comply with the
registration law. He wished to make this
statement to show that the law was executed,
no matter whom it hit.
Union Pacific Railroad,
A letter from President Dillon of the Union
Pacific Railroad, was received by the House
Judiciary Committee to-day in response to its
recent request for the submission within ten
days Of some proposition for the creation of
sinking fund which should not include an Of
fer to reconvey to the government any portion
OF the land grant. He says that he is unable
to submit such proposition at this time, but
would give immediate and careful consideration
to any proposition which might emanate from
the committee with view to its acceptance if
found to be just to the other creditors and to
the stockholders of the road. Mr. Dillon goes
on to restate the proposition already made by
the company. which was favorably considered
by the Executive and transmitted to Congress
by the Secretary of the Treasur Y, and trusts
that it would be inexpedieut to accept recon-
veyance of the land will be reconsidered Mr..
Dillon says the amount to become due from the
company on the maturity of the bonds about
1879, is so large that the annual sinking fund
payments in money sufficient to cancel it at
that date would be beyond the reasonable
means OF tne company. There must therefore,
in any settlement be either an extension of
time for payment or somelwise and legitimate
method must be found for reducing to sub
stantial credit the Indebtedness or for in some
way augmenting the sinking fund in its early
years.
Mr.. Dillon goes on to argue that fair and
reasonable method for accomplishing the latter
object is to transfer to the government the
whole or part of the land granted to the COM
pany, which though valuable and sure to be
ultimately remunerative, do not produce cash
returns with the rapdty which was at first ex-
pected.
Gen. Schenck's Case.
The committee on foreign affoirs to-day ap-
pointed subcommittee consisting of Messrs.
Swami, Hewitt, and Parker to prepare a re-
port in the Emma mine case. From the tenor
OF private conference of the members, it is
inferred that the report will relieve General
Schenck of any charge of fraud, but will ex-
press the opinion that his becoming director
in the Emma Mine Company was utterly in
compatible with his position as American Min
lister.