New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-26
WASHINGTON.
THE PROPOSED CENSURE OF TREASURY
OFFICIALS.

BANFITLD-LoBBYING TO DEFEAT 1T If REPORTED
ASSISTANT SECRETARY SAWYER PRESENTS HIS
DEFENSE TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND
nE,Ns-prAN OF DEBATE ON THE RErEAL OF THE
CONTRACT LAW.
lBY TELEGrAru TO THE TRIBuSE.1
WASHINGTON, May 2j-The nearest and most con-
spicuous friends Of the Administration have caused
the information to be conveyed to members OF the
WAYS and Means Committee that the Committee
were held responsible for the retention of
Mr. Richardson in the Cabinet. The case OF
Mr.. Richardson excites the warmest sympathy
among his Cabinet associates and Senators, and
ii is positively asserted by them that
he would have retired some time ago had it not
been for the reproaches cast upon him by the Ways
and Means Committee in connection with the San
born inquiry. The assurance has also come to men,
bers of the Committee from Senator having the
most intimate and cordial relations with the Presi-
dent that the Secretary will retire from office before
the fist of June.
These facts used as arguments against the rro-
posed consure of Mr.. Richardson by resolution
from the Committee. To prevent the reporting of
such q resolution to the House the most urgent and
socitOus efforts are being made by high officers,
winch include members Of the Cabinet Senators,
Representatives Assistant Secretaries, and Others
having any influence. The Committee is besieged
on all Sides The original resolution which
Kasson. Mr. Roberts, although he will vote for the
resolution. preferred a mder form, which would en-
brace the language of the report on the Sanborn
business The Committee did not approve of the
change and it will now be seen whether they Will
be moved from their purpose and recede from their
action at the bidding of partisars.
Such pressure as that on behalf of the Secretary,
the Assistant Secretary and the Solicitor, has
rarely been made, and everybody in Office who can
influence a vote in the House is in requiSition.
The whole House. on both Sides has been canvassed,
and it is said that the resolutions will not receive
a third of the votes. 1t is claimed that only
two members from New-York, Messrs. Ellis
II. Roberts and Merriam, will vote IN
favor Of ccnsure. What is sought
by the Administration is to smother the resolution
in the Committee. The members of the Committee,
on their part, say that it is matter for the House
TO decide; that the question will be brought before
them, and tho conduct of these gentlemen in
the SanDorn matter fully explained If, then,
the House wants to pat itself on
record as against the united recommendations
of Committee like the Ways and Means, the men,
bers thereof will not object; they will have done
what theT duty required. 1t is said that Mr. Dawes
will, when the resolutions are presented move to
strike out the name of Mr.. Richardson, on the
ground that even the Committee does not be-
heve he has been guilty Of any dishonest conduct.
Mr.. Sawyer the Assistant Secretary, seems TO feel
the ugly position he is in more keenly than the other
gentlemen He has lobbied almos necessarily to
change or defeat the course of the Committee, and
at last wrote to the Committee asking that he might
De heard Tonight session was held for his ac-
commodaton.
Mr. SAWYER having alleged, in the course of his
statement which had been written, that he had had
no ntimatOn, when he was summoned TO appear
before the Committee the former occasions, that
he was called upon to defend himself, the word
summoned was objected to by Messrs. Beck and
Foster Who reminded Ilr. Sawyer that he had come
voluntarily. and he thereupon withdrew the word
summoned substituting for the word in
yited." The dialogue on this point
was somewhat bitter on both Sides Finally, Mi.
Sawyer left his manuscript and departed. Ii is now
Mr. Banfelds turn. Since the inquiry began there
has been nothing but charges aud cOuntercharges
between these two gentlemen. The examination
tonight has not improved Mr. Sawyer's opinion Of
the Ways and Means Committee, nor has II
strengthened their confidence in him.
1t is expected the repeal Of the Contract law will
come UP for debate for one hour tomorrow, after
the reading of the journal. Mr. Beck viii occupy
the whole time. He will take the ground that there
can be no graver censure than the report of the
Committee and that the strongest language is used
against the three officers. The same time Will be
given to the subject on Wednesday, and II then
debate is not exhausted the SUBJECT Will have the
whole of Thursday. 1t has been asserted that there
is no precedent for the censure OF Cabinet officer
by the House In answer to this, the case of Simon
Cameron is cited wherein, while Secretary of War,
be was ensured for improper corrupt conduct in
connection with white pantaloons, straw hats, and
Scotch ale for soldiers.
AN EARNEST PROTEST AGAINST THE ACTION OF THE
COMMITTEE or WAYS AND MEANS IN HIS CASE
SPECIFICATIONS DEMANDED-TIE RIGHT OF THE
HOUSE TO CENsURE HIN DOUBTED-IMPEACH-
MEM THE ONLY REMEDY-THE PRESS VIOLENTLY
AssALED.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.l
WASHINGTON, May "a statement was
made tonight to the Committee OF Ways and Means by
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury Sawyer, relative to
his action in the socaed sanDorn contracts. He said
he had been informed that proposition had been enter
tanned by the Committee TO censure the Secretary,
Secretary and solicitor OF the Treasury, and
10 report to the House having that object
He sought the opportunity to say something TO the
Committee, which he thought 1t was his right TO
cay ~ self defense for he needed none Ia the minds
Of men who have carefully considered his relation 10
this -neh-takedof question, but 10 call TIE attention Of
Committee TO facts which are entirely accessible TO
them but which they do not yet seem to have cOnsid
cred confined himself to those aspects OF the case
which affected him personally. SO far he referred to
the details OF business he did not speak for
other officer except where the bore all the
ties proposed 10 he censured equally.
He then gave a list OF the letters drafts receipts,
DC bearing his signature in the Sanborn case, and
alluded 20 the fact that he the letters OF San
born Lucen Hawley. and A. j. Odel TO the solicitor OF
the Treasury for expression Of his views 10 the
proprety of the payment to sanborn OF half the
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