Ellsworth American., 1876-11-02
Mr.. Tllden 5 Income Tax.
District Attorney BLISS Reasons for no
Commruciu ~ he suit nj once.
Iuc lu.u,, lu- ir.trr was m4ue pIUtv .n
Washington Yesterday:

" a~llI-lNA yesterday
NEW YoEk. oct. - l>1G.
H.A. tran y. BIn, Commissioner pf h.
tsrHR H.r,Att,.
>lr,-It j, proper that | should report To
YOU some recent occurrences in the course Of
the preparation have been making 70 CARRY
out YOUR Instructions To- commence an action
a--In>t samuel j. IAdrn, 10 recover h., uu-
pali income tx
| learned with great detail. and in = manner
that satisfies me of the substantial accuracy
OF the Information, thai ON or about the year
l-'S 80 90 waN paid 10 Mr.. Tilden by the
PItt>bGrE, Fort " aynr and Chicago Railroad
Company, or ON ii, behalf. and that the entry
Of that payment appeared upon the books Of
the company. and was subsiantiated by Mr.
liiden'- voucher, which WAS among the pa
per- of the company. A. Mr.. Tlld-n tor the
wear lSS pad a lax upon only sl1.OJ. |
thought It At once essential Snd jI>i TO Nerifs
the uiounI .ita. ! iu...t d. r-ls..t, 4
revenue agent Ia 20 L. PHl>burs aud procure
access To the books aud paper, ui the COM
pauy. never fot 4 moment doubling that the
oil err OF & great corporation would gladly
r'udrr all the assistance In their power to the
officers Of the government. on arriving 1t
flttsburS, the revenue agent learned that sncc
the publication Of the allegation 10 Mr.
llden- Income taN. the books and papers Of
the company had been more directly transfer
ed to the control OF an officer OF the company
who i 4 strong political friend OF Mr.. riiden.
That gentleman peremptorily refused 10 permit
access 10 the book. and papers, and referred
10 the president Of the company. Mr.. L. II.
Meyer Of this city. | should add that before
leaving Pit>burg. the revenue agent obt aimed
additional proof OF the substantial accuracy
ot my information. with eyidrnc. that the pay
ment was made 10 Mr.. iilden at time when
the subordinate. Of the company were suffer
inL Tor want Of ,heir just dues
Acting upon the reference TO Mr. Never l.
,tnf fl..f.l "A. 1.
ng hit he would give instructions 70 allow
the books 10 be examined, and. in reply he
promptly informed lie that he had referred
the matter to the directors who were sum
mOned 10 meet on the l2th. ION the 1th. Mr.
Meyer wrot- me to know under what authori-
~ OF lAw c'aiinrI he right To examine the
book OF the company. ON The 10Th, re-
piled that, while | believed there WIS suffi-
clent authority in the law to compel the pro-
ductlon of the information desired. | had not
intended To place the matter upon that footing
but only upon the footing OF request to the
officers of great CORPORATION to aid the gov
ermcnt in is effort. TO recover taxes Of
which il had been deprived, by giving it in
formation rs 10 matters which could not
prejudice the, nor, indeed, any one, except the
person, If any. who had escaped the pivment
Of hi- Just dues. Through thedirector,' meet
ing was called for the 18th, received no reply
until. after renewed application on my part.
Mr.. Meyer on The 23d sent me letter declin-
lns 10 give the information, and placing him
self and the company upon his and their
legtl right, as they claim TO believe them to
be.
1t is, of course, clear that at the proper
time the government can and will compel the
production OF the information desired The
refusal Is only Of Importance because it
comes from board Of directors of whom
Mr. Tilden is one, and the fact of refusal
seems TO me 10 cotirm the truth Of the in
formation received. 1t can hardly be be-
lieyed that if the books and vouchers did not
confrm the statemants, there would have
been any hesitation in allowing access to
them.
may further add that find for one the same
year 1869 Mr.. Tilden rendered services for
which he char ged and received $4,000 from
the Union Pacific Railroad Company. This is
in addition to $1,000 charged the same com
pany for services rendered in 1867. 1868 and
1870. and which was paid to and receipted for
By Mr.. Tiden. There is besides. $3.50 paid
On march 81, 1868, BY the same company,
which is receipted for account of professional
services the receipt being signed Samuel j.
Tilden. per james z. Smnott ;'but presume
there Is no doubt of Mr.. Simnott's authority
to act for Mr.. Tilden. Mr.. Tilden's account to
the Union Pacific Railroad Company shows
that he. at the time covered by these changes
rendered considerable service to the some
what notorious Credit MObiier, as advising
with reference to bills in equity prepared in
its behalf drawing = contact between the
Credit Mobilier and Oakes Ames and others.
consulting as to the suit of McComb against
the Credit Mobilier (Which suit led to the dis =.
closure of the operations of that concern), all
Of which services may have been covered by
the charge against the Union Pacific Railroad
Company, though l have informtion which
leads me two the opinion that Mr.. Tilden also
received considerable sums from the Credit
MObilier.
have gathered good deal of information
as to the charges for services made by Mr.. Til
den and payment made to him for services
to other corporations and persons during the
period covered by the income tax. They all
60 to show that he escaped taxation on a very
large amount of income. l AN still pursuing
my examination, for though there is abundant
ground for the immediate commencement Of
on action, it seems to me that there are reasons
why delay is advisable, especiaiy a. IA hrief
delay now will not postpone the final trial Of
the cause. while it gives opportunity for n
more careful and accurate preparation,
Your obedient servant,