Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-13

familiar with the contents Or the letter of the
Secretary of the Treasury, transmitted to
Congress about a week ago, upon the subject
of the Sanborn contracts. Nearly everybody
seemed to have copy of this document in
his desk, and those who had not speedily sent
for it to the document room. Members OF the
Committee of Ways and Means, who nave
lad the subject under consideration for Some
time, and who, of course, are better Posteu
than their colleagues on the moor vi ,ne
House, seemed most anxious for the Tray. MT.
Foster of Ohio, who has been charged py 'he
committee to report bill repeating ''ie law
under which the contracts were maoe' is not
one of those members who frequently oCcu-
pies the attention of the House; oat' to'uay'
he made decided sensation, not only on ac-
count of his familiarity with the subject, but
because of his pointed remarks with regard
IN Sanhorn and his manner of executing his
contracts.
II soon became evident that General But
Ter was the only man on the floor OF the House
who was disposed to make an attempt to de-
fepd the law and the contracts made win
Sanborn under it. This was rather unfor-
tunate for the General, for his defence only
provoked sharper and more bitter criticism.
Each member who got the floor had COM
plant to make SURPRISING in Its details the
atrocity of that of his predecessor. 1here Is
scarcely Congressional district OF the coun-
try into which Sanborn and his co-workers
have not reached, and of course members OF
Congress have been overwhelmed with COM
plants from their constituents. General
Hawley of Connecticut, Mr.. Hale eff Maine,
Mr.. Dawes Of Massachusetts and Mr.. Foster
of Ohio all attacked Sanborn in turn. 10
each of them General Butler made the best
reply he could. He found himself, to-day,
arrayed against the entire House, not only
Republican and Democratic members from
other States, but his own colleagues from
New England.
ANY other man than Butler would have
been hopelessly crushed by the terrific odds
against him. He defended his position, how.
ever, with remarkable power, and showed
his usual fertility of resources and his mar
vellous readiness in debate. The forces OPP
posed to him, however, were too strong, ana
the general opinion is that he was worsted
| The sentiment of the House, as developed by
the discussion, to day, is almost unanimous
against the system under which Sanborn OPP
Grated, and the announcement Of the fact tina
the Committee of Ways and Means were
about to report bill repeating the law whict
authorized the Secretary of the treasury Il
make contracts with Santorn for the collec
ton of delinquent taxes was received VIII
favor on all sides. The debate, to- day, ha
Anticipated that which would have taken place
upon the consideration of the bill which Mr.
Foster indicated he was authorized to report
Both Butler and his opponents stated theil
strongest points in defence of and in oppo
si,ion to the system. Buffers best point was
that taxes collected by Sanborn would have
been lost to the Government but for the en-
actmeut of the law which he operated.
To this it was replied that the contract plan
of collecting taxes is inimcal to the spirit Of
our institutions, and the tendency of it is to
make revenue laws unpopular and obnoxious,
and to harass citizens unReces sarlly. Several
cases were instanced to show that Sanborn
had merely spurred the regular officers OF the
Treasury Department to the performance OF
their duty, and had then claimed fifty pei
cent. of the amount collected. This was so
clearly set forth that it admitted of no sue
cessful reply. To the charge made by MIR.
Foster that Butler was attorney for Sanborn,
the General made an explicit denial, adding,
with some warmth, that when Sanborn got
after delinquent railroad companies, he hoped
to be employed as bis counsel, and he would
give Lin his best efforts to compel them to
paw their taxes. Butler alluded several times
to member of the House who, he said. was
uneasy about the Sanborn business because
he had failed to pay his taxes. 1t is under
stood, though he mentioned no name, that ne
had in view j. M. S. Williams of Massachu-
sets, whose name appears among the list OF
Sanborn's victims. 1t is evident that the
House will, with nearly unanimous vote, pass
the bill soon to be reported from the Com
mittee on Ways and Means, repeating the
law under which Sanborn secured his con-
tracts.