New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-10-10
az e9rlears 9ailp Cyresterrt.
'EETlsi EsBAT MORNING, ooToBaR %, lgee.

as1sssssa er the Cotton Tax-The Meme
gsas Aaaressed to the coannafssioner or
KatefHaa MevenHe.
WAsHnsToN, DIG, Sept. %, 1866.
on a a Rawlinsi Commissioners Internal Revenue:
Ehe undersigned would respectfully repre-
ss tiist, under the existing division Of the col
asaag districts Of internal revenue, in Louisiana,
Y g impossible, without injury TO the agricultural
Hzferest for the planter to comply with tile re-
9airenents Of the law, SO far as the weighing as
sssssing and collecting Of duties on products il
soneernsd, which the officer Of the government
IS n duty bound to enforce Under the law, the
r0aHCe must be weighed, assessed and the tax
Eaid on the fofnalities Of bond executed, in the
district where the produce was grown, to the sat
3aefisn Of the collector of that district before it
ssaa ae shipped to market. The planting interest
COZ Louisiana, as general rule is situated on the
Faapasrous rivers and bayous tributaries 20 the
&lsal ssippi, which form complete net work all
aFNeE The width and length Of our State All these
streams are navigable, and, strange to say, the
.Zses nf All into the Mississippi river is DIT one
Ms1ant the mouth of Red River. 1t is through
essese tributaries Of the Mississippi that the pro.
alncts hf Louisiana find their way down the Mis-
ssaaspi 70 New Orleans with the exception, per
azaps of q portion Of southwestern Louisiana.
MsiIread, having Its terminus at lew Orleans The
latter market is the legitimate channel Of trade,
saRd the only market known TO the planting inter
ast Of Louisiana. Whether to be sold or to be re-
shipped to Atlantic or other inland markets, the
ETsd9ets Of the State OF Louisiana must first
80 y New Orleans. The plinters, situated
l already described, ship their produce on
sEsarnhoats as they pass their own plantations
Talis they cannot do without first sending for d
wFe5gheE and assessor who may be stationed some
&#ezty or more niles-or he must have his
produce hauled that distance to avoid the expense
III getting those officers Of the government to
asasae to his landing. He must next look for tie
deputy collector, who is IN many instances fifty
miles Of, to comply with the requirements Of the
&sS. Ghe latter officer cannot, under mis- obliga-
Atcns to the government and his bondsmen, allow
She produce to be shipped without the prepay
zuent Of the duty. The planter, who obtains his
szdVances from the merchant, upon the shipment
eg BIS produce has not, as general rule, the
Ssaoant at his command to pay the government
dues He i, under the circumstances compelled
~ saerifce portion Of his crop Or borrow money
zasaagrnlous rates Of interest, The execution Of
a bend. d. provided By Law, az q general rule in
fha country is irnpTaeticable-
10 avoid all these objections, and, at the same
not strictly the letter Of the laws Of internal rev
esnues ne propose to divide the State of Louisiana
INTO Two revenue districts, centering ait New Or
leans, according to a plan already submitted to
E5u for consideration. The city Of New Orleans
w i fortunately occurs, forms part Of two con-
sressioaal districts, dividing the city into
xssriy two equal parts. Taking advantage
nf tIiis established division Of the city
ms New Orleans, ne propose to divide the
szcFntry parishes about equally, placing, as much
a essibie. al sie sugar parishes in one district,
It'd lse annexed to one portion Of the atty Of New
45Tleans, and the other country parishes, consti-
Eat5ag the largest cotton interest, in another dis
EFfeT Elsos annexedto one-haf of the city Of New
FEarieaas. We would then have two collecting
tsdIstTirts in Louisaua, instead of three as at
ggscsent. Tho headquarters of each district would
ha View Orleans thereby enabling the produce Of Il
He country to seek, uninterrupte The legitimate
nsaTlget, Upon It's arrival at New Orleans the I
Mreauee would be weighed assessed, the duties
szid, and turned over to the legitimate coasignee
4stla hy him stored IN bis own cotton press. I'm
Lar this arrangement the requirements of tie law
would be complied with; the produce would be
led, assessed and the duties collected in the
saisSact where it vas grown. This arrangement
sMaylid be economical to the government, as it
N7sslld dispense with numerous weghers and del
gsatp aasessers; ii would be economical to the col
aaetfng branch of the service, who, in some dis.
dfi0ts in Louisiana, at present organized, have
10 pny salaries to deputies equal to the whole [
asslaunt Of their income. Itwonld centralize the
Business of the department; the collectors, instead
UT having some eight or ten deputies, scattered
sgzer fgeor SIX hundred miles Of territory, would
sass them under his immediate control and super
Vision BE could then be prompt and puuctual In
a
It has been suggested that itWould be best to
Mare hut one district for the whole State, with
MeW Orleans as the headquarters This system
mGnld be better than inc existing one but mas.
saaueh as the existing division Of New Orleans will
atsoR the formation Of two districts with the same
advantages, it seems to rs best not to place the
hole patronage Of that branch OF the service in
hands Of one man. In fact, had New Orleans
Kasa 30 divided aa TO enable the organization of
Stree Districts as at present, meeting the require-
1nantso f the law, we would have advised their
atinuauce
conclusion, the system proposed bE.us Wonid
aainish largely the number of Eeighers; it
sgpaId allow the products Of the State to reach,
tAgEunfed, itH legitimate market, where it
aEG cad Hnd the officers Of revenue, Who, without
+ AsaB es expense to the produce, would turn over
ehe aaaa to the regular consignee,
the requirements of the law had
besn complied with. The produce could then
@e stored By 1.-The conaignse, in his own cotton
saasesa where Il could be sold, and che proceeds
tod for immediately to the planter, without
fpreAsF interference on The part Of The gov.
AFn1eut. Lastly tha advantage Of this plan
81 1e thakit meets the requirements Of the
Respectfully,
i. DUPERTRR,
Collector Internal Revenue dist Ia.
4. VI. w1IEER,
j. r. SULLIVAN