The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-09

Houses of Congress, and became law.
This result was brought about in the con-
ference committee, because the Senate
still insisted on the farming but process,
while nothing was left tor the House but
to accept it, as it was accepted, with pro-
vso. AS this proviso is of the utmost i'm
portancc in connection with Sanborn's tes-
timony, and as without 1t such contracts
never would have been authorized, we de-
sire that particular attention should be paid
TO its language. After authorizing the sec
rotary of the treasury to make such con-
tracts "upOn such terms and conditions as
=" he shall deem best for The interests Of tie
d" United Suites, the law goes on and ex
plicitly says that "no person shall be en-
ployed under the provisions Of this clause
that Is the clause authorizing the making
of such contracts as these made with San
born and others -"who shall not have full
'ly set forth in n written statement under
oath, addressed TO the secretary of the
" treasury, the character of the claim out
" of which he proposes to recover, or assist
/" in recovering moneys for the United
States, the laws by the violation of which
d" the same have been withheld, and the
" name of the person, firm or corporation
" having thus withheld money These
contracts cot Id be made with only three
persons, and then only upon sworn
specification of the particulars mentioned.
We have no information in reference to
any contracts except those made with San
born, although we know that others were
entered into. We have nothing to do, now,
except with Sanborn's contract. his tcs,i-
muny, and the remaikojf cadctness which
the treasury department required The terms
of thr law to be complied with.
Surprising that the legislature of Yer
| mont should authorize the state treasurer
to make e contract for the collection of
money withheld from the statcuf Vermont.
hut only upon filing with him sworn
| statement Of the nature indicated in the
las of congress. Woull or would not onr
readers think that We were insulting their
intelligence, if We should say that The
| treasurer was authorized to make such n
contract with John Doe upon his filing
with him a fist "f The names of the nhab-
tantS "t The town Of Rutland,
with the general statement that
he expected to recover money
withheld from the state for u violation Of
the liquor law, the laws providing for n
state tax, state school tax. aud the law
authorizing towns 10 raise money by taxa
ton? They would, doubtless, think we
Wete dcmcnted. 1t would he very strange
| if they did not But. if The .oniccrs of
the treasury department" are authority.
they, not we, would bc dcmen,cd What is
the plain English common SENSE meaning of
| this law! Is ii that John SanbOrn cantake the
directory Of Ne" York city aud state that
the individuals therein named are with
holding money from tie United States in
violation OF the Internal revenue law in
other words that they hadn't paid their
| taxes: Or does ii mean that there shall bc
| particular specification of Richard Rocs
case, what taxes he withheld, how much,
etc, etc. b: II would hc almost an insult
to the intelligence Of ordinary persons TO
say that the filing OF copy of the direc-
| tory with the further statement that they
were Withholding their internal revenue
taxes was substantial or any other CON-
| piiancc with the law. But so IL is. John
Sanhurn, when he made his contract, cop
led from railroad directory as he saws
under the advice Of the officers of the
treasury departments list of every rail
road company in the United States ant,
stated, under oath, that he expected to re-
cover money from them which was with
held from the United States" in violation of
the internal revenue law. The list contain
cd the names Of five hundred and ninety.
three railroad companies, in reference TO
tdnr hund,sd and forty of which. he sw ears,
"he had no knowledge at all, but put them
in on the assumption that they did owe
"hack taxes AT later date and before
the contracts were signed, he seems to have
had some compunctions Of conscience,
went to the department ''to revise his lists
by taking out al in reference to which he
had no information, but. AS he swcars, he
" was instructed by officers OF the treasury
" department Ia lei them al % m.' Csm.
pare the requirements of the law, as quoted
with the sworn statement of John Sanborn
and then tell us il you will ever think again
that You understand the English language.
But is it, after all. a simple mistake of con.
s'ruclon, or really one Of those mistakes
which the law will not palliatc or excuse
and which We generally call by rather q
harshcr name?
= Ia q 4 Il Il