The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-10-15
IMpCDEN7 LITTLE JOHNNY
Davenport Has Gone without Spanking =
Long TINT He DeHcs the Rod or Authority.

Long TINT He Dencs the Rod or Authority.
John /. Davenport. Federal Chief Supervisor
of Elections. dcHed tho authority Of the House
OF Representatives yesterday. by refusing to
appear and testify before tho special commit
tee OF that body appointed to investigate into
and report on his administration Of his Office.
The committee. Of which Congressman Ash
bel y. Fitch is Chairman. met in room ~ OF the
Federal building. hut Mr.. Davenport did not
appear to testify. although notified by Chair
man Fitch that he would be expected. Instead.
there came n letter to the Chairman saving
that tho Chief Supervisor did not propose to
testify Just at present. and that if the commit
tee desired TO try and make him testify. it
might send it's Sergcnnt-at-Armsto his Office
on the fifth floor OF the Post Office building.
where he would wait 10 be suhpTnaed.
Sergeant at Arms Tom Conkley was sent
with II subl"rnu to Dnvcnport's office. where
lie met the ohdurate witness and served him
with the committees rcquisition to put In an
appearance and testify. Having accepted the
service. Davenport coolly left tho building and
did not go near the committee.
In his letter TO Chairman Fitch the little nu-
nverse to icing examined regarding his official
acts. but thought that tEe committee might
have got I" work earlier. when the duties OF
his place were not so unerO,!s Ms at present.
He declared that he will be ut the service Of tho
committees at any time from Nov. IL until
March 4 next.
Davcnport's refusal to testify:
lhave never been OF the opinion that NJ, Davenport
would submit to hn examination in regard to what he
did In the election of 1888, the sums Of money which
from the K.p"bn9yan National rom1nit,ee and PROM iram
other Republican sources. and the work which he Is
linn nj the exptnsr Of The general public. lie viii take
almost any chance FIRST.
Ills man difficulty, in an examination would DO
With the financial side Of his OPERATION. since
TO collect at the Treasury department for al
legged services. for which he did not dare To attempt TO
Clevelani'S ADMINISTRATION the great sum OF SIS. lis.
~. Thus was IN addition to his compensation AS q
very large sums received by him from his party Assoc
rinien It IL generally believed that ne received in ono
Ist IN iss s'"n IL. IRON. rom ' Of s I:sr%sI,'" 70 S .sui.in T wna, i.
did with this money. how mnch of It he spent. and
what FOL. aud how much he kept. and why. would be
20 unpleasant that he Is wiling. asa Tinted. states
oisicsr. 10 disregard tho mandate of the legislative
body which created his office. sooner than endurrIt.
Another difficulty which will prevent his going on the
reason other ihnn tho intimidation Of Democrats for
the numerous arrests which he has made, Acting nrst
reau. he has sought Information against thousands OF
citizens for alleged offences against the election laws:
visor of Elections. he has obtained warrants for the ar.
rest OF these persons: then acting IN his capacity as
the United States Commissioner sitting as II magis.
pie prerented to himself az Judge. by himself as prnse.
cutting attorney. and has declared them All not ruiity
and discharged them when 1t was too late for them 10
vote.
There Il an element of comedy in his proce.dinr.
der oath Rlmost as disaRreeabie to him a, would h. anv
has conducted. For these and many other rea.ons Mr.
ishment for contempt Of ths House than submit 10 any
public examination under oath.