New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-14
EVASION OF TIE REVENUE Law.
OFFENDERS TO BE PUNISHED.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
OFFICE OF INTERNAL REVENUE, 4
WILMINGTON. Anvil 10, lc65. }


SRA. Az find q large number of cases p
raudslent evasion Of the Internai Revenue arising "
vour .,tv most of which, after detection and exposure
have at the solicitation Of the Delinquent pnres pce"
,ompronjsed on such terms as deemed it eligible to
accGpt consider it proper to apprise you 'hat pro
nose within short time to change the course hitherto
pursued and instead Of settling with offenders "ro
uye deliberately violated the laws. to send them to TIE
courts TO receive the full Of punishment PIE
scribed for their offense.
While the system Of internal revenue was new ana
many person. were ignorant If its provisions !! was IN
my opinicn unNise TO exact with rlgor the n"i'''
,royided for valuations Of law As much mod ration
lnd forbearance were c. MS istent with due feei'
ho crrere intent Of the acts Congress seemed 70 be
he obvious policy ofthc Government Without there
ore in any case authorizing. tie part OF The Govern
rent. an oHor Of comsise with denquerts i have
been wiling to Sen terms Wien prop 'sed By them
and haze generally accepted such ns seemed su ccpt 20
,rotcct the revenue aud TO constitute proper
example and walring to ildisposed peisors. For In
stance penalties t. 'ho amount Of I've, ten fifteen end
oven twenty tlousniG dollars fl addition to Ill trres
aud coats have been pnid on tic Withdrawal Of proceed
ngs ard persons wio would otherwise have been ire
RE ably ruined lave been permitted to resume bust
been Hoped would be valuable Tie reasons which
nave caused The adoption Il this course Of moderation
II is obvious must cease 40 soon as opportunity
las been given 20 taxpayers to undeIsnhd
Il cir OBLIGATIONS under q law. Tie authority to com
promise was given presume, 10 he exercised not as
general rule but oLly under particular c1eencies OF
exceptional cases vlerc mitigating circumstances
eppear Time ba. now tseu afforded 10 those owing
niy or tax TO learn tint they bound TO return truly
their incomes products manufactures, sales &C.. end
they will have no Iett TO complain Of being dealt will
,eyctsly II when detected in making returns delber
a,eiy ard wfilly false al applications and oicEs oil
compromise shall be rejected
IL veiy aggr cases have refused TO accept
any tsrns. AMI shall sil do so; but In those mol
Il that character propose to pursue the same course
A, Heretofore. a little while. but only little While
longer. Unless Otherwise advised. slell begin win
tic month OF May ensung to send offenders for ofense'
hereafter committed generally to tho courts. and "a
require collectors prosecute tic cases arising IN ihei
districts ciy and crminay to the extent authorized
by law.
The fraads brought to cur knowledge are 80 numerous
end many Of them 50 surprising that l know no loher
" ay To suppress tie grow Ing disposition to practice
them than by .he exposure Of public Trial, and by I'M
position OF The fines penalties ard iolegIes PROVIDED
by law. Very respectfully, yours.
JosgrH j. LEWIS, Commissioner.
To A. n. LEWIS. esq. Revenue Agent Ae~'horA
City.