Year: 1874

dent has sent the nomination to the Senate
of Daniel b. Cliffe, Collector of Internal
Revenue for the Fifth district of Tennes-
see.


Pfnchback-Non LLQuet.


The Committee on Elections have finish
ed examination of the case of Pinchback
against Sheridan for a seat from Louisiana,
and it Is understood will report next week
that the record evidence on which both
claimants rest their respective cases has
not enabled the committee to decide be-
tween them.


solicitor Banfield.


The Committee ON Ways and Means
gave another hearing in the matter of the
Sanborn contracts to-day, and Solicitor
Banfeld made statement, in which he
appeared, he said, not in the interest of
Sanborn or any other contractor, but at the
request of the Secretary CT the Treasury, to
explain the relation of the Department to
this contract question. Applications for
contractors to collect debts due the govern
ment has been made as early as 1869, and
although the Secretary and Solicitor were
not favorably disposed TO the system, con-
tracts were given to several parties at rates
of commission varying from 20 to 80 per
cent on the amounts to be collected, the
contractor to pay all expenses, but the in
variable result had been nothing was col
lected; at all events, that the Government
got nothing. The system was abrogated
and was not resumed until the passage of
the law under which the Sanborn contract
was given, and less care was taken to limit
the commission under that contract than
there would have been if it had been sup
posed that anything wOnld be collected.


The Solicitor was sharply cross questioned
by Mr.. Beck as to why Internal Revenue
Commissioner Douglass was not called into
consultation by the Secretary and Solicitor
when they undertook to carry the law into
effect, and also, what authority he had to
write letters to Internal Revenue officers,
directing them to aid Sanborn, when the
law required he should aid them. To the
first question hlssreply was the law referred
to debts withheld and not particularly to
Internal Revenue matters; and to the
second that the idea of assistance that it
should be mutual, and that SanbOTn could
not very well assist regular officers unless
they were willing TO assist him. In reply
TO a question by Mr.. Sheldon the solicitor
said be had no knowledge, belief, or sus-
picion that any officer of the government
had received or expected to receive any
thing in any way from the SanbOrn con-
tract.


SanbOrn Declines to Tell What He


Knows.


After the examination of Mr.. Banfeld
concluded, JnO. @. Sanborn came before
the committee, but instead of proceeding
with his statement, he said he had within
the last "a hours been advised by his coun-
sci, that in view of the indictment pending
against him with collusion with Revenue
Officers to defraud the Government, it
would be injudicious for him to make the
full statement, which he had been ready
and willing to make. He was ready how
ever to give to the committee such general
information on the subject as he possessed.


He was informed by the Chairman and
other members OF the committee, that the
committee could not sit and listen to any
partial statement; that he was present not
by order OF the committee, but by his own
request, in order thar he might make full
and fair statement of all the circumstances
connected with his contract. If he was not
prepared TO do that, and TO answer such
questions as the committee might desire
to put to him, the committee would decline
to listen to any partial or restricted state





ment.


SanbOrn's counsel (Woobridge of Yer
mOnt) justified the position taken by his
client. He thought il better for him not TO
submit himself to an examination Of the
committee. He alluded TO the fact that
there was a gentleman present, understood
to be an assistant district attorney from
Brooklyn, watching to take advantage of
anything that SanbOrn might say.


The committee adjourned without any
decision whether Sanborn should or should
not be made a witness.


The District-Ex Post FactO Bonds.


At the meeting of the District of Colum-
bia investigating committee this morning,
John Collins testified that he had laid sew
ers, raZed houses and done parking and
other work for the Board Of Public Works,
amounting to about one hundred thousand
dollars, without any account, except that
about three weeks ago he signed a contract
and gave bond, both dating back to Sep
tember, 1872, for the faithful performance
of certain work amounting to less than one
thousand dollars, all of which was done
and paid for fifteen months previously.


Mr.. Roberts, in the character of counsel
for the memOrialistS moved for leave to fire
a procite for a number of witnesses from a
distance. The reason for the motion was
an expectation to prove leading facts.


ExtraditOry.


An eXtradition treaty between the
United States and Ecquador has been
officially proclaimed and is to continue in
force ten years.


'EGrace and Mercy


The report of Jsdge Lawrence, chairman
of the House Committee on War Claims, to
said committee on the general subject of
war claims, was considered at the meeting
of this morning, and after considerable