New-York tribune., 1879-01-29
THE DAVENPORT INQUIRY.
FIRST SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE.

FIRST SESSION OF THE COMMIT IEE.
| TEDIOUS DAYS TESTIMONY RELIEVED BY fkW
SHARP BITS OF REPABTEE-AN INQUIRY INio
Mr.. pAyENpoRI's PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT.
The Congressional committee appointed 10
investigate the charges against John Davenport, su-
pcryisor OF Elections, met yesterday at the Ios'
ONCE Building. One of the original members Julian
Uartri1ge OF Georgia, has died since the appoint
mcnt of the committee, and William H. Forney'
OF Alabaina, has succeeded him III the Judlciar9
Committee, OF which this IL subcommittee
The two other members OF the committee are Repre-
sentatiyes william =. Lynde, OF Wisconsin. and
William =. Frye, of Maine the latter being the ohy
Republican on the committee. Mr. Lynde, who acied
as chairman, stout, with large round face hea'5
double chin and thick. tawny mousache' MI forhe,
sat at the right of the chairman. ana Mf Frye WI" vi"
not seem absorbed in the proceedings occasionally
amused himself by drafting curious designs OH the pa
per before him
The charcss against Commissioner Davenport are
ILLEGAL interference with the electoral rights OF voters
AT the last election, and the arrest OF persons VINO
claimed to hold naturalization papers Issued IN looo
General George W. Wngate represented the com
plapants aud Mr. Davenport appeared In MS own
brhalf At the beginning OF the session, Mr. Frye
declared that undcrshc powers o the ros"lul'h Ihe
committee could inquire into the conduct of Mr
Dvcnport m Snpory OF Elections but not aS Cnlicd
States Commissioners The other members OF the com
nit tee held different opinion.
Edwin J. Dcnping superintendent IN the 'tofr or " l.
stewart Co testified that his papers, on which he had
voted previously had been taken from him nv ah III
spcctor at the last election Il, his coHnsers advice he
had obtained duplicate papers nut on attempting 10
vote on election day he HAD been arrested lie
was taken before Commissioner Davenport WI" re-
leased hiln his promise not to vote. i.hIy II. frG
counsel for \. T. stewart & Co.. coniirihed his te'
m0nY. ., A., H.. ., o,.ri ~ ur
Davcnpnrt was long and sea ching lie was qirsl'ohr
M rcat length ~ regard to the issue OF complaints ana
the SURRENDER O. naturalization n2PrgN r, h'" ~
Of the trrgulirttir- IN inc Ttc"rl> oi W, & l'
Surrup urts was gained hN ElS Attendance a. cipIh
Of Commissioner hc4.i lrorr lhG tGnni12G o. ,oI ,
tested 'ai~. IT, had htiiU'" tn,ltt u'"' H.
ulazatjon papers had hon "htlnrd ~ tnr
a"rii,,iions Durns the cNauinali'n of The W'inc>>
II v ~ admitted by M. DlYeupuii that 1l"o com
plaut- mad been made u Oriontr ny thr Wines ana
n.au ~ nc psovipus Slr.2 ;ind summer IN attempt
wa. nadc on 'NH,nlrInon to ASCERTAIN thc SUI
mrnis dc hy r,ons VINO Surrendered thrir t"PI',
a. 80 tic maucr IA which thcy had hrcu Obtained Itr
witness testified tna ne had never heard any nlr'r"i'
c!octIon other than tl"s" c'uiamSi ~ Ia"
r-.ut,d iu,trI'f ous. lie knew tL'i VI p'l.n-
,,r, 81 The sure rc cc,iG.atc., bu: did not know
Of an, instance wHcn the quest haH hrcn c"HPirh
win. ,..,,o
United states Commi,soncr Dnri tc,iii"d tgnt ~, he
court ana thi he bcld the Gay al clc, o aud
that AnoHt 200 eases had been lrol-H h'olc hiih'
~" a. trnr, : a tu unIi anpT y.
aiG d d.rol,d ' of every case brousi hef,ic him.
long examination o. tr 'oHhIH-l"I' l"il"MIl' y,
regard 10 l~ action i'm t'o,c cases lie rriHrlpcr
thc ,.e Of WEci1n who WIS brought IN second time
hivius voted after pr"mi~' no 10 do 80 Ia srhril
Comm ,,.curr lad go discretion, bul wl, romrci'"h
wien cxaiijuliiou ,,a> WaIyrd 10 Iod the priSorcr-
who bad bcCu DISCHARGED upon 'ici own r'cosh% "''
E" 10 you rCmrnhrr lii r''r "i hlciHI, l. M>"""'
warrant you Tor" up . asked "tncidl "i'-i'''
- ore up no warrant
L" an, r"-.iIyc that DESTROYED none"
"Wt!i. III not put nv irlsiu,nt asain'i yon.-;
Tn. wines Na~ a-h' aout iHc discharge OF john -
Ou.r,y. lawyer. who had been .rIo,.rd.
course ne discharged hiln. SAID Mr Fry "who
on cS-rXaninat H. warrant wa haqdcl 70 The
vItir,, b, Mr.. Davenport who asked: " II haS been
iut.matcd that iorc ~ tlc Wdrh "i Michael Law
lr.,: is thIt the warrant
It L. and bear, ny return"
T!i. witness know Of 10 discrimination between por.
sons, holding cert icatr- issued in l~G@ ou account
,I l,l a., l.ia iraSor. and no cui'I .A.s Il ever
had been present on several orc'>i7r "hcn Ni DdNh
port au been requested I" return sufi'dtfI at plpe@'
hut uio inrariabr answer d." br'h ii" '"'P"''V IT,
=" Do Won krov how much from Mr. d ,ynports large
private fortune wis expended IN co't'lH- i''r"dt""
ab. ut these eases :!
DO not hut think largo SIM"
The witness thcn testified in regard T. the ices com
plants ami warrants; After some cacuatI"n' "-hrr"l
Wugato SAID: " Sir. Ddvenports emo umcnt> on the
9 100 cases III the spring AID summer. and the :ilo3
" ;7-f ac a.:.3"H to ABOUT fl~JI1 Dli ihr
amount cx xpendrd exceed these fees Z!
do moi know what sums Mr.. Davenport has r.
had received " less tnan $1,000 50 ar"
Nnr pTessc ed Tor answer the witness Sad that ne
believed The MAJ uy ~ hose arrested re Drnotli'''
on! will "a Unit that siId Mr. FrY" Ian -udiY.
DO You not know" asked General Wlu2dtr, " That
the arr,st. surprise To the Demograh' ratIyF
do not ihNk thrl were. Tor fIlt p1rtY kh Wo 100
much a. DlYc.,uOrt. Judge aso from the array q!
com ,e s.lt down ny Tnnnary itaiL'
In reuy an inquiry from tIr DaVchport. the wit
sad, g know az the appointment "i Comhltic
by Imnany Hail 10 81 win toinliaNohcF Davenport
in consideration o. the l@b' caS DrnniS PHnh vas
tue committee and iirnry D. Purr"i WIS ahoi h'r
member but forget Wactlci GIutsu Was The third or
no,. think d. not remcmb WHO The thnd man
I'm. hearing will hc continued to-Iav.