The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-06
LITTLE J0IINNY'S PLACER.
HIS USE or $4,000 BELONGING TO
THE GOyERNMENT.


The Secret Service Fund Expended for POLITE
cal aud Socini Purpo-es-Rc ccomme nding
that Davenport be sued for the Money.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 5.-The Committee
on Expenditures In the Department OF Justice
say In their report made to-day: "The contin-
gent expenses In this department were last year
reduced to $15,54l;" aud thew recommend TIM
they be reduced to about $4,000. They also re-
ported to the Committee on Appropriations
Recommendation cutting on all carriages aud
vehicles attached to the Attorney ~ General's de-
partment, which was done with the exception
OF one wagon, which was left to convey books
| and material to aud from different depart-
ments. They also recommended reduction OF
the Judiciary fund TO the amount OF S5O0OOO, be-
neving an appropriation OF s2.5Oo,00O Is amply
suificient. Instead OF s30oo,OOO as heretofore
| appropriated; making a total reduction In the
Department OF Justice OF s5a50S.
| The committee say that charges were made
against certain marshals on account OF their
| having failed to settle their accounts as re-
| quired by law. They recommend the institution
| Of suits against them by the Attorney-Gener.l
| Certain other marshals were dismissed after the
committee commenced tho investigation OF
| their conduct. They have taken considerable
| evidence as to a too common custom of mar
| shals IN taking blank receipts from their deDu-
| ties. In many Instances they take receipts from
| their deputies for ee-ouarters OF the amount
|
one-baIf of the amount stated in the receipt.
The committee examined at great length the
fop rssistfa,ioD, and % say - that % Il /; Uncut to
| perceive now the Government got the henent
Of the money given TO Dsyenpors or, to aid him Ia
| Is sfterward CHARGED, In Davenport's accounts
as Chief Supervisor OF Elections. for the very
| work whcn Davenport's EMPLOYEES did upon
| these books. Davenport attempts to account
| for the expenditure OF the $4,000 oy putting IN
receipts from his workmen for their daily labor
| upon these books, when his accounts In the
| Treasury Department as Chief Supervisor show
| that he hargsd the Governmental for every part-
| Gle Of work q oone by those very employees. Dayen-
| port nled In his testimony large number OF 70.
| expenditure OF that sum. the nrst series bearing
date Of Ma,. lsll seveIal months before ne re-
two years after ne received the last instsllment
:'d:sS. thai many Sy .ss S 's;:s s:;s,nss re-
| to Davenport after the Investigation began and
during the period In which Davenports tes,i.
| mony was taken. 1t was also in evidence tnat
many of the receipts furnished to the commit
tee as vouchers for the expenditure Of this fund
were given for money paid for work done for
the Committee OF seventy, a purely election
committee at y and 50 Union square New Y.Ik;
| The committee therefore report that said sSiVVo
| 10 not accounted for b, Davenport.
Inc committee fur. her report that thew found
other evidences OF improper use OF the secret
service fund Of the Government for political,
social, and other PURPOSES. IL was evident irom
and Cunz. the former Secretary u the Secret
Service Division in New YORK, az well from
Muht tney tell as from WA. luel oNAue, Knot
that fund was used to iuhueuce elections IN
New York city.
The committee have felt reluctant to report
that they ind, on the part OF any officers of tbis
Government, a misappropriotion Of money TO
uses not contemplated b. law, but after f1ll
and careful consideration OF the facts developed
bv the testimony. aud Of the laws under witch
the Judci.ry fund e appropriated'. . nd the iaw
Davenport got his money they feel compelled
| to report that the President and tue Attorney
Generals, MessIs Ackerman and Williams. VINO
supple Davenport with the s3i.OCo from the
| latter fund. diverted IL from Its proper purpose
TO one entirely foreign to the objec 8 VI the
| law. Tue commi MAKE the following recon-
mend ations:
l. In view Of the many extraordinary abuse. Witch
the election Laws OF Congress prIsttutei. anu the
.r eSsgen s5, a. a4S .oa Of ~eq tne
mend the sSoiosY Yi supervisOr' Cf Election. lsd tue
2. Your committee recommends. II saii lsvs be not
department OF Justice, hrren dessnated as tue ku.
n pseneay aH Sfcyd es hs 10 81 poroS %
fund snail be used directly or indrsetly 10 Or about tns
snsii be risidly accounted for. .....
Goy.r1meht shaii ever pe 60 expended or dis6ursed
that no sccount OF shall kept 50 that may De
Yoif committee ieSommesd that Attorney.
necessary 10 recover aad return TO the Treasury the
s. Your Committee recommend the passage Of law
a fH states Il s s
O. Your committee recommend ths passage OF me
senl aiiyes
BIG CAuLyIELD. ALExANDER J. CoouRASr. JosErn
| y. HoUsE ii. J. DUsHAA Al. A. CANDLkR, h. IL. MEADE
| The minority presents their views as follows
The subject which occupied the attention OF
the committee was the disbursement Of 80 ,0OO
by theta 'orneys-General Ackerman and VIII
liams at the request of the President during the
as ISL, " md 'I3 TO detect ana punish
Dem acratic frauds In New York city .elections.
Thls was the only matter winch could be tor
tured into any political Significance, and the
IN tjor " seized upon this as soon as presen ted
with appetit itesh arpen ed.oyla long, expensive.
time, has been entirely barren OF results.
They give a detailed history Of the necessity
for and expenditure OF the fA,OOO, and John l..
the majority Of the committee. after all their
long Investigation, are not able TO nnd that
Davenport ever converted sinRs dollar TO MS
own use of the fluids placed In bis hands, or that
ne ever diverted penny OF II from It's legitimate
purpose They aliude TO the remark OF the ma
)Ority that they regretted that they were com
pelled to hnd tuat am public ofncis had been
misappropTiitin publlc money, and say that
such Language sound, strange coming from men
appointed upon the committee that they
were expected oy the leaders OF the
} Democratic party In tho House tito TO- ran "a,
epce In order to md some hing which might oe
tortured into shadow Of stain upon Presl
dent Graft and the members Of his Cabinet
va. legally aud Dr9p;rly app5. p.ia5sd
for purposes coming fairly within the law, and
| that, instes OF censure, the Presldent. Attor,
Z neys-Genersls Aokermsn and Willisms, and AND
pr"mpt, fai, hful and energetic manner In which
they aided in suppressn1 10 great degree tht
gigantic election frauds IN the CITY OF New YORK
7 Inc minority protest against the repeal OF th'
| registration laws recommended by the majority
The report Is signed ~ Charles II. Joyce o
ID. Conger, and John Il. Wait.
Young Woman's Free Ride.