The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-11
TEE sANBOnSE CONTRACTS.

THE SAHBONSE CONTRACTS.
What arc, it is frequently asked the
Sanhornc Contracts" about which so
much is said. The question might be
answered by saying that they are contracts
fora system of espionage and for hiring spies
but, perhaps II Is better to be more cx-
plicil. In the general appropriation bill.
es it is called, approved May 6th, 1872, the
secretary Of the treasury was empowered to
employ not more than three persons 'to as.
sst the proper officers of the government
in discovering and collecting any money
belonging to the United States whenever
the same shall be withheld by any persons
or corporations" upon such terms and con.
ditions as he may deem best for the int.
rests of the United States but no compen-
sation Is TO be paid except out of money
actually collected, or properly secured by
such agent. 1t was further provided, tina
no such agent should be employed or ap.
pointed TO collect particular claim, until
he had made a written statement, under
cath, addressed TO tho secretary of the
treasury, setting iortl the nature of the
claim he proposed TO collect, the particular
law which had been violated, and the name
OF the person, firm or corporation whom he
charged with thus unlawfully Withholding
yiding penalty if such agent shall receive
any money from any of these parties ex.
cept in accordance with the terms of the
contract Under this law, the secretary
entered into three separate contracts, or ap
pointed or established three agences--the
full number that he was authorized to-ont
of these being certain John Sanborne, re-
siding in Massachusetts, while the Others
were a firm in Philadelphia and one in New
York. 1t is known that Sanborne collect
ed over four hundred thousand dollars, Of
which he received one-half, or more thar
two hundred thousand dollars for his share
1t is presumabe that the same allowance
was made to the New York and Philadel-
phia agents, although we are without in
formation as to the amount respectively
collected by them. To ordinary people
this would look like rather large fees for a
tax collector We have partial returns
from only one spy, agent or collector, and
we find that he has been paid some twelve
thousand dollars a month for collecting the
same amount. Five hundred dollars day,
for each working day, is reasonable CON-
pensation, we are bound TO believe. for
this is what the secretary of the treasury
has paid Sanborne on the average.
As part Of the history of this cxtraor-
binary measure, it may be stated that it
formed no part of the appropriation bill as
it origin lily passed the House, but was adj
ded thereto by the Senate. Upon the re-
turn of the bill to the House, with this and
other amendments, it was, after discussion
rejected, but was finally adopted, as such
measures usually are, on the report of
conference committee" During the
same session, ii bill passed the House, by
tie decisive vote of one hundred and
twenty-seven ayes to forty-eight nays, dis
pcnsing with ''informers' in the internal
revenue department and repeating all laws
which allowed per contage TO be given to
any such class of persons. In the Senate,
It slept in committee room until the clos
ing hours of the session, whca il was re-
ported and Indefinitely postponed" lhat is
Killed. Although the reading OF the law,
under wbich these contracts were made,
would seem to be general aud apply TO all
class of claims, the intention was, judging
from the context, TO apply il entirely to
the collection of the internal revenue, as
the appropriation OF II part of the money
or property so recovered to be paid to the
agent, Is made to that department. If we
understand the laws Alright, certain officers
are appointed to collect the internal reve-
nue., for which specified compensation is
paid them. The fees and emoluments of
the officers thereof are, certainly, sufficient
to obtain competent officers, men who will
discharge the business thereof, aud see that
the government and tax payer suffer no
detriment Yet Congress passes q law
making it, at least, an excuse for these
men not to do their duty We have nothing
to do with the question whether Sanborne
has been guilty of any frauds or not. 1t is
fortunate that he was charged herewith,
as, perhaps, otherwise the country would
have known nothing of these contracts or
the law authorizing them. There are seye-
raj grave objections to it. When Sanborne
made his contract with the secretary of the
treasury, did he do anything but hire out
as spyf his compensation to depend up
on how many technical violations of the
law, perhaps due solely to oversight, he
could discover to have been committed by
his neighbors This was what he agreed to
do, and he has done his work so well that
his employer has paid him some quarter OF
million of dollars. He acts In the Same