The Portland daily press., 1874-04-09
WASHINGTON,
Gen. Butler Fearful.

Gen. Butler Fearful
WASHINGTON. April S.-The W ays and Means
COMMITTEE held another session to-day in the
Sanborn matters, and examined under oath
William G. III. Waddell and his son, Lloyd d.
Waddell of New York Their testimony re-
,ated to their connection with Sanborn, they
having originally procured information in re-
gSru u unpaid legacy and succession taxes
winch Information was afterwards worked up
Dy Coughlin, and the collections made through
the District Attorneys Office. Waddell was to
receive 70 per cent of the sum collected, but
Ihat ~ rate was reduced 10 per cent. and finally
annuied Both Waddell and son denied all
knowledge OF any connection with the matter
OF any member of Congress or any Treasury Of
neal nclai. Inc elder Waddell had applied to the
law. but had received no answer to his applica-
ton. he had not mentioned in it apy rate of
compensation, but informed the committee
that he would willingly contract with the gov
ernment at 10 per cent.
Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts, came before tho
committee and explained that witnesses had
oeen examined in reference to his private af-
fars, aud he had not been notified to be pres
ent to hear the testimony and if he deemed it
proper TO cross examine the witnesses He had
nad much experience in committees, and it had
Deen his uniform practice whenever witness
made statements involving a member of either
House to suspend the examination and send
Ior the member He simply asked for that
measure OF courtesy to himself The chairman
9Mr. Dawes) replied that the illusions TO Mr..
butter In the testimony have been only Incl
dental and when witnesses were asked general
questlous the committee could not know in ad
vance that their answers would refer 10 mem
Der OF Congress. He assured Mr. Butler that
the intention of the committee was to let him
see any part of the testimony which he might
regard as in any way rejecting upon him, and
to give him the fullest opportunity of explain
ing u or OF examining witnesses
After long colloquy, Mr.. Beck notified Mr..
but'er that tnc examination of Sanborn would
De continued tomorrow, and it was very proba-
pie that some inquiries might be directed into
the business aud operations of Sanborn during
the war, when he held some commission under
Gen. Butler, then in command at Fortress Mon
roe.
Mr. Butler said that he could not be present
to morrow, and the only government position
held by Sanborn was that of a Provost Messen.
ger to keep order on boat running between
Baltimore and Fortress Monroe.
Solicitor Banfield also made an additional
statement to the committee, defending his Off
cial acts in the matter of the Sanborn contracts
against the reflections upon him, which he
supposed were made by Secretary Richardson
and Assistant Secretary Sawyer.
The point of Banfield's statement was that
his duties in regard to the Sapborn contracts
were not original but merely advisory that he
was not responsible for initiating the system.
but that be was prepared to share with the
others OF the Department the responsibility of
having concurred in it. The system had been
initiated after consultation with him by Secre-
tary Boutwell, and the then Assistant Secretary
Mr.. Richardson with the exception of issuing
the secret service credentials to Messrs, Green
and Presbery, Mr.. Sanborn's agents, which was
matter wholly in his discression as Solicitor
He had written or signed no paper or done no
act connected with the Ssnborn contract, from
beginning to end, except by direetioe of the
Secretary or Assistant Secretary. Some time
before the passage of the act of 1872 in relation
to contracts of this character, special appeal
was made to him by Kelsey of New York. and
Sawyer, then Senator. now Assistant Secretsry
of the Treasury, to give to the act of 1870
broader construction than he thought it would
bear, for the purpose of making it embrace
taxes withheld by railroad companies, and that
Mr.. Sawyer was very earnest about the matter,
The "Prostrate staie.''
The Sub Committee of the House Judiciary
Committee to-day, heard the committee ap-
po.n .nted by the Republica State Central Com
mittee OF South Carolina n opposition to the
delegation from the tax payers convention of
that State who were heard last Monday
L. G. Carpenter, editor of the Columbia Un-
ion, first addressed the Sub Committee, saying
the State constitution guarantees equal Justice
to all, both white and black and protesting
against any interference by the general govern
ment He urged that the principle of repre-
Carolina was precisely the same as in every
other State. 1t was not true that those who
pay the taxes have no hand in levying them,
but it could be shown from the records that
many of those who talk the loudest about op.
pressive taxation pay no taxes at all, not even
the poll tax, and their names do not even ap-
pear on the tax lists.
Speeches of the same tenor were made BY ex-
Congressman Whittemore, and johnson, Neage
and others. The Congressmen from South
Carolina and the delegates from the tax payers
convention were also present.
Congressman Elliot made an argument
against the prayer of the memorialsts ON the
constitutional grounds, and protested against
Congressional Interference. He held that the
evils complained of can readily be abated by
nciatory tactics on the part Of the, memorl-
alizing party, and said the thoughtful Republi-
cans of the State are ready and anxinns-
Dead Letters.
During March there were received at the
Dead Letter Office 354, 968 letters 1877, ,O45 were
returned to the writer's of which 2717 contained
money, 1889 valuable papers, suoh as drafts,
GUS kinds.
The Howard Gov
In the Howard Court to-day the direct testi-
mony of Gen. Bullock was completed. He
will be cross-examined tomorrow.
Treasury Balances.
The following are the Treasury balances to-
day:-Currency, $685. ,223; special deposit of
legal UenuerS lot feuempClOn OF certlucateS OF
deposit $52 Ais 900; coin, $SS 800, including
coin certificates $37, ,299 600; outstanding legal
tenders, 1882, ,00O.0 600.
Treasury Rumors.
New YORK, April S.-A Philadelphia dis
patch says that the report that Secretary Rich
ardson's portfolio has been offered to ATTORNEY
Drexel is undoubtedly true.
Relative to the calling of Mr.. Drsxel to the
Secretaryshlp of the Treasury, it may not be
generally known that President Grant person.
ally invited that gentleman to meet him at the
conference held 10 this city on the panic Sun.
day, last September, and it is generally belev
ed among the more intimate personal friends
of President Grant in this city that the Presi.
dent will use all his efforts to induce Drexel to
become Secretary Of the Treasury.