New-York tribune., 1874-03-06
year This branch of the invettigation is not ono
suggested by the memorialists-
THE sANBoRN BUSINESS.

THE SANBORN BUSINESS.
MONEY PAID 70 sANBORN FOR TAXES COLLECTED BY
GOVERNMENT oPFICERs-LETTER FROM SUPER
VISOR rUrroN-rHE OPERATIONS OF THE SPECIAL
TREASURY AGENTS IN PHILADELPHIA
fBY TELEGRAPH TO rug TRIBUNE!
WASHINGTON, March 5.-ITbo Commissioner of ln-
ternal Revenue, at the request of the Committee of
Ways and Means, has sent to the Committee the re-
cent correspondence Of his Office with Supervisors of
Internal Revenue and others, in regard to the pay
ment TO Sanborn Of money for the collection OF
taxes which really collected by the Government
officers or were IN q fair way to be collected by
them. Among these documents was the following
letter from Supervisor Tuition, which that gentle
referred to in his conversation with tue PhIla-
dcphia correspondent of THE TRIBUNE yesterday:
UNITED STATES IyTERNAL REVENUE, sUPERyisoRs
OFFICE. DISTRICT or PESSsYLYASGA, NEw-J JERSEY,
DELAwARE, MARYLAND, AsD THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA, Fen. 2j. 1874.
The Hon. j W. DOUGLASS, Commissioner Of fn'eft'%
Repe,ute
SIR have the honor TO report that one John T. Bel
Sterling who claims be deputy of Mr.. sanhJrn, who
H. you are aware of the Special Treasury Agents
has, for time past,'been reporting TO the Ublted
statos Distgct-AttOrney Of this District VIM.
Mem chacl, certain legacy cases and succession
taxes, which it Is alleged have not been paid. In
several OF the cases reported thel
on the parties being notified by said Attorney.
it shown that said taxes lad already
been paid. Thus you will perceive that persons who
had already paid their taxes are constantly being
annoyed by these setconsttuted agents, for such we
must consider BesterDg, who holds commission
letter OF appointment from any officer OF the Govern
mont. author zed to make such appointments, for am
not aware that Mr.. sanborn, although he may lie
regularly appointed of the Secretlry OF the Tea
eury has any authority such TO appoint Deputies.
with regard ,he legacy and succession taxes, have
merely 10 say that all such taxs IN the City and
County Of Philadelphia are OF record in the City and
County Philadelphia and OF record in the proper
revenue Office OF tho city, whether they have been col
eoted or are in process OF settlement or course there
arc many where there Is more or less t
CATION about the property Of the decedent which causes
delay in the settlement of the Government tax. In the
early part / took tho precaution to have list
made from the records Of the proper county officer for
tno City and County OF Philadelphia, OF every decedent
dying prior the repeal OF the law taxing legacy and
successlons as OF the and residences OF the
executors or administrators Of all said estates then
had those copied the lists according 10 locality for
each assessor forwarded said lists to the assessors
Of the vo districts OF Philadelphia with instructions TO
Investigate each and make the assessments just as
rapidly as circumstances would permit In large
number Of the the assessments have been made
and the tax already paid. There however. quite
number OF oases In which, for various reasons assess
ments have yet been made, but thsy are all being
looked by the proper local onicers and VIII very
all be closed up.
All the cases reported to the District Attorney BY Mr.
Belstering, sanDorn's tepued deputy, are found on
these records in the Collectors office. think IL my
duty TO report these you and to enter my em
phat protest against this mode of procedure that Mr
slnborn or his agents any else should b. allowed
TO collect taxes, which already In process OF
collection OF adjustment by the proper revenue officers
and receive pay from the Governments for doing so, un
der contract otherwise. i think t entirely wrong,
and should not only be discouraged but prohibited
nope therefore, you will have Instructions Issued 70
United States District Attorney McMichaei not
TO collect any taxes OF thas character that
may be due from parties residing in the
City and County Of Philadelphia in other than the
regular way OF bringing suit for these taxes In cases
where they refuse to pay said taxes TO the Collector
without suit being brought Mr.. sanborn and his
deputies might with the same proprety step 10 and
collect deficiency which the Collector has ascer
tanned TO be due from q disuller or tobacco manu-
facturer but which, lack OF certain Information
otherwise, has not yet been reported " you on
form
Some time since person by the name OF Clark hold
ing an appointment from the Secretary OF the Treasury
called on me with reference 10 legacy and succession
taxes when told hun that all OF such taxes. or rather
all estates liable such taxes, of record In the
Collectors Offices and would be attended to- that had
placed them myself Mr.. Clark then referred TO
the Dundas estate, In which he said fraudulent or
insufficient return had been made, and said " that
was 30 that that proper for his investigation
and subsequently rendered assistance In getting facts
with reference property belonging TO that estate in
the State OF Delaware, which enabled Mr..
Clark through the D,strct-AtDrney, to collect
a considerable amount Of tax from sand
estate This, it 10 me. was proper case TO be ad
ustcd by this Agent Clark as he had formerly been
employed the representatives or tue Dundas estate
and knew facts with regard 20 II that the Revenue
officers did know. and probably never would have
learned Of and therefore, that portion OF the tax would
have been lost the Government But all these estates
which were placed record in the Collectors Offices by
me together with the and residences OF the
ecutofs and administrators II appears TO me should he
adjusted by these revenue officers, who are employed
by the Government for such purposes and that com
mission should be- paid " any one else for DONG said
work.
1 hope, therefore, you will at once have District
ATTORNEY McMchael instructed to his duty IN these
cases for Mr. BeiseTng not being officer has no au
tlorty and make any such collections except
Though the District Attorney. Very respectfully
ALEX. =. TUITION, supervisor.
SECOND DEFEAT OF THE FRAMING BILL,