New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-05
TO THE BAR OF THE HOUSE
JOHN /. DAvENPORT'S PETITION.
HE APPEALS TO CONGRESS FOR FAIR TREAT
MENr FROM Mr. rTCH's COMMITTEE.

HE APPEALS TO CONGRESS FOR FAIR TREAT
MENr FROM Mr. rTCH's COMMITTEE.
John I. Davenport. Chief supervisor of Elections
for the Southern District Of New-York has prepsred
n petition for a hearing at the Bar OF the House OF
Representatives. he having been denied nearing by
committee OF the House. The petition was sent
to Washington yesterday presentation In Congress
to-day. The petition sets forth that he is now. and
for than twenty -one years has been the Cmef
Supervisor OF Elections IN and for the Southern Dis
trict OF New-York, and that In the United states
there are some forty judicial districts. In each OF
which there Is Chief Supervisor, with power and
authority identical with that OF Mr.. Davenport.
The resolution presented the House OF Representa-
tives by Ashbe p. Fitch July l5 providing for the
appointment OF committee OF five TO Inquire into the
supervision and administration OF the election laws
by officers OF the United States IN the city OF New
York is given IN full. Following the resolution u
the correspondence between Mr. Davenport and Mr..
Fitch. On September Mr.. Davenport wrote to Mr..
Fitch, asking him to name early date as possible
for the beginning OF the sgaton, rs the Importance
OF the work imposed Mr.. Davenport would soon
REQUIRE all his time. Mr. Fitchs committee met on
the following day. ard adjourned for two weeks.
on September o Mr.. Fitch wrote to Mr.. Davenport,
informing him Of the adjournment, and telling him
that he would be informed when his presence
desired. On september % the committee met and
adjourned again. On october Mr. Fitch again
wrote to Mr. Davenport, saying that the committee
would meet on October IA, and adding that ne IN
fcrred that It would not be necessary to serve Mr.
Davenport with subpoena To this Mr. Davenport 70
piled on October 10 in part follows Your inference
that II is not necessary TO subpoena me TO secure
my presence IS quite correct have been investigated
a number OF times and it has never yet been found
necessary to subpoena me- 1 therefore sas-
gest and request that the committee adjourn Its
hearing until November 18, when | will appear ana
will be and abide with it, either here In Washington,
50 long as l may be wanted, even though 1t be to
the Attn Of March ifext when the term OF ONCE OF
It's members will cease
The petition shows that later Mr. Davenport was
served with subpoena TO appear before the COM
mittee October 1914 day Of registration OF voters
James Z. DDran, one OF Mr. DavcDports clerks, was
also summoned to appear before the committee on
October 49, Mr.. Davenp0rts letter TO Doran, refsing
him from duty on that day, Is given IN null
rs Is also Mr.. Davcnports telegram to Mr.. Fitch on
November 3, which he again offered TO before
the committee on November g.
Mr.. Davenport asserts In his petition that he has
not received any this telegram. in which he
asked Does the committee want me does IL not !"
Mr. Davenport says that the committee has not COM
piled with the resolutions under which II acDg.
nasmuch It did not examine The other Cnhed
states officials IN this city. and that the only efforts
made by the committee In the direction ordered by
the resolution which chilled II into existence those
made TO compel Mr.. Davenport 10 attend Ms sessions
AT such times his official duties made IL impossible
and wrong that he should do so.
Mr.. Davenport, therefore. asks the House of Rep
rcsentatives TO the committee 10 proceed TO
carry ont its Instructions contained In the resou
lions offered by Mr.. Fitch on July To-
The petition concludes with request that the pc
tit!oner brought before the Par 7 the House for
examination In Mr.. Ftch's committee Performs
It's duties.