Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-03-14
From the Ledger Of Wednesday.
1.-THE sANBORN CONTRACTS"

In the National House OF Representatives on
Tuesday last, all incidental debate sprung up In
Committee OF the Whole which did hot find its
way 10 the public in the usual reports oil the Con-
gressional proceedings. This debate, which was
rather hot 1or awhile was brought about by a
chance word dropped by Mr. Beck. Of Kentucky
about whatare known as the ''sanborn contracts"
The results under these contracts are very nearly
akin 10 those under the "moety" system, to which
We referred lew days ago as Ia disgrace to The
country They make II the interest OF unscTup-
ulous officers OF the internal revenue system 10
neglect or omit their duty; they offer temptations
to those officers 10 collude with other officers in
the guise of contract detectives, "spies" and 'n-
formers" they lead the Government into complici-
ty and responsibility with practices which no hon.
orable man would either engage In or countenance;
they are utterly demoraliZng to the public ser
VICE, and shsmefully oppressive on private per-
sons; they give premiums to unmitigated scoun-
drehsm; ana they are scandalous disgrAceful and
humillatiDg IN many other respects.
All this has come about under authority OF q
short clause in one section OF the civil and legisla
tive appropriation bill OF May, 1872, which clause
was opposed strenuously at the time by Mr. Ran
dali, OF Pennsylvania, Mr. Hale, of Maine, Mr.
Niblack, Of Indiana, and MIR. Garfield, The chair
man OF the Appropriation Committee, expressly
upon the ground that would lead 20 the very abus
es which have occurred. IL authorized the Secretary
OF the Treasury "to employ not more than three
persons to assist the proper officers OF the Govern
ment In discovering and collecting any money be
longing to the United States whenever the same
slall be withheld By any person OF corporation,
upon such terms and conditions as he shall deem
best for the interests Of the United States but no
compensation shall be paid TO such person, except
out OF the money or property 80 secured"
The principal purpose OF this Is proper
enough, and on the face OF the language, Il
all looxs quite innocent to the casual read.
er. The Secretary of the Treasury could
certainly never have forseen the wrong II
has done. Under 1t contracts were made TO
discover and collect moneys alleged to be
due to the United States, the contractor to
receive one half the proceeds. The hrst
thing that will probably occur to the refiec.
tive reader will be this question How Ia
il, II any moneys were due To the United
States under the Revenue Laws, that the
thousands of revenue officials, who were iu
the pay of tho Government for this very
purpose. did not discover, detect and col
Iect thoGe moneyss Those officers were q
numerous army spread all over the land
They were trained aud expert in that very
business. They had experienced and as.
tute detectives In their service. Ii ID q re-
preach and disgrace 10 that service that lhs
numerous officials engaged in It did moi
discover" these moneys, and put into forcs
the machinery - collect them, and thus
render to the Government a full return fol
the salaries paid them. But 1t has turned