New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-09
THE SANBORN INQUIRY.
Continued from First Page.

| OF the Secretary thPna
| Mr.. Banhed-Yes Sir.
Mr.. Kasson-And not as . matter OF routinoi
| Mr.. Banfed-Ob no Sir.
inal orders issued Supervisors and Collectors OF In
ternal Revenue in connection with the administration OF
Mr.. Banhold-In tho Office Of the Secretary Of the
Mr.. Kasson-Ihe various correspondence touching the
administration OF the law contained IN the papers sent
10 US IN answer 10 our CALI the various Iaioes, 49,
OF payments complaints etc-in what once are tnooo
original papers fedi A..
Mr.. Banheld-In the office OF the Secretary Of the
Mr. Kasson-And not in that of the Solicitor of the
Mr.. BsnHeld-Not at ALL
Mr.. kassonaIf your office had been regarded as the
responsible Office In giving the direction for the admins
raton OF this law where should those papers or most Oh
| them have been fOundi
| Mr. Banheld-In my Office think $780,
Mr. Kasson-In point Of fact none OF these Original
papers so FAR as you know the letters when you
Mr.. Banfed-Eyen those not found in my office
They upon the flies OF the Secretary. do not Keep
copies in my office of those letters because 1T Is not my
| business.
| FIXING MR. BANFIELD's RESPONSIBILITY.
| Mr.. Kasson-Tbose matters which arc regarded as
belonging by special Jurisdiction. TO your office. ought
| 10 be there.
| Mr.. Banfeld-Everything bearing my own signature
| ought 10 be found there.
| Mr. Kassor-Then what explanation have you to give
copies OF these papers which have come to us IN SO many
successive instaIlmentsi Why are there not regular
| Mr.. Banfeld-I cannot explain Tor the treasury DO
| MT Kasson-so far as ANYTHING was found In your
office was it all promptly communicated 10 usf
| Mr.. Banhed-SO far as know.
MIR. Kasson-Tho delays IN fling the papers asked for
! did not occur then in your office
| Mr.. Baude.d-NOt at all.
| Mr. Kasson-Tne letter OF Secretary Boutwell, to
Supervisors and Collectors OF the Internal Revenue re-
quested them to assist Mr. Sanborn In the examination
OF Official records. The subsequent letter. signed by Mr.
Richardson, addressed 10 the same officers while following
general the language OF Secretary Bouwel's letter,
enlarged the Instructions to the Internal Revenue OIL
GERS III that II requested them to assist Mr. sinoorn III
the examination OF such cases OF alleged Violations, &c
Can you give any explanation OF that enlargement oi
| these insructiOnst
| Mr.. Banaed-No. Sir. never had word of converse
| ton with the Secretary upon that point.
Mr. Kasson-Wds the order OF the 7h Of July, bearing
your signature by winch all the railroad companies IN
contract with the Knowledge and concurrence oil
! the Secretary OF the Treasuryi
| Mr.. Banned-Ccrtalnly 1t was.
Mr.. Kasson-Alhough you made the order
was done in the secretary's Office night
there. the Whole tnins done IN mo. mo;
ment, and it was done rs short method
avoiding writing long contract to cover these cases
Tngt tne iagt a9ouT nnitn bsn ar 8d desired at
they should be made part OF tho contract ana thas
| short method was adopted.
MIR Sheldon-You say that in the first contract with
Mr. Kelsey, and believe it is true ct all the contracts
were be commenced IL should be done by tue United
| States OiCersl
| Mr. sheldon-That was understood and agreed to by
| the secretary2
| Mr.. Bdutcld-Certaiuly.
| Mr.. Sheldon-Aud in consequence your letters 10 MI
! Bliss and Mr.. Michael were written, supposed
| Mr. Banhtld-Certainly.
Mr. Shcldon-Dd you IN any ever designate
person to have contract or atemPt 10 induce the
| Mr. Bomied-Never, sir.
| Mr. ShcdDn-Or suggest any price or percentage at
| which the contract shOu q be nader
| Mr.. Ban1icd-NOt that am aware OF.
| Mr. Sheldon-Ths Delaware and I.lckawanna tax Is
| embraced in Mr.. SanbOrn's Contractf
M sGeidon-iIe claimed to have discovered IT, and it
he had can
Mr.. Hawley. and tnen Mr.. Hawley collected iti
| Mr. Banfeld-TnOse are the facts, al understand
Mr. sheldon-Dop't you think that you have been a
| have not mad written instructions
Mr. BInied-I think hereafter shall be little more
| cautious on that point
| HOW THE CONTRACT LAW WAS PASSED.
Foster-I would like to know something about the
passage OF this law. Do you know whether your
department appealed to before the passage OF this
| act to recommend anything OF this kind !
| Mr. Banfed-As stated the other day, after the De-
partmen had abrogatcd the existing contracts that had
for contracts, and declined 10 make any until the
iont resolution OF 1870 passed stated that we did
| make a few contracts under that act. or course
application was made for contracts for matters
| when held could not be embraced IN that act and
| some time before IT, passage OF the act OF
| IS7a I was especially appealed to to give
the act OF $50 broader construction ros ta 81
having q contract made 10 embrace the railroad taxes
that subsequently embraced III Mr. kelseys con
Mr. Foster-who made that appeal
| Mr. Banfeld-That appeal was made by Mr. Kelsey,
who desired the oOstrac and by Mr.. sawyer. VINO ac
| companed him to my office. Mr.. Sawyer was then
Mr Fcster-were you or the Treasury Department re-
ouesed 10 recommend the passage OF such law this
| Mr. Banfeld-Oh, yes. have no doubt that We were
verbally asked to nercede and obtain the passage Of
| some such law; ,s
MIR Banheld-I cannot tell you. do not know whether
Mr. Kelsey ever wanted us to help IN that way, Du the
|
desiring contracts did ask that We should recommend
| Mr. Foster-DId Mr.. Sawyer ask yOu TO recommend ti
| Mr. Bandeld-I do not know that he did He sand that
II the act OF 1870 was not broad enough 10 cover THESE
cases there ought to be law passed that would. He
seemed be earnest III his desire that these taxes
railroad particularly should be covered ana he
thought that the OF 1870 perhaps meant TO cover
them, but that 1t got amended before II finally passed.
so that it would not bear that construction ,
| Mr.. Foster-YOuwere not directed to lssue these'
Mr. Banheld-No sir: won't FAY n nat ,n talked
| ter | exercised INV i0wn Judgment
| Mr. Foster-Was ,this appointment solicited by any
| Mr. Banfeld-Dr. Presbrey came in personally him
Mr. Foster-You have no recollection Of Mr.. sanborn
| soliciting anything OF this kndf
| Mr.. Banheld-Oh, no, Sir!
Mr. FOster-These letters were from Assistant secre
tary SAWYER and from the Secretary too, believe or
doring the internal revenue officers OF the country 10
| assist them What do YOU know about them
Mr. Banheld-I have recollection except about one
letter think that Dr. PresDrey came TO my once come one
sort OF letter in connection with TINS business hau
| him, / said 10 everybody VINO came III
| connection with this business. that no must 70 TO
heaquarter; that not my place to do anything IN
| regard 10 that unless 1 directed He went up
stairs Mr. Sawyer who was acting as Assistant seere-
tary OF the Treasury think was sent ior oy MI sa"
YER aud told to prepare have prepared in my office
for Dr. Presbrey and 1t was rather exlgen as he
was going that afternoon. presume that letter
| was prepared office and sent up 10 MT sawyer,
and by signed and transmitted TO Dr. Presbrey see
he has made statement somewhat IN detail as 70 "hat
transpired between him myself on that question:
desire say that such conversation ever TOOK place
between US in the world as never so.S'eI any pap
from HIN. the Secretary OF the treasury OF
the Mnrd alMAYa left TINT 10 the pArtlet