New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-04
saNEoRS,S PHILADELPHIA OPER1TIOyS

pIsTRCr-ATToRNEY MMICHAELs EXPLANATIONS
AN INTERESTING CHAPTER OF EXPERIENCES.
lFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRiBUShl
PHILADELPHIA. March 3.-United States District
Attorney William McMichael. having been cata-
Iogued as one of Sanborns allies" in THE TRIBUNE
Yesterday and the letter Of Solicitor Banheld To INN
having been published IN full at the same time, q
reporter Of The TRIBUNE called upon Mr. McSlichaei
at his Office for an explanation of Sanborns transac-
tions in this city with the legal andrevenue authon
t;es Of tbe Government here. Upon being shown
Yesterdays issue of THE TRIBUNE. with his name IN
hold faced capitals. associated with those of San
born Simmons, Sawyer. Butler, and others. In
connection with the notorious Sanborn contracts. he
was very much surprised and panied and said that
ma was very much Obliged to The TRIBUNE for Civ
inc him an opportunity of stating his relations with
the matter Probably his own language will express
the details of tho transactions in this city most
clearly Mr. McMichael said:
have not made any collections for Sanborn. nor have
received any compensation In the matter as what
have TO say will prove Sanborn came to see me IN the
latter part last November and said that he had the
contract for the collection OF claims ON behalf OF the
Government especially in reference TO legacy aud sue
cesson taxes The DsrietAtorneys In other places lac
.,d had acted IN collecting these claims and he wanted
ma IN taxa charge OF the matter in Philadelphia. His
arrangement with the Treasury to receive 80 per
cant NJ tho amounts and TO pay of all
expenses incident 70 the collection. Among these OK
penscs winch had been usual In other cities, was
fee OF per cont to the DistrictAttorney. l
told him that / had been connected with the
Government In different official positions, ana
had never taken dollar for any service except directly
Treasury and that would neither use the
name of the United States, nor receive any componsa-
zion for service rendered in this way except by special
authority OF the Treasury Department that the whole
1,,IA tusth he
direction the Government Mr. Sanborn SAID that ne
would see that this direction given This was the
orst and only interview ever had with SanD0rn.
In the following month (December lasp received q
letter OF instructions from Mr. Banhed solicitor Oh the
Treasury (here Mr.. McMchael produced copy OF The
letter published IN yesterdays issue OF THE TRBUsEL
author zing me TO institute suit IN Mr. san6orns cases.
and authorizing receive from sanb0rn as might be
agreed upon After receiving this letter felt that
| vhis did MT desrs and ought not 10 ob,truct the
matter vet for protection Of the Government and
nv own accountability in collecting moneys would
act sfrctly within the Instructions conveyed by That
letter Tho third ia these instructions as fol
| lows:
# \. understood that Sanoorns contract relates to
claim, which are record IN AM OF the collectors
! Offices.
,oecay avoided the collection in this way OF any
| claims which could be- collected through tho regular
| ,,,.ru. ch,nnsls: and on the eth OF January | al
ars-.ed letter to Messrs Elliott, Pollock, and Ash
worth IN whose collection districts the claims "hicb
was to hayo charge OF we're To DO recovered NY eo'
| to them was:
rL,vs been ms rlcted by the Treasury Department 10
MAZE collections OF certain unpaid legacy ana success
son taxes II being understood that tue cooOohs aIo
not IN relate TO claims which are ON record III any OF he
| coIlectors Offices viii you please FURNISH me WIN
s of the claim, Of this character Oh Feeora III J'u'
| Otocsf
No answers we're received TO these letters until Jan
| q aud Feb (. Messr. Pollock aud Elliott rephed VI
one, that there we're CLAIMS OF this kind OF record
| In their offices
Mr.. McMchael here remarked. :" But from VIVA
subsequently occurred these gentlemen may haV
understood that my inquiry referred w taxes Whicl
gave no ro.sou. though lao was ureqd I" d" an 1"