The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-04-02
Washington News and Gossip.

HOW SANBORN & co. GOT INFORMATION.
The following letters, showing the attempt
made by Presbrey and Greene, Sanborn's
agents, to obtain information from Commits
sioner DougIass's Office to enable them to start
in their business, were withheld from the docu-
ments called for by the house:
92O STREET, WASHINGTON, D, G.,
nf June ID, 1873
Hon. William a. Richardson, Secretary of the
TREASURY:
Sir,-I have the honor to ask to be furnished
with statements showing the assessments made
against the railroad companies in the first and
sixth Missouri, second Minnesota, third Wis
consin, sixth Michigan, seventh Indiana and
first Illinois districts the return of dividends,
interest paid on bonds, and surplus profits as
taxed under section 81 of the act of july l.
1862, section 122, act of June 80, 1864, and act
OF July IA, 1870. desire statement showing
each assessment from July l. 1862 up to June
80, 1872. Very respectfully.
FRANK M. GREENE.
This was referred by Mr.. Richardson to So
licitor Banfeld, who .ndorsed it as follows:-
"Will the commissioner of internal revenue
please allow?" and the letter of the same da:e
to the Secretary asked for some information
from the commissioners Office in regard to the
tenth and eighteenth districts of Ohio This
was Endorsed by Banfeld to Douglass, asking
the latter to let Mr.. Greene search the records
for the information he wanted Commissioner
Douglass refused, and would only agree to fur
nisL such specified information as the Secreta-
ry would order. Solicitor Banield then wrote
as follows -..
DEAR Mr.. DoUGLAss:-I will call and see
you about Mr.. Greene. and explain his relation
TO the matter in reference to which he desires
Information. He has an appointment from the
Ofhce, and is engaged in some matters which
have heen made the subject of contract by the
secretary OF the Treasury. r..
Very truly, 0o.
f.. g. BANFIELD
1t was by obtaining this information from
the records of the internal revenue office that
Presbrey and Greene were enabled to do any
work at all for Sanborn. 1t comes out that in
his lists of railroads which he swore to as in
debted to government there are some which
have merely obtained acts of incorporation and
have never yet done any business whatever -
His whole list numbers 592, while Poor's drec-
tory for the whole country contains only 40.
Some of Sanborn's, however, are street rail-
roads.
DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
The Boston Journals special says the inves-
tkyation proves to be a fizzle. The Sergeant-at-
Arms of the Senate was notified to day by the
yOalI committee winch mas Detu invest gazing
the management of the affairs of this District
that be need not summon any more witnesses.
Thus far nothing has been proven against the
integrity of Governor Shepherd, and the whole
investigation has been tizzle . -.r
ABUSE OF THE LEADERS OF THE DISTRICT IN
vEsTIGATION.
The District papers are abusing Judge Will
son of Indara, of the District committee,
charging him with acting as counsel for the
memorialists. This is of piece with their de-
nuuciation of all in Congress who assure that
there is anything wrong in the District matters
With the exception of Stewart and Hubbell of
michigan, the members of the District com
mlttee are acting with all fairness possible as
Stunning that there is anything to find out. On
the contrary, the gentlemen named as excep-
tions seldom if ever ask question not designed
to aid the District authorities or break down
witnesses againstit. Judge Wilson is necessa-
rily prominent as chairman of the house
branch, and is doing his whole duty promptly
and fearIessly, in spite of the committees at
tempts to stop him. 80 9'-' 1912
AN UNSATISFACTORY DECISION.
The decision of Judge Benedict of Brooklyn
in the Sanborn indictment excites much COM