New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-07

income could be reckoneh by the hundrcds OF thou-
sands without receiving fee As to his holding a
commission at the time of signing the contract, ne
seemed somewhat uneasy. and wanted to bring VII
to show that he rendered his resignation pu.
that it was declined This does not look very wen
for Mr. Boutwell, nor for Mr.. Richardson his snces-
sor and will be the subject of additional consider
alton by the Committee.
He was questioned by the Committee on the infor-
nation he had obtained relating to railroads. III
seems that he (SanbOrn) had copied from railroad
directories the names of SOP railroads OF these he
said he had examined $50. and as all of these with
out exception had withheld taxes he supposed the
others had done the same, and so he had sworn in
his application for a contract that they all owed
taxes to the Government. So it seems that Sanborn
is no more careful of what he signs thal Richardson
or Sawyer.
VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.
Before the examination was closed Mr.. Beck laid
the foundation for prosecution of SalbOrn, at least
for the return of moneys belonging to the United
States and perhaps on graver charges. The law re-
quiTes that before any contract shall be entered
into, a statement shall be made of the char
acter of the claim and the name of the corporation
person who has withheld taxes and that the
claims must be discovered and there is heavy
penalty of both fine and imprisonment for con-
tractor who collects money except in pursuance of
the contract. 1t was clearly shown to-day
that in the of Gotleib Scherer of Boston,
he had been already indicted for withholding taxes.
and that his name was not on SanbOrns schedule of
taxes proposed to be collected. Yet, by some means
hot yet clearly developed, Sanborn got his bands on
the amount of money due by Scherer, and Secretary
Richardson paid him 50 per cent on the amount.
Mr.. SanbOm did not seem to remember this case
h.,
as stated in the documents sent TO the Committee
from the Treasury, then he ought not to have been
paid the money. Other cases equally outrageous
will probably be shown, as the Committee are
stantly in receipt of letters from various
parts Of the country complaining of harsh
treatment or injustice to the Government. Another
interesting point was in that portion OF SanbOrns
testimony relating to fees which he divided with
the Dstrct-Attorneys. He went to Noah Davis, at
that time DistTict-Attorney of NewYork, and pro-
posed to arrange for his assistance but Mr. Davis
declined to have anything to do with it, although
=" divide" of five per cent was proposed Subse-
quently an arrangement was made with Mr.. Dayiss
successor Mr. Bliss One of the members here said:
The five per cent quoted any computations Of
science he might have had" Perhaps so" answered
Sanborn. He positive that Mr. Boutwell, knew
he was making contract with Of his own
officers and that he did not want Sanborn TO resign
Mr.. Banfeld-so it is reported tO-nght-announces
his purpose to 60 before the Committee and make
oath that he acted in all he did with regard to the
Sanbom contracts on the perfect knowledge of and
after free consultation with Secretary Richardson.
Should this determination be carried out, the last
prop supporting the fast decaying political fortunes
of MI Richardson will be swept away.