The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-16
NEW YORK HER1LD SUNDAY, JUNE t. l8e7-mlPLE SHEET.

whskey manufactured In the city Is closely watched by
an efficient corps, consisting OF commissioner Colonel
hessmore collectors. inspectors and special agents.
who enforce compliance with the law If possibie
ana whos on the slightest suspicion OF unfair deaing,
| seize and close up the suspected disiiilery-
The nrst seizure Of illicit whskey made In this Guy
Was oy Deputy Collector Marshal IN july, 1867 under
order OF Collector Shook from whom at that PERIOD he
received commission detailing him for that special
duty; From that time up TO the present seizures oi
whlskey and dsieres have the order OF the day
In this city alone no fewer than two hundred establish,
in one strict alone-the Eghthooecior smith about
eight weeks ago pued twenty Of those establishments
in three days
| TIE IGNORED BY OFFICIALS.
me greater number or the dstileries seized IN the
Eighth district las before mentioned) again working,
but before dong so the collector Obliged them 70 Me new
bonds and take out license This action the part Of
the collector was very wise and necessary he had dis
covered thar many OF distleres had been hitherto
/ pursuing their business without any bond whatever,
and with the coolest disregard Of the law which GAYS
that every pers who Is or who intends 10 be, dist
Ter, must give notice over his signature, the
Assessor Of the dstric. in which such business is
2 be Carried on, who viii forthwith furnish copy
the location, form, capacity, ownership, agency, or
superntendence of such disllery STILL boiler, other
alter such change Every dis.iiier must give bond
Collectors will give especial attention to the instructions
printed thereon as to the manner Of the execution Of
Yet Notwithstanding the force and expctness of this
clause, ds,ilers in New York city have been allowed to
run their distilcries without even putting in APP
pcaranc9 or semblance OF compliance with the law
| WORTHLESS BONDS, PRESERVATION AND Perjury
To go further 10 prove the spirit with which some men
embark this trade may be well here state that in
! the Eighth district, Of those who had complied, appar
entity with the law the efficient collector ascerained
| that the bonds given by some Of them were utterly
| worthless-not worth the paper which they were
written Many of tho suretes were irresponsible, and,
In few instances bankrupt pares and still worse, IT
was found out that tbs games of PRESERVATION and per-
| jury had been played to some effect Men came
forward as suraes undor the name Of some rich
gentleman, and In the collectors Office deliberately
swore they were tho parties represented and It ~ not
bondsman went to Collector Smiths Office, stated he
owned certain property specified by him, in the III nth
to me Of aS bis Was s.
was, TO his surprise. informed that inquiries had been
made about bis property and that the true owner the
day before stated that any assertion OF ownership by
any other party was lie and oath to that effect
perjury or course the little game was spoiled but the
will far 10 prove the enormous frauds practised
the internal revenue through the Illicit diataton OF
/ spirits.
/ Fair and prncipled disliers have but very poor
show market esewnere-illcit whiskey under
sells them and beats them every point they ara OF
course subject to the annoyance and suspicion
| the guilty parties. Many OF them who have laid out
thousands in hundreds of thousands o. dol
/ lars, their establishments would to-day cheerfully
Withdraw from the trade could they only got back por
ton Of the capital invested and thenhey would be free
from suspicion and from the vistations and mporuni
| III y, Tss4--.-- asporrERs
The gentlemen distinguished by this appellaon
Oshoot Of the tribe called ioafers and bummer
They have trade occupation. but hang around he
ncighborhood OF tho collectors and assessors Offices
and ayn Tor discrs and others engaged in the trade
who may occasion visit the Office pay licenses
| or transact other business When ne comes out and
| turns homeward he dogged by the sspot,er who
finding his place OF business watches it Tor day SO,
and the first chance gives "prvate Information to
the collector which in nine cases Of ten invariably
turns be false II by any chance the Information
correct and the whiskey seized the normer
would half the amount over the tax realized
by the sale OF the The .tspotter sometimes
sends note to the dstiller, stating that he knows
something" and would have NO objection to his SEQ
ances. They have no official connection whatever
recognized or otherwise with the service may
properly DO regarded as the birds OF prey Of the Rove
nue. Department
MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS
That tho frauds pcrpetrated in this special branch Of
this department are numerous and gigantic 10 wei
known aud calls for immediate legislation; for II Is the
opinion of experienced men that so long as the tax on
whskey is high two dollars per gallon efforts will
be made TO evade the payment IT Is stated by some
the next Congress may reduce the tax to nifty cents
II So far revenue would be collected than under
present system, and legitimate trade would again
raise its head and flourish Would be bel eyed ba. in
the Eighth district Of the important regards
dsting in this city, during period prior to
the Office of the present coectorl covering
dstiicries and in the next months the newly ap-
pointed collector received into bis office over eleven hum
area doa r ms r very ses vS sove the
mystery. rho New York market Is stocked with
whskey and yet there are forty dsieres in ope-
ration whole city, their combined capacity being
unable to produce more than tweny-four thousand gal
Whatever effect heavy taxation may have on a people
morally be matter for discussion; but one thing
certain and iudspuiable Is that the system has been
well organized in the country and the people have re-
piled the call made their purses cheerfully and
Willingly and in manner SO prompt as 10 cause the
prise and command the admiration Of even the Bit
terest enemies OF the United states.
Assessed ents for 1866 and 1867 In the Thirty.
second Observation-Disclosures and special
Taxes.
Below will be found the return OF for the year
ending May l. 1867 on manufactures and productions,
and the receipts OF banking Insurance. express and
other companies together with the income tax &c,
compiled from tho monthly and annual lists In the Office
OF Mr. s. p Gilbert, internal revenue for the
Thirty second district. Of which Mr. Sheridan Shook
collector This collection district is the most important
aud wealthy the United States, comprising tho First,
Second and Fourth wards OF city, the OF
larger than those OF any other district
In this State in the Union II will be noticed in the
comparative table for 1s6566 and for 1S6667
that the gross for the latter year is nearly
81 600 600 OF the year preceding This DIS
crepancy Is TO be mainly for from the follow
ns facl:--rhe returns for $50 based on the
Of sales made daring the previous year, while
owing TO change made in the law by tue Con.
gross of 1865 uniform rule OF levvng the tax was
subsequently, adopted and Is the by which the de-
partment Is now governed. A wholesale dealer
pays for instance, license fec Of $50 per anuum on all
aes ase d nsn over that sum ne
for every 900 Of tho excess monthly returns OF sales
being made TO the assessor Tue indications are that
gross returns for the coming year. 1867 6s will b.
still smaller than those OF its immediate predecessor
the spring business has been very backward, and the
state OF feeling financial and commercial circles OF
that unsettled and unsatisfactory character that prevents
the spushng OF and business enterprises to the
extent would otherwise be, as II was In ante bem
times so marked Characteristic Of this great metrop-
oils.
The tables OF receipts Of the various insurance and
express companies, which will be found below. form
not unimporian monetary statement that will be eagerly
perused by those who are interested In matters Of
hnance:-