New-York tribune., 1876-04-21
Mr.. wILLnMSs STATEMENT.

rur 900 600 SENT To NEw-YORK FOR An HONEST
puRPosE-fHE MONEY USED TO PREVENT ELEC-
r1oN FRAUDs-THIs SERVICE EXTREMELY EX-
PENsIyE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, April 20.-The testimony OF
.xAttorneyGe Williams before the Committee on
Expenditures in the Department OF Justice does not
appear to be so serious as was at nrst supposeu'
There have been O great many sensational stories Ill
circulation in regard to the completely OF the PRESIDENT
in illegal expenditures of the public money for eecuoh
and the fact that something $4,000 was
paid to John l. Davenport the order of the President
for NewYork City, in the highest degree suspicious
A closer inquiry however, shows that the news as IL
came from the Committee was Onesided, ana taed 10
give the explanations made under oath by the ex-A
torney General Judge Williams says that there was
nothing criminal or even improper in the use of money
in NewYork and he makes in conversation the same e1
papation he made before the Committee.
He saws the law OF Feb. Is, 1871, provides
top the appointment by the Circuit Courts OF
supervisors OF elections Under this law MI Davenport
was appointed, large number OF others were ap-
pointed III every State Of the Unon his district being the
City Of New-York. He expected to look after the
REGISTRATION and prevent frauds at the election This
same work cost the Department Of Justice in 1872 in the
varlons States over $500 600. Iu the City Of Phade
phia alone in 1874 there were 1900 supervisors OF
elections who, according 10 law, may be employed 10
DAYS each at 50 day, which would amount TO SOOoOo
and bills for this amount were presented to the Depart
ment of Justice Judge Williams re used to allow them
on the ground that they were exorbitant, and he
allowed only for five days service each MI Randall
Mr. O'Ncill, Mr. Myers, and other Congressman made
great pressure but Mr.. Williams refused, and finally
through Mr. RandaPs efforts bill was passed through
the last Congress for $4,000 10 pay the balance Of the
claims which Mr.. Williams decided were unjust
With reference to the payment to Mr. Davenport OF
$4,000 in about three years time, Juege Williams
saws exactly true. 1t paid in Of law
TO prev Mt Illegal voting He says the first he knew
about Mr. Davenport about the law and the prac
tce under it after he was made Att0rneyGen
eral in place of Mr.. Akernan At that time Mr. Da'en-
port came to his Office in this city ard presented letter
from the President in which he requested to pay
Mr.. Davenport considerable amount Of money under
the act referred to- Mr. Williams was surprised, and
made short invest cation. discovering that his prede-
csor had done the same thing and found law for the
Of the funds He net, however, entirely satis-
fed and saw the President The latter spoke OF what
Nr. Davenport had done as great work, wonderful
accomplishment. lie indeed very enthusiastic over
TIE system Of registration Mr. Davenport had adopted
and he thought was only thing that could prevent
Illegal voting He thought IL ought to be adopted III
every city Of the country There authority OF law
10 use money for the prevention Of frauds at cons,
and Mr.. Davenport had done moro than anybody. The
President thought he ought TO be paid, and on looking
thought 50 too. lie now thinks it was measure OF
great economy, and he says that owing to Mr. Dayen-
ports system the difference between the expenses IN
1872 and 1874 about $4,000.
What docs not at all satisfactory Is the payment
OF Mr. Davenport out Of the Secret Service fund OF the
Department OF Justice instead OF out OF the annual
preparation OF $4,000 year carry out the Enforce
ment acts or out Of the Judiciary Appropriation Mr..
Williams says he loath pay the money for he had
use for more than he had TO pay the expenses OF the
courts, which unreasOnaby costly. His only course
was to the Secret Service fund, Of which he had
considerable surplus and this he finally did. When
asked why he paid II through Whitley the Chief Deec
tive of the Government he said that all disbursements OF
the Secret Service fund made through whitley and
the policy followed in the present in order
10 maintain uniform system OF accounts. Mr.. Williams
said to-day that he reluctant about paying the
money tho tme because be did not think such
contemplated by the law, but he thinks the money
well spent He said he told the Committee that he
had authorized dollar 10 be expended for polt
cal purposes, and that all he sought to prevent
frauds in elections If any party was benefited by his
course 1t because he had prevented the other from
committing frauds. lie says he is entirely satisfied with
LIS course and he takes tho whole responsibility. He
has never edeayored he says to conceal the facts The
case Is important and sensational because it has been
oyerdrawn and exaggerated.
MR.. DAVENPORT TO TESTIFY.