The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-22

MANAGED ELECTIONS.
NEW YORK's PIGMY CESAR


Supervisor OF Election for tho Southern DISTRICT OF
New York, as also account OF the secret service
fund, the leading topic Of among all
classes throughout the city yesterday. 1t was how
ever, particularly among politicians and men,
bers Of the legal profession that tho matter was
fully discussed Yet among every class, whether
II politicians, lawyers merchants or independent
citizens there appeared to be but conclusion ar
rived at viz, that Commissioner Davenport or sltto
Johnny" as he was more frequently termed, had an
extremely hiy road to travel His letter. setting forth
that he had expended $25 900 and above his
charges disbursements between the years 1871 and
1874 and that ho still owed that sum, considered
very good joke for II is claimed that although the law
under which no was appointed only gave him power to
1872 and 1874 he did, both before tho passage
OF the bill in 1870 and up TO the present
time exercise supervision the registration
made in the CITY, whether he had Jurisdiction not.
While Davenport was receiving pay from the govern
Of tho United States for tho performance his
duties during preceding the election or 1872 also
appears that he at the same time was also drawing
large sums from the Committee Of Seventy and the
Union League Club for substantially the service
Many lawyers and politicians appear to think It
what singular that the Chief Supervisor could at one
and the time three masters and yet sustain
personal oss notwithstanding the liberal pay he re-
ccived
TERROR.
To 20 back, however to 1870 the statement is au
thorized showing with what high handed way II
.slittle Commissioner intended 10 run matters in The
intcrst OF the republican party that he caused even
during that year when he had title whatever
not having been created 'Chef Supervisor 600 war
rants to be prepared for the that number Of
people. Only sixty Of these warrants, how
ever were served Tho plan OF opera
to certain designated letters through the mails
on which private marks. The postmen in the
various districts, 1t is asserted, instructed in
every case where they could lind such person at
the address given return these envelopes
Commissioner Davenport This 1t is said they did,
carrying them in patches to his Office ut the Fifth
Avenue Hotel. there making afldavits that the
parties not found at tho addresses given,
blanks already prepared for the purpose
The warrants the of these parties who, by
the way, had previously registered but who, singuary
enough, could not be found by the postmcn, were all
ready be served election day should any the
5000 attempt TO vote. friend who happened to call
Davenport, having his attention called TO this i'm
mensc stack OF warrants inquired into the process by
which information sufficient 10 grant such
immense number could be obtained. Learn.
ing the particulars he informed the Commissioners
that he could not possibly issue process unless
sworn complaints. Mr. Davenport then consulted with
Mr. Bliss, the United States District Attorney, who
Mr. Davenport work. Is said and drove around
the town Tor three days visiting the various election
complaints in which to make arrests He subsequently
mayAgcd 10 600 Of these and aftcrward made
sixty arrests, obtaining out OF this number
ONLY THREE CONVICTIONS.
The well known terrorism exercised by Commissioner
Davenport that time has frequently been referred
to in the HERALD and only remains to notice The fact
that at all times large staff OF clerks antained by
the Chic Supervisor making corrections ana vertical
tons ofthc registry aud rectifying the census
ID llaNm OI
Supervisor his deputies and the deputy marshals Is 10
be found in the United States Laws Of 1871 section II
OF the act, entitled IAN act to amend act approved
May 81 1870, entitled TO enforce the right OF
citizens OF the United States to vote in the several
States OF this Union, and for other purposes"
The section referred 10 PROVIDES that ihcre shall be
allowed and paid to the Chcf supervisor Tor his
wees as sucn oiccr inc following compensation apars
performance of any duty as Circuit Court Commits
sioncrFor filing and caring Tor every urn. report
record document other paper required to be filed By
HIM under OF the preceding PROVISIONS ten cents;
for axng seal to any paper record report nstru
mcnt, twenty cents; FOR entering and indexug the
cords OF his ONCE, fifteen cents per folio,
and for arranging and transmitting 10 Congress-
provided for in section 2 020 any report statement
record return examination Tor folio, fifteen
cents and Tor any copy thereof or any paper file,
like sum. And there shall be allowed and paid to
each supervisor OF election, and each special deputy
marshal VINO appointed and performs his duty under
the preceding provIsion compensation at tho
rate OF IS per day for each DAY he actually
on duty not exceeding ten days but no compensation
shall be allowed, III any case t. supervisors OF cleo
ton, except to those appointed in cities towns OF
20 900 Inhabitants and the fees OF the chief
supervisors shall be paid the Treasury OF the United
States, such accounts to be made out, verified OK
amined and certified. rs IN the of commissioners,
that the examination certificate required may
be made by either the Circuit or District Judge.
STRONG CHARGES
The following is copy Of letter addressed to
Speaker Kerr by Mr. Samuel j. Classy, relative
operations OF supervisor Davenport
NEw Yonx April II, 1915.
Hon NJ O. KERR, Speaker Of the House Of Representa-
DsAn slsrhe disclosures recently made before the Com
m,ec Of Expenditures for the department Of Justice in
been prevented from doing from the OF
cuisines TO bring 20 tns notice o.
performances which Commissioner Davenport and
m under ,hs reeN 81 enors AVE.
sdsIss. you personally ssesass think you va Ismsu.
Of the House, Of which committee member in
Union League that investigation Daven
port Tor tue first time connected with pue business
results Of The investigation you will probably remember
pal members q the Jnion Lc Club my
GRATED certain bills relating 70 elections and nnturnss
were finally enseted in the summer oil 1870
oecm fuy conecc,sd davenport Who was w"rm, enlisted
I" the as and dr. By the @ r. n
the act rsnesray known W. as the Enicreemen. Assm
Chef supervisor Of Elections for the southern Dsrics Of
doubt whether ever was enacted In this country
bin obnoxious TO tue constitution and 70 all the princi
matter surprise to has received 50 little aiien.
ton from the e ns and en- Many q Is
THAI they incapable OF enforcement decision
OF the United states supreme Court practically nues tho
greater part Of its provisions.
The Office OF Chief supervisor created by this act
anomaly in American legislation il Judge;
the tenure Is practically for liie there provision
moval and u l. uoubtln whether chief supervisor guilty
OF maeasance. could he rid OF otherwise than by
parchment. The Of the Office act.
section the u = Revised Statutes are absolutely
unlimited chiet supervisor may prepare forms, issue
Instructions make indc &C. de-
10 consider material lie Is subject supervision what
AZ the ALLOW cd for such he
l.,n TO 4
on each general election and there provision In the
law the Of the disposition Of
the proceedings OF Of these officers enable
anybody to and what they or what was
effect OF their action.
This BY the feature Of this frovi
sion L. made lce sections 22l, 2U2I 2u2 Y. Revised
stautesl Tor an inqnisitoai examination
affairs Of human being who l. in the district
has been tolerated this country
Angosaxon PRINCIPLES have obiainea. the ressiau
which n Felony. several respectable citizens
arrested issued by Davenport for refusing
to questions propoundcd them by persons who
trndrd residences suffered
prsonrnen hail being refused exorhtant aud