The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-04-24
w WASHINGTON.
Continuation of Davenport's Statement
Concerning the Secret Service Fund.

WASHINGTON, April 22.-Davenport resumed
his evidence to-day and testified with regard to
frauds in New York city and the reasons which
led him to inquire into the matter. Davenport
was going on 10 explain the frauds committed
under the form of naturalization, when Caul-
field called the committee together to choke off
the evidence. but after consultation it was de-
cided the witness should go on. Witness then
went on to partcularize the frauds. He had
prepared mass OF affidavits in relation to
these frauds, and convicted these parties
Mr.. Caulfeld-How were you paid Cor pre-
pairing these affidavits.
Davenport-I was paid as every other United
States Commissioner was paid. Some L was
paid for and others 1 was not paid for. Wit
ness examined mass of affidavts and said he
could not designate the affidavits for which he
was paid and those for which he was not. Wit
ness, after good deal of badgering, went on
to explain the frauds he discovered in registra-
ton under the law of New York. Witness ex-
planned that under the revised statutes he had
gone on and prepared a number of books of in
struction to deputy supervisors. These books
were paid for under the law by the department.,
He testified to the issue of warrants in 1872 for
1900 illegally registered persons, believing that
they were not iD existence, to prevent the per-
sons named from voting.
Adjourned until Wednesday.
Alleged Irregularities in the Trensnr, I'M
der Secretary McCulIoch.
ST. LOUIS, April % George Prender, who
was public debt statement clerk under Secre-
tary McCulloch, has gone to Washington to
testify that each public debt statement then is
sued reported money in the treasury not there,
while the government was paying three per
cent to meet temporary necessities; also that
hundreds of thousands of dollars were placed
in the hands OF outside parties, who loaned it
back to the government and drew interest on
it.
A clerk named Richardson, in the redemp.
tion bureau, stated to friends that Immense
frauds were perpetrated IN that bureau, and
fortunes made by reporting money destroyed
which was preserved; that only half the money
turned in for destruction was actually destroyed
and the other half was divided among the
perpetrators of the frauds
Preuder reported these facts to Gen. Spinner,
who was treasurer, but the latter declined in.
vestigating them, saying that he did not believe
frauds were practiced. In March, 1869, the
Congressional retrenchment committee was ex-
aiming alleged frauds in the Treasury printing
department, Prender went to Edmunds of Yer
mont chairman of the committee, and laid all
the facts before him, and asked for an investi-
cation. Edmunds replied that the time of
the committee was too short to warrant an ex.
tended investigation and nothing was done.
After Boutwell, became Secretary, Prender who
at that time had retired from the Treasury
Department, informed him of the discoveries
he had made while clerk, and the Secretary
promised to investigate the matter shortly.
After this man named Fox, who had also
been a clerk in the redemption bureau, called
on Prender and stated that he had been ap-
pointed detective by Secretary Boutwell, to
work up these frauds, aud wanted all the pa.
pers and evidence he had in his possession.
Prender declined to give them up except on an
order from Boutwell,. Fox left, but returned
little while after with letter from the Sec
rotary, asking fer the documents, and Prender
gave them to Fox in the presence of a witness
who knew their character and who is now in
Washington. In the meantime Richardson
had retired from the redemption bureau and
located at Albany, N. Y. Fox visited him and
soon afterwards RICHARDSON, although Demo-
GRAFT, was appointed assistant postmaster at Al
bany, and no investigation of the frauds was
ever made.
Prender will probably testify before the COM
mttee at Washington on Monday, when it is
expected the matter will be brought to light.
The Government Insane Asylnl.
A woman who has been an attendant in the
government insane asylum testified to. day that
the clothing and food were insufficient. She
had seen tainted meat given to patients and
some of the female patients had fingers frozen
for want of proper warmth in the wards. DR..
Nichols was so much engaged outside that he
did not give proper attention to the hospital,
one time not going through the wards for three
months. Vermin came upon the clothing from
the laundry.
Various Matters.
A resolution has been prepared by Repub-
lcan member of the House to be offered to-
morrow, proposing that investigations now in
progress shall be conducted with open DOORS
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue Sat-
urday by direction of the President wrote a
letter to Supervisor Hedrick asking for his re-
signation. Supervisor Mathews has resigned.
The Treasury up to Saturday night had paid
out in exchange over 5000, 900 in silver coin.
Ex-Detectve Whiteley says the indictments
against him is not worth anything, as he has
letter from the Attorney General securing i'm
munity to him for all acts. He gives his opin-
ion pretty freely as to the evidence to be brought
out, but it is all in his own favor.
The House Committee on Indian Affairs have
agreed to recommend the immediate appropri-
alton of $4,000 for the subsistence of the Ari-
IONA indians, whom Gen. Sheridan reports driv-
en- to depredations by absolute need.