New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-14
JOHN |. DAVENPORT COURTS An INQUIRY.
NE Is Too BUSY JUST NOW. HOWEVER To MEET
,OYGRIssM,N FITCH AND his COM
MTTTE TO-DAY.

Comml,, ioncr John l. Davenport, the United states
Chief supervise. VI Elections, sent letter yesterday
To Congressman \. =. Titch. chairman Of ia" com
mItte 81 the House 81 Representatives., which expected
to BEGIN Investigating Mr.. Davenport, AT meeting
TO lc held to morrow morning. In th" Post once
building The letter Is In answer 10 II note from Mr.
Fitch requesting Commissioner Daycnpor's attend
aucc before the committee. Mr. Davenport says plainly
that hc doe intend to be- present at tn" meeting
Of the committee and gives hi- reasons for his re-
nsa lie show, that the Investigations was not
pro,idcd for until disclosures ~ (" ihc Irregular
mcthtd, u naturalization I'm the supervisor Court In
mi, city, I'm 1-9l, had been made before commute"
Of the United States senate. No suggestion al the
formation Of a committee Of the House was made fer
seven month, after IT met ana IA" committee was
not appointed until August >, the day Of the nd
journmrnt of Congress.
MIR Davenport heard that the committee was 10
meet on september :, and wrote to Mr. flt'h a'hihS
that an ,ny DAY be- -ct FOR the beginning Of the In
vr~icatlom. The committee adjourned until ~'ptcm
Der - aud then adjourned subject to the call oi u"
chairman y, meeting called until that announced
for o-morrow and Mr.. Davenport evidently believes
that the delay wa caused by desire TO cmbarraSs him
IN hi, election duties. lie wtlt'";
am By ,arlo, Of the Revised Statutes charged
with numcrol, duties 4 the most trying and intricate
character whsh mny bo summed up in lrw word. To wit
IN Of ,orcc the National Election law, and To prevent and
nnnish >iol,on, u the same hold my Office Chief
supervisor 4 Elections long "as faithful and capable
Il is my sworn duty execute those laws aud intend 50
to do b. the best Of my ability
To do this require, q every 1ment OF my time AZ
that Of very large force Of employees outside Of the
supcrvi or- themselves. II your commc" had promptly
organized after the adjournment Of Congress ana requested
NY attendance you would have found me b"th ANXIOUS
AID willing a~sis. YOU In yont efforts to ascertain the
methods pursued by enforcing those laws. II
had even when you ist MT ON september s. h'mrd "a
early diy a. requested should have been able to have
appeared Indeed when you again met on September >"
could have attended Instead Of treating my request
a. on rthv f consideration you have allowed nearly
weeks To ,a-c your first meeting. and now ask ne
to come between day OF rrsitIation This Is simply
impossible for me unless am v" hcgrct NY O'ial uuues
aud / do not propose TO do
am charging that the action Of your committee In
thu, DELAYING my examination was intentional. simply
say that II prevent, my attendance until after the election
&, over aud 1 wholly iai 70 see no" any member of
your con rad my letter OF september - and
lr,r', that Wa ready you Soy you inferred there
fr,n 70 attend and that without being supocnacd and
vet not have inferred theicirom that unless carly
dat" va, named 1 could not attend your hearings.
To the end that VOC nd The committee may not lose
NV .n,nod rights which YOU may have to my presence
by a.on Of NY bng ~ublocna d. desire to LAY that
to secure the o You will b" at nay Office in the
po,tonc. Building at 10 .. m. tomorro" to meet the
,cce,ntAtarns I, the end that he serve me with
IN. requisite summons ard ! then ask that this lett
be- accented ~ my reply b. such document
In closing permit add that I neither shrk any
ty for NY Ollie al 0ct> nor d'ir' to conceal
thcn, 1 ,nlly ,nfo the National election laws
and attend upon your committee my employees but
I will A. -oon able IN recover from the strain
vbrn almost nccs-nt WORK both day and night. from
,,. h,for. the BEGINNING OF registration down u the day
,f,r ,tion inNoNes-whch l. generally about week
re Il thc service o. your committee
th,r, for suggest aud request that the committee ID
ourn H. hearing until Novcmb ~. when Viii apnc0r
ard will aud abide with IT, either here o. Ia Washing
H., -, long - NAV be- wanted, even though II le to
th. Attn O, March next when the tsrm Of onc, Of it,
will