New-York tribune., 1874-05-05

but little Information and exhibited an entire want OF
knowledge to the manner OF making the h ~
itself His only connection far he could remember
with these transactions in alxing his signature TO
the various papers presented to nun as mere a'oi
office routine, without knowing their contents
The Assistant Secretary dlsclalneu any pi , ~
knowledge OF the law contracts and he IN IKE an
ner affixed his signature as matter OF once rOune
The Secretary aud the Assistant secretary, by tutIr
testimony show that the papers were prepared py ie
Solicitor thus indicating the responsibility upon hiln
The Solicitor in turn testified that ne II sIuPB lhe
law officer of the Treasury Department, ana suDol DOT
dinae of the Secretary Of the Treasury, without anY
power IN regard the administration OF the liW oA
cept thatexpressy gwen py the 9c,olsS ,, ma NV nr A.
consulted In every instance WIN lne oeoTeVtty ~ ai
sistant Secretary OF the Treasury that he had III ~
cases simply 0Deycd lhe ul.cotos % & :" ,s @ o,ders OF
GERS ana that the contracts ana thc various olo @ &
the Department WERE well known 10 the oecIo'hl! "'
Assistant Secretary. ,.,- IT,. o.roct
lively by these gentlemen, a. appear from tnel
mony, is matter greatly deplored oy tne W. anv
by 1t they unable to hx upon any one. H. V 3 ~
where, the responsibility for the miladnhs' & ~
this law and they look with serious apprehe,,o tb
the apparent efforts OF these gentlemen 10 tTdsio "
responsibility each from himself to the other 80 ,,or
Wnile the Committee, therefore are uhaOe 70 ucs M
mine where the responsibility rests !hsy G1 'br m
tice To themselves ignore the TACT that the7o .o -
deserve severe condemnation lor lls iai ,r.d
which they have permitted tnls law 10 DC @ "
While the Committee thus severely ertciio erE
these officials of the Tressnry Depar,hoP9' p o9 tSIs
rectly charged with the administration oi t, taas
law they find nothing impeachng the lntes
rlty secretary Boutwelrs or Rcnlrdsohs acuon ,i
and the testimony does not prove that te t
or any of their were influenced DIV cOrIup
motives 1t is due to the Treasury oncldis 10 say ' n
as far back the administration OF the IIeast,y I
partment by Secretary Guthrie were made Tor the cg
lection of moneys due the United states ID eA1raou m A.
nary cases. and that this practice was contheu ~ ~
the time Mr. Boutwell, became secretary OF tue lreas
ury Whan he came into Office he found numDer
OF contracts in existence anu MS hOicltoI ISL tcsli
nes mat after a thorough and exhaustive eXanl-
nation he found no authority IN law permitting then
to be made the Secretary OF the treasury at one
annulIed them, and that nothing OF any consequehce
was ever collected from this class OF contracts Uhur M
the act of 1s4O, number ot - ~
Secretary Boutwell, and although II was represented 10
tine Secretary that large rns srhs "1ro mst,u@ the
contracts professed TO be able TO collect VIA nr
small with the light OF the experience Of the Treasury
Department IN the contract business here referred TO-
tbe olcers We are told, concluded that the ares pro
posing take contracts under tho law OF May o. a9'
would fail to make collections In any coDslueIaolo
neglect OF TINS Department TO carefully and strictly en-
force the law. - N. . M .i,,s
~ s bat moi only wa, this law enacted while the pre-
decesor OF tine present Secretary in Office, Dnt tnat
the first contracts nado by hln ana IN genera
policy OF administration slDstqtehll puIsutu " ~
mined upon while .dr. Boutwell, was secretary oI the
Treasury.
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS or TIE COMMITTEE
The Committee are Of opinion that any system OF
farming Inc collection OF portion OF the revenues OF
tbo Government 10 fund imontally wrong; that no
necessity for such laws exists for the reason that the
Secretary OF the Treasury and IN, head Of the nerna
Revenue Bureau are fully empowered by law TO make
all collections OF taxes including taxes due on account
al
knowledge the laws relating 90 tue collection Oi Jue
revenue has an tho machinery necessary Tor tHcif iu
and complete enforcement, aui has full authority an eA-
cases 10 pay at discretion fJr information,
Congress annually making appropriations theieioI'
ANY law that provides Tor any other method of collect
no t,vrs fbe AMY of which collection is imposed
auy department Of the Government Is IN fact reet-
ti0n on the department charged with that duty.
The Committee, in view Of the facts herewith pre-
sented believe that the law OF Mly 1872, should De
repealed and the contracts made theIcunder shOud Dc
revoked aud annued They also believe that for every
service rendered 10y these contractors cNOrbduJ reward
has Deeu made For every equity which they mlsht
claim more than enough has already been pad. FOR
every legal claim settlement has been perfected on the
most liberal scale. In some cases tue Committee
are satisfied moneys have been paid 20 the contractor
10 which lie was moi entitled under the law Now, when
the " mole subject has been investigated, IA Order 10
end forever All demands against the Treasury on thIs
occount ana 10 avoid the danger Jnat lax admnisra-
lion under careless officers may at some future tune
afford new opportunity TO assal the treasury uhdcr
cDor of these contracts, the statute should IN terms
exclude them from the jurisdiction or tue Court Oi
Claims All further claim on their part.
10 accomplish the purpose mere lndlcated the COM
mite. report the House bill cmOOuylns the ABOVE
CUu