The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-12-08
Repar Of st.r CaasssssssisHes ss sn'ersas
RsyeDge,

Mr.. Rollins recommends but few changes in
the revenue laws and good part Of these look
mainly to relief from provisions whose advan-
tage to the revenue do not counterbalance their
inconvenience and annoyance TO the public
His suggestions are
/. To require returns for the annual list on
the first Monday in March, instead of May,
and to make the tax payable on the Both day OF
April, instead of June.
3 To substitute for the 10 per cent pehai.9
OF non-payment of taxes on or before a cef yam
day, more reasonable penalty OF hVe per oon'
for neglect or refusal, and interest az 'no ,"'o
| OF II per cent per apnIm from the uihe ""eH
the tax becomes payable ...-+ .f ......., -.
= That ;mprison,oent for evasion OF the
special tax of the act of July Is, 1866, except
| of distiIIers, rectifiers, and manufacturers OF
| tobacco, snuff, and cigars, and dealers i'll Ii
ouors, be abolished, and that the minimum fine
for failure or evasion of payment be fixed at
ten dollars. With this change, relief by posi-
tive enactment should be given certain classes
Of persons against whom it has never been
deemed necessary OF just to enforce the penal
| provisions OF the statute.
| L. To add to the list of articles which persons
rare authorized to peddle without payment OF
special tax, fruits, vegetables pies, cakes, and
confectionery when sold by persons on loot,
thus protecting many poor women and chill
dren striving to earn livelihood, and who, in
numerous instances have been subjected to
anxiety and cost
| 5. To tax liquor dealers, butchers, plumbers
and gas-htters uniformly as wholesale dealers
are now taxed, when their annual sales exceed
$25 600, and to remove the limit in quantity ftr
retail liquor dealers.
6. To increase the compensation of assistant
assessors, and take away the present allowance
for rent
z. To authorize the collectors to interchange
the inspectors of the several distilleries within
their districts at pleasure, SO that several per-
sons may from time to time, and at irregular
intervals have charge of each distillery, thus
to some extent testing the faithfulness OF each
other, while together they may prevent the
contamination of frauds by the manufacturer.
8. To impose, as under the law of March 3,
1866, uniform tax OF ten dollars thousand
upon all domestic cigars. ~ 81.
9. To subject manufacturers OF turpentine
to all the provisions oflaw in relation to bonds,
warehouses, and drawbacks to which coal oil
distiliers are subject
10. That as solicitor is now employed in
the Commissioners Office, the docket of internal
revenue suits should be transferred to his keep
ing, and that the Commissioner should be
charged with the custody of real estate pur-
chased for the United States sales upon dis
traint under the internal revenue law.
IL. That stamp duties upon oonveyances be
measured by the consideration, or the value of
the property above the incumbrance; and upon
power of attorney for any purpose, be uniform
ly 80 cents.
II. That the penalty for neglect to stamp a
written instrument be graduated to the amount
of delinquency; and that assessors be author
lied to decree forfeiture Of unstamped proprie-
tary and other articles improperly exposed for
sale.
10. That authority be granted to the States
lately in instruction, to assume the direct tax
apportioned to them.
H. That one thousand dollars be exempted
nom the income tax, instead of six hundred as
now provided.
Some minor notifications, it is intimated,
will be submitted to the consideration of the
proper committees, when the revenue bill
comes up.