The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-02
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON. Nav 1.-Senator Boutwell, an
peared before the Ways and Means Committee
and mace a statement that when the San
law was passed, his mind as Secretary of
the Treasury was directed to two thiugs'-hrst.
that the department should have power to an
null contracts at any time specially, and Sec
opd, that it should not only be understood but
specifically provided in the contracts that all
money collected should be paid into the treas
ury through the proper officers. He advised
the insertion of these two provisions which ac-
complished the desired result He did not ex
pect much money tc come into the Treasury, as
he did not have much confidence 10 what SUMS
persons engaged in detective service SAID they
could recover Persons would come to him
with statements about the withholding of
money and of frauds of various kinds against
the government. The statements were always
considered when it was supposed there was
good foundation for them but not otherwise.
He referred to bis order preliminary to a con-
tract with Kelsey for the discovery and collec-
ton of money due but withheld by persons and
corporations and providing that no mon ~
should be secured, and said that the contract
Itself was according to the form determined on
| at that time and in conformity to the object he
had in his mind, He recollected that Kelsey
called upon him, although he did not recollect
| that he saw the list of the corporations and
parties against whom the claims we're made,
but he learned that one of these claims was
| against horse railroad in Philadelphia. Al :
,s"Ne%h =" hiolooy VI MY pei Ccub WAS dio"S"
| by law, yet if the sums to be collected were
| very large he should have provided that the al
lowance shonld have proportionately been
made.
Judge Pendry, he recollected proposed to
| collect certain moneys against the Western Pa
| ciic Railroad, aud in his conversation with
! him something was said about a reduction of
| compensation. The case was a large one, and
| his impression Was that Judge Pendry did not
| obtain a contract.
He could not recall any interview he ever
had with Sanborn, as to his obtaining a con-
| tract, before Sanborn became a spedial agent
| of the Treasury Department. He was not
aware that he had any knowledge of him flom
what he had of any Others so employed. While
| ln the service Of the department he obtained
| some knowledge OF Sanborn by going over the
| list special agents and making inquiries OF
| Mr.. Nudge aoncernino them. The object ia
| going over the list was to find out the least eff
| 6cenJ agents, so as to appoint better ones in
| their places The impression he derived from
! such examination WAS that Sanborn was good
| officer while he was in the Treasury DeOart-
mept. The fact that Sanborn had a contract
was not brought to his knowledge officially OF
personally, nor had he officially or personally
had know ledge of contracts made with anybody
| else under The law.
Mr. Boutwell, was Intercepted at length
saying among other things that the prepare
ton of the paper with reference to Kelsey
contract was ntrusted to the Solicitor OF the
| Treasury, who was the law officer of the de
| partment. Therefore he felt at liberty to rely
on him that the papers prepared III his ofhct