The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-26
The SanbOrn Investigation.
WASHINGTON, March :

w ASllINGTON, Mafen %.
Solicitor Bonfeld was before the ways
and means committee to-day. He appear
or any other contractor, but at the request
of the Secretary of the Treasury to explain
the relation of the department to this con-
tract question Contracts similar to San
born's have been gwen rs early rs 1869,
but nothing were ever realized by the gov
eminent thereon, and the system was abro-
gated and was not resumed until the pas
sage Of the law under which the Sanborn
contract was given, and less care was taken
to limit the commission under that con-
tract than there would have been if it had
been supposed that anything would be col
lectcd.
The solicitor was sharply cross question
ell by Beck rs to why international re-
venue commissioner Douglas was not
called into consultation by the secretary
and when they undertook to carry the law
into effect and also rs to what authority
venue officers directing them TO aid San
born when the law required that he
should aid them. To the first question his re-
ply was that the law referred to debts
withheld and not particularly to interna-
tional matters, and second that the idea of
assistance was that should be mutual
and that Sanborn could not very well
assist regular officers unless they were
willing to assist him.
In reply to question by Mr. Sheldon,
the solicitor said he had no knowledge, be-
lief or suspicion that any officers OF the
( government had received, or expected to
| receive anything in any way from the San
born contract After the examination OF
Banfeld was concluded. Jno. ID. Sanborn
himself came before the committee, but in
stead of proceeding with his statement he
said he had within the last "a hours been
advised by his counsel that in view of an
indictment pending against him in Brook
Ign, charging him with collision with rev.
enue officers to defraud the government
it would be injudicous for him to make 4
full statement which he had been ready
and willing to make
He was ready. however, to give the CON
mittee such general information on thu
subject as he possessed. lie was Informed
by the chairman and other members OF tho
committee that the committee could no
sit and listen to any partial statement, tina
he was present not by order of the com
mittee, but of his own volition and in &C
cordance with his own request, in orde
that he might make tull and fair state
ment of all circumstances connected witt
his contract. II he was not prepared to d
that and to answer such questions the com
mittce might desire to put to him, tn
committee would decline to listen to an
partial or restricted statement.
Sanborns counsel, Mr. Woodbridge G
, Vermont, justified the position taken b
, his client, although he expressed his belle
that nothing which Sanborn could sa
could prejudice his case but still out c
, caution he thought it better for him not
submit himself to the examination of I'll
D committee. He alluded to the fact til,
there was a gentleman present understood
q to be an Assistant District Attorney frol
. Brooklyn, watching to take advantage
: anything that Sanborn might say. The vi
shot of it all was that the committee az
r journed without any decision whether Sal
= born should or should not be made wi
npsg