Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-03-07

EhAAaa ORpNGNMNnh anu EAhhI
In the Collection OF the Revenues. |
The New York Tribunals exposures OF
the villainous processes by which Special |
Agent Jayne, managed through the
system of spies and informers to squeeze
such vast sums out Of the merchants Of
New York, aud of the remarkable
features of the collection of internal
revenue for a commission Of fifty per
cent. under the sanborn contract, the
particulars of which Secretary Richard
son has so audaciously sought to conceal
from Congress, are creating a profouHd
sensation In commercial eircles, and the
unprecedented reader Of the mass Of evil
aenee presented can reach no other con-
clusion than that the people and the Gov
eminent have both been swlndled by
these miserable collectors on commission,
who have stood between the Government
and the Taxpayers.
Il is demonstrated that merchants made
settlements with special agent JayAe for
sums larger than appear stated in the
official returns which Mr.. Richardson so
reluctantly has made, while there Is an
abundance Of evidence that enormous
sums have been paid TO him and others
to prevent threatened investigation. Nor
will It do to presume that all those thus
submitting to the Matchmaking process
were guilty OF frauds on the revenue
The customs regulations are so intricate
that 1t is difficult II not impossible to so
conduct the importing business that some
apparent irregularities will mot now
and then occur, and the government
takes no account Of the intention bu'
confiscates the whole invoice, no matter
how valuable, for the smallest accidental
or merely techsical irregulariiy. But
even II q merchant were so certain OF his
case as to run this enormous risk and
conclude to resist the demand, he was
at once subjected to enormous loss and
ANNOYANCE. Under the provisions of the
villalnous law under which these spies
operate, they were permitted to seize the
whole Of his books, cart them OF 10 theiT
dens and there cit down and delve in
them at their leisure TO hunt for proof
of the charge they had brought, or, fall
ing in that, to spy out some other irregu'
lahty on which to base some oGhei
charge. In one well-known case, account
books weighing one ion were carted of
and kept two months, and tAen only
those were returned which tic search
had shown did not relate to the case. Il
It any wonder that merchants pait
money rsther than run the ri-k Of suef
a seizure, no matter how cure thy NIGH
be of their innocence
But the working Of the saI born con
tract for the collection OF unps ID iIems
revenue taxes does not appear to havi
been a " hit better or more honest. Her
officers whose duty 1t was to lave col
leeted these taxes turned TO and activel.
engaged In assisting sanborn make tn
r collections for share Of his enormou
commission, and district attorneys &C
tually became his collection SCENTS an
were authorized by the Solicitor Of th
Treasury to use their official powers I
assisting sauborn In making these col
: ections and told to look 10 him for thei
, extra compensation. 1t has been alto
}, gcther almost as bad as the Jayne lot
" anu it appears under lis provisions sar
born has already made over S2l3,0o0 !
collecting amounts which the prope
revenue officers ought TO hsve collecte
II without airy extra compensation. Th
Tribune charges that the documentar
evidence already submitted proves that
IN was vast scheme which embraced u
IA following persons
is GEORGE BOUTWELL,.
WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON.
be FREDERICK A. SAWYER.
be 3 c. BARFiELD.
BENJAMIN r. BUTLER.
os JOHN d. sANBORN.
GEORGE BLISS. JR,
WILLIAM MICHAEL.
WILLIAM A. sIMMoNs.
= LUclEN HAWLlY.
Concerning these men II says
Il. The percentage which each proated BY d
% enormous Ewindle cannot be definite
shown. There is no proof for instance. N
er Mr.. Boutwell, ever received any part Of q
A. robbery ia money, and yet the proof Ia u
AZ Questionable that he gave counteuance o.
" AID 10 the couspirators while At The head
IN the Treasury which they were dehneth,e
ID" rohbing. What political aid he has had
are | return from Butler others can surmlze ire
-, the known facts Of his career IN late veal
-hl Few will fail IL recall that within mon
ad aud a half after signing. as Secretary Of
lot nU sN D nNH Il
iol which placed the whole machinery OF I
nd Internal Revenue Department under
-. control OF $ +nborn Mr.. Boutwell, vas elect
'H tMarch Y, lsl2l senator oil me uli
IN, States from Massachusetts aud IN I
, lght Of these facts LIS weak and vaeillati
Ne- opposition TO the confirmation OF w.
he simmons lone a the men he had ordered
=, aid SanbOru) as Collector OF TIE Port
Is BOSTON, will be better understood.
On. Nothing In the report shows the Hhl
either Of Sawyer, Butler, Richardson,
OF Banfield. bat the proof Of the OrganizAtl
Il. OF the conspiracy by Sawyer and Butler,
the passage OF the amendment 10 the am
ley priAtlon set and the evidence Of the
,elr given the too,B, Saubcfu, Clark, and oth'
=, | by BAnheld aud Richardson, is simply o,
use whelming.
} Of These are surely terrible charges,
D a the appearances point strongly to III
truth. If, despite appearances, Il
nee are false, the honor of our count
leir as well as Justice, require that it sho
attic be clearly demonstrated that the
nee Secretary Of the Treasury, the pres
ical Secretary, and Assistant Secretary,
wer the Solicitor, are not members o.
heir band of thieves lead by Butler,
lea Infamous.
that Coo
heir Our Spring season.
,ha According to the arbitrary distinc
ice which marks the different periods Of
- year in this latitude, SUNDAY was