New-York tribune., 1876-04-22

1T ONLY SERVES TO RECALL THE DEMOCRATIC
ELECTION FRAUDS IN NEw-YORK-MR. DAvEN-
PORTS TESTIMONY BEGUN.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIRE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, April 21.-Mr. Caulhelds
Committee has probably stirred up lively hornets
nest In its bungng efforts 10 convict the President Oi
ordering an illegal use Of the Secret Service iund Oh TIE
Department Of Justice. The gigantic election haHds
which were formerly perpetrated III the Clty Oh
New-York In the interest and under the dreeuoh
Of the Tammany Ring have never been
sor,orslv denied or defended even by the
behocrots themselves Tue whole subject has
heen one which Democratic politicians have studi-
ousiy avoided and one supposed that 10y any
brnder OF Democratic investigating committee the
history OF the frauds would again be brought cut ana
spread upon the record OF the House OF representatives
This seems however to be just what Mr. CauineIds Com
,ntee Is doing After brief and very superficial IN
,est,aton IN which the Committee obtained sufficient
information 10 Rave given il ccw TO the whole matter,
tbe Colnnittce seemingly without stopping 10 Inquire
whether any law had been actually violated or not,
allowed the most sensational aud Onesded report OF the
proceedings 10 be printed The result was that within
twenty.iour hours SIR Davenport Chief Supervisor Of
Elections al New-YOrk on his way 10 Washington,
bringing with him not only the vouchers and receipts
for the money spent, but also vOlumnous papers aud
documents showing the extent OF the election frauds for
merly perpettated in NevYork and the manner in which
they we're checked aud to extent az least, pre-
vented
Mr. Davenport's examination was begun by Com
mitee this afternoon in open session. Mr. Caaed tie
Chairman Of the Committee, conducted the inquiry with
very little show OF courtesy 10 the witness, who seemed
have nothing conceal and not only the substance OF
many OF his questions bat the manner III which they
were put, was such as to DO almost Offensive.
After answering a number OF irrelevant questions
In regard to his age, former occupation
places Of residence political preferences Be- &c, Mr..
Davenport allowed 10 begin complete statement of
the manner in which the money paid him through tho
Secret Service Bureau was used He made little progress
to-day before the hour for the Committees adjournment
wa reached but ne had sufficient time TO explain the
character Of some OF the fraRds which ho undertook 70
check in New-YOrk elections. His further examination
tomorrow will probably be very interesting.
It's generally conceded in Washington to-day that
there really very little foundation for the sensa
tional writing which has been INDUCED in in regard 70
the expenditures Of portion the secret service fund
o. the Department Of Justice by Mr.. Davenport This
fund appropriated oI the detection aud Punishment
Of ferimes against the United States and Illegal voting
at Congresslouh and National elections II a criIae
against the United States, 1t has been made
by the election laws, then its detection
proper object for the expenditure Of this
money. The reports OF the Presidents feeling and
remarks this subject have been grossly exaggerated
unusually early hour to-day order this exposure
might be fully discussed The truth Is that the change
IN the hour OF holding the Cabinet meeting was caused
by the desire OF the President to 60 to Philadelphia by
the early afternoon train TO receive the
foreign government at the Centennial, sos
Of the shortest that has recently taken
place.