The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-13
vsnE sANaoRNE CONTRACTS.

We explained, Wednesday, the origin
and nature OF the much talked about "san.
borne contracts" As extraordinary as is
the passage Of such o law in government
by the people, rs abhorrent as o spy Is tc
the mlnd-cgccpt in times Of war--and as
foreign rs espionage and shadowing is to
free institutions, yet our Senators and Re.
personalities in Congress saw fit to enact
such law. The secretary Of tho treasury
was, therefore, authorized to mako the
several contracts with John Sanbornc. As
the secretary Of the treasury was to make
! the contracts "upon such terms and condi-
tons az he sIGN dee,a best for t1o interests
ertEc Unitcd StqtIs, he might, perhaps, be
authorized, but hardly justified, in paying
Sanborno ouc-half Of tho money collected.
IN individual might consent to receive ilf-
y cents Oh the dollar as q compromise
for doubtful claims, but he would not be
very apt 10 do 50 where the claims we've
good, and c0llectablc, as seems to have
been the case, with these claims. If we
mistake not, by the common law, as, also,
by the statutes Of several of the states, am
attorney cannot undertake the collection of
money, by process Of law, or other litiga-
ton, under contract that his compensa-
ton shalt depend upon thc result. In
some states The making of such contracts is
made Il criminal offcnse But that is neither
here or there. The law making power au-
thoriacd it, the secretary Of treasury made
the contracts, and John Sanborne has made
good thing cut of it. But there is some
thing Wrong0r ono of those ''teriiblv
annoying hiIchcs" about these contracts.
Congress has been. for some lime. cndea-
voring to get hold of these contracts, and
report Of the details OF the proceedings
and money collected under tlleln but with
oUt avail. Onc excuse after another has
been made rs reasons why they are not
forthcoming, but they are not satisfactory
because inconsistent and evasyc. One cx-
cusc Is tha. 1t would not be fair to the
firms. who have withheld money. and since
paid it under compulson, to have their
names published. The validity and consis.
tency of this excuse ia found in the fact
that the secretary of tie treasury has pre-
pared for Transmission to Congress "a full
list of all moites paid to inlormcrs for sew
eral years past, ard Of the firms frors qchich
they here teen colkected' This Is not the
worst of it. The law expressly requires
that the departments shall answer all such
inquirics-thc only exceptions being in re-
ference 10 foreign relations, pending nego-
tiations, or in time OF war when the public
interest might suffer from publicity. Even
in this case, we understand the departments
are bound 10 communicate such informa-
ton to the Senate in secret or executive
session. Congress are, however, determine
ed TO have these contracts. and full report
of all the details connected Herewith, and
they will have them. If every thing is right
about and under these contracts, why this
shiliy -shallying and hesitancy about COM
plying with a resolution OF Congress, and
the furnishing of Information which the
law says shall he furnished 1t has bad
look, 10 say the least.