The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-08-31
N. Y. World, August 90
Garfield and the Notifies "SWindle

The Tribune of February 27, 1878. in
commenting upon the infamous Sanborn-
moietiy measures, which was then upper
most in Congress, said: "This swindle
was smuggled into an appropriation bill;
but if Congress happens to be in an eco
nomic mood there is yet time aud op-
portnnity to repeal or modify the act
through any one of the several appro-
prialion bills which still await final &C.
tion." Whosoever therefore shall here
after apply the word "swindle' to the
Sanborn job must remember that it is a
word of Republican application. In
Garfield circles, however, that word will
no longer be used in that application be-
cause the Congressional Globe shows
that Garfield was one of the promoters
Of the .'swindle," and was as Chairman
OF. the Committee on ppropriatio the
man OF all Congressman who conld but
did not find 'time and opportunity to re-
peal or modify the act through any one
of the several appropriation bills."-
When the Democrats came into power
in the House of Representatives this
"swindle" was investigated by commit
tee, aud Foster, of Ohio, now Governor,
was especially active in the inquiry. Its
report fully substantiated the preliminary
stigma which was put upon the scheme
by the Tribune. From 1870 to 1872 any
one could become Treasury informer;
but in 1872 it occurred to Sanborn, Of
Massachusetts, that monopoly of Treas
ury moieties would be "a good thing"
SO it proved to him to be, for Sanbora
admitted that in three months, from Oc-
tober, 1873, to January L, 1874. his
share of moieties had been $l73,390 -
Accordingly at Sanborn's dictation Sen
ator Sawyer [ who was afterwards an As
sistant Secretary of the Treasury add
ed to an appropriation bill a clause for
the appointment by the Secretary of the
Treasury of only three investigating in
formers, Of whom it was understood that
Sanborn should be one. When that clause
reached the House it was not only rejec-
ted, but the House, aroused by the de-
bate, repealed the moiety system. A
committee of conference was inevitable,
and Speaker Blaine made Garfield chair
man of the House conference commit
tee, while Senator Cole became the Sen
ate Chairman, with Sawyer as member
of the committee. The conferees of the
House, led by Garfield, receded from the
repeal, and agreed to the Sanborn-Sa
yer monopoly of three informers. But
haste became necessary, and Senator
Cole said to the Senate: 81 have infor-
nation from the Chairman of the Com
mittee on Appropriations Of the House
that it is very desirable for the Senate to
act upon upon this report at an early
hour to-day that it may be disposed OF
in that body" Accordingly the action
OF the Senate soon became reported TO
the House, where Garfield attempted to
drive the ssmeasure through in thin
House, which attempt was resisted by
Eugene Hale and Mr.. Randall. Hale
Sid rathss asssas,icans ss..spss->4-~-
"Undoubtedly the explanation of the
Chairman of the Committee on Appro-
priations will be satisfactory as far as it
goes, but this report is an important
one and there has been no opportunity
to examine it in detail. l suggest that
it 90 over until next week.
"Mr. Garfield, of Ohio-If my COL
league on the Committee Of Appropria-
tons desires postponement of this re-
port / certainly have no personal pref
erences of my own 20 oppose it.
"Mr. Hale-I do not wish postpone
ment put on that ground at ALL"
In a few days the Sanborn ring amend
ment came up again and was attacked by
Hale, Farnesworth and Randall. Gen
Garfield said:
81 have no personal pride in this con-
farence report, but say at this stage of
the session, when this report has cost
five sessions OF the conference commit
tee to produce this result, l should be
sorry to see it defeated in this single
point. l demand the previous question
on the adoption of the report.
"Mr. Randall ask the gentleman to
let me move to amend.
"Mr. Garfield cannot
The previous question was not then,
however, ordered, although Garfield of
course voted in favor of it. Debate
was then resumed, and in the course Of
the discussion Garfield made a long
speech in defense of the "swindle." and
at the close of it again demanded the
previous question. Several members
appealed to him for debate Congress
man Duke, of Virginia, asked for only
one day in order that the report might
be printed, but Garfield renewed tile pre-
vious question and-as the Sanborn
drummers had been out meanwhie-it
was ordered in a thin House with seven
ty-six abseutees. The report agreeing
to the moiety "swindle" was then adop-
ted by majority of ten, one of whom
was Of course Garfield, who had it in his
power at all times to kave killed what
the Tribune had already described as
"swindle.'