Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-06
NATURALIZATION FACTS.
Mr.. John I. Davenport Makes Some state
ments That Displease senator Hill.

Mr. John I. Davenport Makes Some state
ments That Displease senator Hill.
Senators Chandler and Hill of the Senate COM
mittee on immigration Saturday examined Mr..
John /. Davenport. chief supervisor of elections
Of New York, relative to the evils Of the present
administration Of the naturalization laws in
New York, as set out in the petition presented
to the Senate recently by Senator Hiscock.
Before Mr.. Davenport made his statement be
was closely catechised by Senator Hill as to the
petition ITSELF He developed the fact that the
petition, which was signed Irrespective OF
Party" bore the signatures Of five democrats
and nineteen republicans, nearly all Of the
latter being members of the Union League
Club.
Mr.. Davenport read prepared statement, in
which he said that he appeared not as a repub-
lican but in his official capacity. He proceeded
to give history of the administration Of the
naturalization laws in New York. When he re-
ierre M 70 Judge Barnards impeachment sena,
tor Hill declared that that impeachment had
no connection with naturalization. Mr.. Daven-
port was about to explain that natural
ization frauds formed no part of the charges
because he Davenport, who was present as a
witness. was not permitted to testify when SEN
ator Hill asserted that he Senator Hill had
been one OF the impeachment managers and
questioned Mr.. Davenport's knowledge of the
facts of the case. After a colloquy between him
self and Mr.. Davenport the latter proceeded
with bis statement.
ENORMOUS INCREASE SINCE 1866.
He gave figures showing the enormous in
crease Of naturalization since 1856, saying that
in the month Of October in one year two New
York courts had granted $4,000 certificates of
citizenship. Senator Hill again interjected q
question as to whether this increase had not
resulted from the stoppage Of naturalization
during the war. to which the witness assented
He proceeded to assert that in 1888 there was
another period of fraudulent naturaliza-
ton. which was less in magnitude
than in 1868 only because of the
active work of the federal election officers. He
said that he was by no means satisfied that the
records of the superior court showed the ac-
tuai number of certificates granted and cited
certain suspicious cases in his view based on
variance in the court records, a search made
In one year showing that more than 5000 APP
plications had disappeared and were not re-
corded. When the witness touched upon one
case where a man had resided five years in this
country Senator Hill asked why he had not
been arrested.
Mr.. Davenport replied that he had preferred
to arrest the witnesses who mad sworn falsely.
Senator Hill challenged some broad state
ments of facts, but the witnesses declared that
he had with him the legal records and papers
ALLEGED COR RUpT AND IRREGULAR PRACTICES.
Mr.. Davenport continued to point ont alleged
corrupt and irregulsr practices in naturaliza-
ton cases, and said that the entire proceeding
was a wild scramble to get certificates of nat
uralization. He presented a table showing the
number of persons from each nation naturaized
in October, 1891. by the superior court of New
York. This made total Of 6,871 persons.
At the conclusion of the reading of his paper
Mr.. Davenport was asked by Senator Chandler
number of questions pertaining to his official
duties and with regard TO his method of secur-
ing copies Of papers in naturalization cases to
be used in court. Mr.. Davenport indicated, at
the request of Senator Chandler. the nature Of
defects which he had found generally existed in
the original papers. During the progress
of the investigation, Senator Hill reminded Mr..
Davenport that the statements we're not sworn
TO; but the latter said to Chairman Chandler
that he was prepared to substantiate the state
ments.
Mr. Davenport said that one result of his
labors was he had secured fifteen or twenty in
dictments in naturalization cases and
convictions in some cases. In reply to
further questions by Senator Chandler as to
why. in view of the relief afforded
by the courts and by other means in the
matter, congressional investigation was
desired by the persons signing the memorial on
which the preliminary hearing is based The
witness said that Congress was the supreme
power over questions of naturalization, and it
was the privilege of persons to come to that au-
thority for relief.
Public attention would thus be drawn to the
matter and by this means legislation may be
had to prevent similar proceedings the coming
fall.
Senator Hill desired to read carefully the
statements made by Mr.. Davenport, and in
order to accommodate him the committee adj
journed to meet again next Thursday