The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-27
THE mysterious MAN."

ma880c nuScGtS-.TeS.
timony OF Collector Simmons, Of Boston,
Formerly Internal Revenue Super
visor-The Instructions Of the Treasury
Department.
WASHINGTON, March &c. 1874.
The Committee OF Ways and Means gave another
hearing to-day in the Sanborn matter. Sanborn's
counsel, Mr.. Woodbridge, OF Vermont, came before
the committee and stated that, after iull consuta
ton, 1t was agreed that his client mr. Sanborn)
would present himself before the committee to-
morrow and make written statement and SUBJ
ject himself to the examination OF the committee.
That arrangement being satisfactory the CON.
mittee proceeded to hear the statement Of William
A. Simmons, Collector OF Boston, and late Internal
Revenue Supervisor for all New England. lie APP
peared as witness on behalf OF Sanborn. He
related his connection with the latter and stated
that when SanbOrn first came into his office in
Boston and told him OF his contract and OF his
right to be aided IN his examinations by internal
revenue of1cers he (Simmons) declined to act
on That statement, and Immediately went to see
Mr. Richardson. then Assistant secretary Of the
Treasury, and who was then IN Boston, and that
he got
VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS PROM MR.. RICHARDSON
to assist SanDorn. lie subsequently got letter
from Secretary Boutwell,, and still later from
Secretary Richardson to the same effect Under
these instructions he had detailed revenue detec-
tive (HortOn) to aid SanbOrn, and Horton had con-
rlnued to do so while he tsmmOns) remained in
pressed by members Of the committee as to his
views Of the propriety OF turning over q salaried
officer of the government to the employment OF a
private individual, he SAID that his rule always
10 obey his superior officers. To the question as 10
Sanborn's peculiar qualifications or the business
OF collecting derelict taxes, he replied that san.
born was known in Massachusetts as
''THE MYSTERIOUS NAM"
that he was acquainted with every member OF the
Legislatures OF Massachusetts, Maine and New
Hampshire, ana tnat he managed" the business
OF the railroads-particulariy the Eastern Rail-
n fhn
"Thlrd Estate" In answer to O question by Mr..
Wood he stated that he had had no conversation
with any member oil Congress in regard TO the
Sanborn contracts AS to the policy of u law under
which such contract could be made, he declined
to give an opinion lest he might be supposed to be
casting a reflection on the members OF Congress
who voted for 1t; but he expressed his decided
convection that ninety per cent OF the $50 600 col
would never have been collected through the regu-
lar channels In reference to the tax collected from
Mr.. Williams, OF Hartford, on the essence of Jamaica
ginger, he said he mad consulted the Commissioner
OF Internal Revenue as to the liability OF that prep
had been instructed 10y letter, which he read to the
committee, that II was liable to the TAX. He adj
mitted, however, that his inquiry did not refer
specially to the back tax nor TO SanbOrn's connec-
tion with the matter. AS to the income tax
paid by persons VINO had received
CREDIT M0BILIER DIVIDENDS,
he stated that his attention had not been called to
the matter until after Sanborn had included these
+. NJ Green ana q. +. Presbrey, the agen,s EN-.
ployed by SanbOrn to work up the Western Rail-
road cases. were examined at length. They both
testified that the cases they had dealt with were
not matters of record In any Of the internal
revenue offices, and denied that they had ever
represented themselves as agents OF the Treasury
Department. They admitted, however, that they
had never announced themselves as The agents OF
Sanborn. but hat left parties to draw their own
lnierences from the secret service credentials
which they presented.
The committee was In session from ten O'Clock
till ha-past four. They will meet tomorrow to
hear SanbOrn himself.
The possibility OF a ne,o issue or tnconrertio'e
paper regard ,oith dmazement ana anrietp, and
IN my Judgment, such an issue Uould De detrt-
ment and q shdme-CHARLEs SUMNER