New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-10
THE SANBORN JOB.
THE INVESTIGATION NEAR IT'S CLOSE.
A STATEMENT OF sANBoRN's RECEIPTS AND RxPEND-
HUREs UNDER HIS CoNTRACTs-NoT MUCH MORE
LIGHT

HohkS UNDER HIS CONIRACTs-NOI MUCH hORE
LIGHT
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRTBUNR.I
WASHINGTON, April 9-Ths was about the most
Improbable day. so far az discoveries concerned.
that has yet passed since the beginning of the San
born inquiry by the Ways and Means Committee.
sanborn was present as promised, accompanied by
his attorney and he had in his pocket the wonderful
list of expenditures, amounting to something near
the figures he had claimed, $4,000. 1t
d very able list, and eyinces that clear
| perception and economical judgment which
characterize the SaDbOrn Ring. The
preparation of IT shows that a remarkably inventive
genius must have had hand in it, but Mr. Sanborn,
when placed upon the stand, had the fairness to
admit that perhaps it was not right in all particu
lars. as he had prepared it from deficient memo
randa This statement takes its value away en-
trey, and so the statement sent in the regular re-
port must be taken for what it is worth.
Judge Woodbridge counsel for Mr.. Sanborn, made
very amiabe little speech, in which he praised
himself slightly said q pleasant word for the Com
mittee, and spoke patriotic sentiment for the free
American citizen. He did, however, as a lawyer,
protest against tho invasion of the rights of the
citizen, which was received by Mr.. Sanborn with q
look of APPRECIATION. He thought the Committee
ought not to require list OF MIR. San
born's expenditures. but there were some
present who thought it did not trouble the con-
sciences of either the client or tho attorney
TO furnish the list alluded to. 1t is not list that
| everybody would be satisfied with the point of
information for $40 900 and $2sOOo are items which
might sometimes in the course of general business,
provoke inquiry Indeed tho Committee were dis
posed to be little inquisitive, but the paper was
what was called fora list of expenditures by San
horn in with his pontraptS-anl further
than that Sanborn was as ignorant as Richardson =
The testimony of Sanborn, after the discussion on
the list had closed, related to a wealthy New-York
lawyer named Fry who must have been an excellent
friend TO Sanborn as he got into controversies and
performed much difficult and troublesome work
merely as "a friend" receiving no compensation
He did, however 90 to Europe for Sanborn on COM
mission as special agent procured by Sanborn, and
while abroad worked in conjunction with Sanborn
and his agents, while still in the employ of the Gov
ernment Fry was described as a very rich man, and
the idea that he should want an appointment
special agent seemed absurd to some OF the men,
bers of the Committee and it was subsequently con-
fessed by Sanborn: II wanted him to assist me.
and so | recommended him. The members pressed
the witness closely on this point, and also as to the
fact that he had selected Judge Shppen counsel of
the Erie road, and not practicing as criminal
lawyer to defend him in his Brooklyn suits. Sanborn
thought there DUE and could be collected from
citizens Of the United States now temporarily resd-
ing in Europe over $5,OOO.0OO of which they have
defrauded the Government in withholding their
income tax. These persons lived abroad while the
Income-tax law was in operation, and derived i'm
mense incomes from property in the United States,
on which they paid no tax. He said, however, that
he could afford to collect 1t for IS per cent.
Gen. Davies, who was First Assistant Dstrict-At-
torney under Noah Davis, was examined with refer
ence to certain clients from whom unjust and lille
gal taxes had been demanded by Boss " Coughlin
a. Co.. on the part of Sanborn His clients had
been illegally notified by District-Attorney Bliss
that he Bliss had been directed to collect certain
taxes and penalties but upon refusal no suits were
begun, and Gen. Davies says he does not believe
that any suits have been begun. The witness said
his experience leads him to believe that the taxes
could have been as well collected by tho internal
revenue officers.
The indications are that the work oflthe Commit
tee is nearly done 1t must be said in justice to the
members, that they have pursued the inquiry with
unfnching determination to get at the truth, no
matter where it nor who was interested. Not a
member has shrunk from his duty nor hesitated to
ask question because the answer might affect a
marty associate,