Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-02-20
The Sanhnrn CnnIraris.


These contracts, alluded to in our Wash
ington dispatches, and likely to continue to
be, are arrangements made by the Secretary
of the L. 5. Treasury, with certain special
agents or detectives, for the collection OF
dues to the Treasury. They were author
lied by clause added to the general appro-
priation bill by a conference committee, and
which became law in May, 1872, empow-
ering the Secretary of the Treasury to en-
ploy three persons ''tO assist the proper
officers of the government in discovering and
collecting any money belonging to the
United States whenever it shall be with
held by any persons or corporations, upon
such terms and conditions a he may deem
best for the interests of the United States.
Under this law Mr.. Richardson, a. acting
Secretary of the Treasury, made contract
with one John u. Sanborn of Boston, and
Secretary Boutwell, with two Phiadel-
phia men, t. collect revenue taxes hitherto
withheld by parties and estates, for
which service these agents were 10 have
the liberal allowance of 0nc-half of all sums
collected. SInborn collected over Si00, 200
Of taxes, due from distillers and on legacies
OF deceased persons, and poeketed over
$500 900. Making such fat thing of it,
IN quiet way, only known, apparently, to
himself and the treasury officials, Mr.. San
born. it Is alleged, undertook to further
swell has gains by making arrangements
with parties having taxes to pay, u with
hold the same fronl the regular collectors,
and permit them to be collected by him
For this he is now under Indictment in
Brooklyn, y. Y, for conspiracy to defraud
the revenue but, We fear, with small pros
poets of conviction.
The defence Of the Secretary Is that the
Treasury was the gamer, on the whole, by
the operation; that no portion of these
taxes would ever have reached the Treasury,
and that half the loaf in such cases was
better for the Government than no bread
but a the contract was revocable at any
time, it would to ordinary seeming have
shown no more than common shrewdness
on the part of the Secretary. ii. when he
found that his agent was making 81. 600 a
month out of the business, he had tried to
find some one else who would have under
taken and done the business for smaller
percentage, and thus saved for the Treasury
something more than a moiety of its dues
That. however, does not appear to have
been done or attempted.
The House called on the Secretary for the
contracts and he gave them, in substance.
but withheld the names Of the parties from
whom taxes had been thus collected. \
resolution calling for this additional in
formation failed of adoption in consequence
OF an objection by Gen. Batter Sanborn,
1t Is SAID was provost-marShal and "store-
keeper under Butler in ,hc war; bat of
course that may have nothing to do with
the Generals objection to a fall disclosure.
The resolution will doubtless be pressed
again, when a single objection cannot defeat
1t. 1t Is also stated that the ways and
means committee have agreed to n bill re-
peaiing the clause under which the Sanborn |
contracts were made. So the case star6s., |
present; but the end of it i not yet