The national Republican., 1867-11-01
our INTERNAL REVENUE SYSTEM,

OUR INTERNAL REVENUE SYSTEM,
The special revenue commissioner, Mr.
Wells, arrived from the West to-day, whore he
has been gathering important facts for his forth
coming report to Congress on the internal rev
enue system. II Is Understood that as the re-
suit Of his Investigations the past summer In
Europe and this country, he will recommend
radical changes 10 our internal revenue Affairs,
one Of which will probably be that the bureau
be made independent Of the Treasury, and that
officers be appointed on the ground Of merit and
honesty, not with reference to political interest
The above paragraph appears In the Baltimore
Sun, Of yesterday, over the signature oi
Data" the Washington correspondent Of that
Journal. We clip It for text OF what We In.
tend TO say respecting this subject. Mr.. WELLS,
who 1, an able, careful and paiustakipg 1nancier,
hss, doubtless, during his visit to Europe, made
diligent and intelligent research into the nature
and operations Of tho English and French sys.
TENS Of internal revenue, and will therefore be
prepared to lay before the Committee Of Wsys
and Means n fund of information that may
guide that committee and Congress to sure,
safe and practical results.
There is at this time throughout the country
classification and alarm among the people, and
this feeling Is rapidly inersasipgi and, moreover,
II may be safely stated that any party that shall
attempt to uphold our present system one day
longer than the cireumstances Of the case abso-
Iutely demand will be utterly overthrowni and
II ought to be- The frauds and oorruptiOns are
Of such a nature, and are so widespread as to
produce a Generalization truly appalling We
do not 20 wide Of the mark whom We say that
our National Treasury Is losing at least $3.50.
900 900 annually by frauds. This Is clearly
within bounds; for 1t has been estimated and
proved, as oonclusiveiy as facts and figures can
voueh for such statements, that the annual loss
to the Government BY frauds 10 the whisky
trade alone is 5000, 900, 900, to say nothing Of
tobacco. How long will q people, pressed to
earth and groaning under burden Of taxation
rrievous to be borne, submit to such q state Of
things as now exists Not long.
When last summer, during the July session,
vo called the attention Of Congress to these
facts, and urged them to take the matter In
hand they paid no attention to our suggestions,
but hurried up an adjournment, under the mis-
erabls and ineIcusable pretexts that there was
no business before them, and that the weather
was too warm to admit Of their remaining In
Washington. They win come together again In
three weeks. VIII there be any cause then for
further delay in applying the needed remedy ?
We shall see The country will hold them to q
rigid account, and they must act promptly and
decisiyely. That these frauds exist TO such an
extent, and are daily praetieed by corruptionisti
IN Office, is not the fault Of the President, nor o
the Secretary nor yet Of Mr.. ROLLINS, the Com.
missioner. It is in and inseparabls from the
Eystem. II there Is an appointment 10 bs made,
or somebody h to be removed, the President,
the Secretary, aud the Commissioner are be-
sieged night and day by politicians, clamorous
for place for themselves and their friends. Many
Of these parties are known to beat least, at
home-totally unfit for tho places they ask, and
wholly unreliable, being destitute 81 those moral
qualities which are always Indispensable re.
quisites to the proper discharge Of such duties.
These places are sought BY persons on political
grounds, and as rewards for services done for
party; and as things now are, 1t Is dihcuit for
the President, the Secretary, or the Commits
sioner to ignore these considerations.
What we want Is q system that makes II obli'
gatory upon tho appointing power to select the
best men, without regard to political Affiliations
We know that we shall be told that this cannot
be done; that to the victors belong the spoils.
But We should like to kuow why it can't b
done. Are there not able men, business men
honest men, in ali parties. and may not these be
selected? We should like to know why not
And then let Congress pass a law sufficiently
stringent to deter any man from rushiag upor
ruin with his eyes OPEN giving him to under
stand that his punishment Is sure If he yiOlat,
the law. Moreover, let the salaries bo sufficiently
liberal to satisfy every honest man, so that al
temptation to practice fraud may be removed.
It Is an old saying, millions for defence, but
nothing for tribute" 30 We say, millions fol
weIi.earned salaries, but not one cent for fraud
What the nation wants Is an Independent Bu
reau Of Internal Revenue, at the head Of which
shall stand man second to none In the country
for honesty, business qualifications, and financial
ability and then let him select and appoint biz
subordinates, subject to such wise checks and
approval as may be imposed by Congress but in
no case let any man be appointed on political
grounds. Forever put 1t out of the reach of the
appointing power to select man on account ol
his services to this or that party, making oapa
city, prObity, sobriety, and, In short character,
the sine qua non for the place.
Congress, It 10 to bo hoped, will address itsel
at once to make this much. needed reform Of our
entire system Of internal revenue taxation and
collection.
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