The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-19
FROM WASHINGTON.
Troubles Of the Revenue Depart
ment Oh the Tobacco Question.
correspondence of the Chicago Tribune.

Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Aug. II, 1864.
The tobacco question has given the In
ternal Revenue Bureau more trouble than
any other one growing out of the recent
change IN the revenue law, by reason of
numberless tricks resorted to by manufac-
turers to evade new duties. Several As
sistant Assessors have been removed for
conspiring with manufacturers to defraud
the Government. and half dozen more
have been ordered here for examination,
on charges affecting their honor and in
tegrity. Rumors indicate that many COL
orable, or fictitious sales of tobacco, snuff
and cigars were made in July, but dated
back into June, with view of avoiding
increased duties under the new law.
Important circulars were yesterday is
sued by Commissioner Lewis, which de-
clare that these sales will not affect the
right OF the Government to such increased
tax; and assessors a'e instructed to treat
them as fraudulent, on proof that they are
made with view to the manufacturers
subsequent sale for his use. The Commits
siOner further directs that whenever it shall
appear that cigars have been sold by the
manufacturer without the payment of
tax other than that denoted by Inspectors
stamps, or when it shall be discovered that
articles have been fraudulently returned
under the former rates and that the man
ufacturer is legally liable to the increased
tax, assessors will Immediately re-assess
such cigars for the additional tax to which
actual sales show them to have been liable.
He also gives directions for the enforce
ment of this additional tax and its collec.
ton. Another abuse Of the law has been
the sale by Inspectors to manufacturers of
the stamps required on the boxes of
cigars. and the offering of that stamp
to the manufacturer at his own pleas
ure, without regard to honesty of inten-
ton or value of cigars. The practice is
prohibited hereafter, and all INSPECTORS
are warned that they must not perform
the necessary inspection in person, and
that they must not inspect and affix stamps
on cigars Of their own manufacture. The
af1iing of stamp by any other man than
the proper person, will be treated as a
cause of fraud. The permits are to be
allowed according to the value of cigars
exclusive of tax.
In establishing value the Inspector will
include the cost Of production, packing,
boxing, inspecting, and whatever may
properly be regarded as part Of the neces-
sary expense in putting the commodity
into market; and when cigars have once
been packed, labelled and stamped, pack
ages cannot be broken while in the GUS
tody and control of the manufacturer,
or his agent, without rendering them
liable to re-inspection it may be re-
garded as fraudulent transaction, and
and renders the cigars liable to seiz.
ure and forfeiture. The Inspector will
afflx to all boxes of cigars valued
not above five dollars a stamp de-
noting two dollars, and of three dollars
to TO. cigars valued above five, and not above
fliteen dollars; a stamp, denoting tax of
eignt dollars to cigars valued above fifteen
and up to thirty dollars; a stamp, denot-
ing tex OF fifteen dollars to cigars valued
above thirty andup to forty-fve to cigars
valued above forty-fve, a stamp denot;ng
tax OF twenty-five dollars. The depart.
ment has just contracted with the Amer
lean Prototype Company for five millions
of these stamps, the first delivery of which
will be made in about a month. and the
final delivery in three months. Thew are
to be of most approved manufacture. with
every possible precaution to prevent coun-
terfeiting.