The Portland daily press., 1876-10-30
lILDEN'S INCOME TAX.
District Attorney BIiss's Stafenent-Why
Suit is Not Begun Once.

DAstFlCt Attorney niIsss StasCAAs w ny
Suit is Not Begun tOnce.
WASHINGTON, Oct 28.-The following letter
NEW YORK. Oct. 25. 1876.
Hon. Green B Raum, Commissioner of Iuter-
nal Revenue:
Sir,-It is proper that 1 should report to you
some recent occurrences in the course of the
preparation l have been making to carry out
your instructions 10 commence an action
against Samuel j. Tilden, to recover his unpaid
income tax
learned with great detail, and in manner
that satisfies me of the substantial accuracy of
the information, that on or about the year 1869
$4,000 was paid to Mr.. Tilden by the Pitts
burg, Fort Way ne q Chicago Railroad Co., or
on its behalf, and that the entry of that pay
ment appeared upon the books of the company
and was substantiated by Mr.. Tildeu's voucher,
which was among the papers of the company.
As Mr.. Tilden for the year 1869 paid tax up
on only $17 900. l thought it at once essential
and just to verify the Information. 1 therefore
requested a revenue agent to go to Pittsburg
and procure access to the books and papers of
the company, never for moment doubling
that the officers of a great corporation would
gladly render all the assistance in their power
to the off :ers of the government On arriving
at Pittsourg, the revenue agent learned that
since the publication Of the allegations as to
Mr. Tilden's income tax, the books and papers
of the company had been more directly trans
ferred to the control of an officer Of the compa-
Dy, who is a strong political friend OF Mr.. III
den. That gentleman peremptorlly refused TO
permit access to the books and papers, and re-
ferred to the president of the company, MT L.
II. Meyer of this city 1 should add that be-
fore leaving Pittsburg, the revenue agent OBJ
tanned additional proof of the substantial accu-
racy of my information, with evidence that the
payment was made to Mr.. Tilden at time
| when the subordinates of the company were
suffering for want of their just dues.
Acting upon the reference to Mr. Meyer, l
| on Oct 9Th addressed him letter requesting
| that he would give instructions to allow the
| books to be examined, and, in reply, he prompt
ly Informed me that he had referred the mat
| ter to the directors who were summoned to
| meet on the 18th. On the 9TH, Mr. Meyer
| wrote me to know under what authority of law
claimed the right to examine the books OF the
| company. On the 10th. replied that, while
| believed there was sufficient authority in the
| law to compel the production of the informa-
| tion desired, had not intended to place the
| matter upon that footing, but only upon the
footing of a request to the officers of great
corporation to aid the government in its efforts
1 to recover taxes of which it had been deprived,
| by giving it information as to the matters
which could not prejudice them, nor, indeed
| any one, except the person, if any, who had es'
| capped the paymento of his just dues. Though
| the directors meeting was called for the 18th,
/ received no reply until after a renewed appli.
cation on my part. Mr. Meyer on the 23d,
/ sent me a letter declining to give the informa.
| ton, and placing him and the company upon
his and their legal rights, as they claim to be
lieve them to be.
1t u.s. of course, clear that at the proper time
| the government can and will compel the pro
| duction of the Information desired. The re
fusal is only of Importance because it comes
from board OF directors of whom Mr.. Tilder
is one, and the fact of refusal seems to me tt
confirm the truth of the information had re
ceived. 1t can hardly be believed that if the
| books and vouchers did not confirm the state
ments, there would not have been any hesita
tion in allowing access to them.
L may further add that find for the SAINT
year, 1869, Mr.. Tilden rendered services fol
| which he charged and received SIG 900 from
the Union Pacific Railroad Co. This is in ad
dition to $4,000 charged the same company fol
services rendered in 1867, 1868 and 1870, ane
which was paid to and receipted for by Mr.
Tlden. There is besides, $250O paid on Marcf
27, 1868, by the same company, which is re
ceipted for ION account of professional servi
ces,' the receipt being signed Samuel j. Til
den, per James T. Sinnott;' but L presume
there is no doubt of MIR. Sinnotts authority Il
act for Mr. Tiden. Mr.. Tilden's account t.
at the time covered by these charges, rendered
considerable services to the somewhat notorious
| Credit MObilier, such as advising with refer
| euce to bills in equity prepared IN Its behalf
drawing contract between the Credit Mobi
| lier and Oakes Ames and others, consulting al
/ to the snit Of McComb against the Credit Mo
/ bilier (Which suit led to the disclosure of tn
operations of that concern,) all of which servi
ces may have been covered by the charg
against the Union Pacific Railroad Company
though have inf ,rmation which leads me Il
the opinion that Mr.. rilden also received con
siderable sums from the Credit Mobiller.
L have gathered good deal of information
as to the charges for services made by Mr.. Til
den and payments made to him for services t
other corporations and persons daring the pc
| riOd covered bV the income tax. Thew all Of
to show that he escaped taxation on a yer.
| large amount of income. 1 am still pursuing
my examination, for though there is abundan
| ground for the Immediate commencement of al
| &C ion,it seems to me that there are reasons why
delay is advisable, especially as brief della.
now will not postpone the final trial of tn,
Cause while it gives opportunity for a mor'
careful and accurate preparation.
Your obedIent servant,
GEORGE BLISS, Attorney.