Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-08-06
Garheld's Civil Service Record
some Oyerdose- OF Crow NJ isceIIan-
eous Mention.


the following testimony. Read it.
BY senator McDonald-Whnt objec-
ton have you to allowing soldiers nat
uralized in 1865 to vote on their pa
pee; take for instance, the ease of An
tonic Kurchell, who is Il duly natural
lied soldier, as the records show?
"A warrant was issued against him
because his papers were fraudulent
WAS there any examination to see
If he compiled with the statute?'
81 had the facts before me.
What facts
The fact that there was no appllca-
ton on file containing his sworn state
mcnt, and the atlidavits of witnesses,
and no order of the court admitting
| him to citizenship. hold that the en-
tire proceedings i'll the superior court
in October, 1868. We're tinctured with
fraud.
you issued the warrants because
you did not find the papers on tile?'
"The proceedings were not properly
conducted and there was nothing to
authorize the issue of Il certificate o.
naturalization.
Don't you know rs fact that kur-
chell was entitled to citizenship"
II do not.
Don't you know that he was an
honorably discharged soldier
IL don't know Kurchell. :
"Thcn you made no special cxami-
nation Of his case, but acted on the gen
erl supposition that all the 1868 pa
pers were fraudulent
"On the general knowledge | had,
and also ON the fact that the law had
not been complied with.
Then YOU as commissioner under
took to determine what quantity and
class of evidence the court should re-
ceive. You must be aware that Judge
Blatchford disagreed with you totally
in the Coleman case.
Mr. Davenport wriggled uncomforta-
bly, in his chair, and tried to smile, but
remained silent
Mr.. Mcdonald continued his inquiry,
asking: Have YOU any authority to
hold kurchell's certificate or what OBJ
lection can YOU have to returning It TO
the owner?"
He replied at is in the files Of my
office.
who placed ii thcrc?'
81 don't know.
"Was il voluntarily delivered -
Here the witness attempted to
launch forth in lecture on his rights
~ u supervisor, and evaded the ques-
ton put him. lie gesticulated tiercely
with his little arms, and his shrill voice
sounded rs though he were trying to
escape from garroters. Senator Nc
Donald stopped the exhibition by de
handing in an authoritative tone:
Why do you retain these eertiti-
catcs?"
Because think have right to
do So" he replied III Il meeker tone.
Have YOU any doubt rs to the gen
uineness Of that kurchill's paper?"
II don't know anything about it.
To Senator Wallace he testified"
took charge Of the matter Of naturall-
Mtion frauds in 1865, and have admin
istered the bureau since When | took
charge il was impossible to tell how
many names Of citizens We're on the
books in the state courts
Explain to me how it came to pas
that one Of Your marshals arrested
John Wright Of No 1870 Pearl street, a
citizen and an honorably discharged
soldier, when he attempted to Vote
II don't remember his ease"
After YOU arrested these men, did
YOU allow them to 90 home, provided
they agreed not to vote?
Wherever proper assurances We're
given we usually allow them to go.
30 YOU mean to arrest those men
again if they offer to vote2'
II will decide on that when the oc-
casion arises
Sen. Wallace then referred to half a
dozen cases of illegal arrests by Dayen-
port, and asked him to explain his con-
duct He pleaded that he remember
ed nothing of the eases. He remem-
hered having arrested George Harris,
4 native born citizen, for voting but
said that he had registered illegally
Sen, Wallace asked
rs the registration fixed IVY the state
or the United States statute?'
He answered BY the state laws,
and went on 10 give his Interpretation Of
the laws. The senator listened to this
glib speech of the witness for few
moments and then cut him short, ask
ing
We're vou enforcing the laws Of the
state or those Of the United States
II was enforcing the United States
law which approves the state law
''Do Won think the stateof New York
i unable t. enforce it, own laws with
ont your asslstanee2
The witness grew FESTIVE, pulled his
cigar and gazcd around the room anx-
iously. and then i his usual stvle Ne
started To tell the senators what the
law says en election matters. His
learning appeared ~ have no faeina.
ton for the members of the commit
tee. for no attention whatever was
paid ~ his rambling remarks. sen,
Wallace continued asking
Did yen ever make application Il
1 the court to yitiate ae III aside thos.
Ipapet-
j have not