New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-27

oey to offer for the Sanborn contract when his
case camo to bo presented to the Committee
of Ways and Means. 1t seemed incredible
that wrong stupendous as this was upon
its face should have been perpetrated without
q color of excuse. But Mr.. Richardson appa-
rently has nothing TO say. He stands speech
less, like the bad boy before the schOOlmaster
with head cast down and fingers twitching at
the corners of his apron. His subordinates
and representatives are questioned at great
length, but they have nothing TO say in pallia-
ton of the otfense. Mr.. BanGeld admits that
the policy OF the Department was OPP
posed TO cOntracts-sO bitterly and IN
fexiby opposed to them that when an ac-
knowledged expert like CoughIin asked for
one at 10 per cent the application was pigeon
holed, and it was not till Sanborn requested
contract at 50 per cent that the Secretary
yielded. 1t was very difficult to get con-
tract from the Department; "wc always re-
"fuscd unless we were closely and frequently
"pressed by influential persons" and the
bargain was made with Sanborn i'll the belief
that he would not be able to collect anything.
Translated into plain English, these state
ments mean first that the Secretary of the
Treasury went into the business with his eyes
omen, knowing that the contract was opposed
to sound policy, and believing that it would
not result in any benefit to the revenue; and
secondly that he was not influenced In his
action by any considerations OF the public
service but by the pressure of Influential
persons" 1t would be hard to mako series
of more disgraceful admissions.
Mr.. Bliss and Mr.. Blnfeld make certain
statements relative to the manner Of collect
ing the Sanborn taxes which emphasize in
most striking manner the charges we have
already lodged against the actors in this con-
spiracy. Thus far the attention OF the COM
mittee has been directed almost exclusively
towards the legacy and succession taxes, anu
it appears that the process OF discovering
dehnquents consisted in simply comparing
the records of the SurrOgate's office with the
records of the Collectors Office. Now 1t is alb
surd to pretend that taxes aScertained IN TINS
way could not have been gathered by the
regular officers OF the revenue. What SanDorn
did the local collectors could have done
equally well, and if they fmlci to do 1t they
were grossly unfit for their positions. Inc
Government seems to have proceeded upon
the theory that revenue Offices are p0lIt-
zeal rewards, whose pOsSessors are required
only to draw their salaries and run the
primary meetings the work of collecting the
taxes is to be done on shares by outside con:
tractors. There is no instance yet OF single
collection made by Sanborn which could not
have been made by the ordinary machinery of
the administration on the contrary there Is
indisputable proof that the whole force of the
Internal Revenue service and the DistrlGt-At-
torney's Office was placed at his disposal that
he was allowed to divide large sums received
through the official channels without his
agency; and that collectors were instructed
not to receive voluntary payments OF taxes
which SanbOrn wished to collect on contract.
To these shameful facts Mr.. Blnfeld adds the
admission that Sanborn's subordinates were
furnished with credentials from the Treasury
Department indicating that they were officers
of tho service. The only excuse, or pretext
for an excuse, which Mr.. Banield attempts to
give for these astounding proceedings is that
the Sanborn statute "was q very anomalous
claw and required anomalous treatment"
We do not think the secretary OF tho Treas
ury requires anomalous treatment at all. 1t
will be quite regular and proper for the Com
mittee to put him on the stand and insist
upon either full explanation of this scandal,
or an acknowledgment that he has no ex-
PLANTATION TO make to insist upon copies OF
all the papers in the case which Mr.. Richard
son persists in doing out by driblets; and
then to make a searching report to Congress
upon the Secretarys conduct, with suitable
recommendation.