New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-19

ANSWER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
TO THE HOUSE RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY.
81 TELEGRAPH TRIBuSG
WASHINGTON, July 1S.-The Secretary of the
Treasury today sent the following communication
to the House of Representative: -
* TREASURY DEPARfNENT July IL, 1867.
TO the resolution of the House Of Representatives Of
the 10th inst, requiring information concerning com
mission organized in this Department in the City of New
York and styled "The Metropolitan Revenue Board
have the honor to reply that Board was established
there under that designation, by this Department on the
ast ultimo powers and duties Of which best de-
fined by reference to the order creating it, which as fol-
lows:
For the purpose Of aiding the Internal Revenue Bnrcau
in the prosecution detection ana punishment OF ias
upon the lntetnal Revenue ana WIN view 20 mole
stringent enforcement of the law, Isaac G. Me,,nOfe,
Deputy Commissioner OF Internal Revenue H. IL. Van
Dyck, Assistant Treasurer at New YORK; sainuel -:
Courtney United states Attorney Southern District OF
New-York; Mr. keasby, United states Attorney ior inc
Attorney for the Eastern District OF New-1ork, are
hereby with their own consent constituted Board TO
be known as the Metropolitan Revenue Board All Rev,
Inspectors Revenue Agents, General Inspectors OF
in the Ist I1d Hid, lVth, Win, YIth With, With,
IXth, Xth, and XXI Districts OF NewYork. and the
IId IVth and With Districts Of NewJersey, will immed-
atey report said Board for duty and Will hereafter act
under the direction OF said Board Such Revenue Officers
may be designated by said Board viii be specially
authorized by the Commissioner Of Internal Revenue 10
make seizures within said Districts and hereby re-
Board and also to the Collector of the District In which
any seizures made and ali special authority hereto
said District, either OF Them Is hereby revoked I'M
medatey upon the seizure or detention OF any property
within said Districts the said Board VIII investigate the
cause thereof If In the opinion Of said Board the prop
eTty seized is not liable TO forfeiture for any suf
cient ought not TO be held for forfeiture, the
value thereof does not exceed $1,000, the said Board Is
hereby authorized to direct the sezng officer 90 release
opinion Of the Board the should be released the
facts of the together with the opinion OF the Board
will fla am
action. Thereafter Collector In said District will ap
prove any disers bond bond for bonded warehouse.
bond for transportation rectcatOn rehabilitation, or
exchange OF package OF any spirits, tobacco manu-
facturers bond, until after the same shan have been
to the responsibility OF the surees thereto The Col
ector VIII consider himself IN any manner released 10y
the duties imposed him by law regulation said
Board shall have the power with me approval OF inc
and regulations for the transaction of its business and
the execution Of the powers hereby or hereafter conferred
III. MCCULLOCH, Secretary
T. A. ROLLINS Commissioner.
It will be observed that the duties devolved upon the
Commission chiefly advisory. The authority for
creating it founded in the general scope and spirit OF
the Internal Revenue laws which clOhe the Secretary OF
the Treasury and the Commissioner OF Internal Revenue
with to enforce them by the Of such means
the provision Of these laws This Is matter Of public
nOtorety and painful interest to those who cheerfuy
Internal Revenue laws in regard to distilled spirits have
been shaefully violated and set at naught throughout
The Department has used every exerton through the
ordinary instrumentates TO correct this evil but without
Officers have been not only inefficient in the
discharge OF their duties but in many they have
been suspected Of direct completely with dishonest
10 defraud the Government. Satisfied that the
heretofore employed for the purpose insufficient 10
suppress fraud and TO expose and bring 10 punishment
dishonest officers and convinced that faithful enforce
Of the laws in the City OF NewYork necessary TO
the collection Of the tax upon distilled liquors
throughout the country, and Of the vital Importance
the welfare of the entire public service felt 1t my
duty TO exercise Ia special manner the supervisory
powers conferred upon by law The course that has
been taken IN creating the commission referred TO- be-
Heyed 10 De strictly within the limits OF those powers
and confident are both myself and the Commissioner
of Internal Revenue that good results will he obtained by
II that unless Congress shall dsapprOve OF our action
will be taken 20 organize similar commissions
In other cities in which the Government Is largely de-
frauded Of its revenues The Board in New-NOrk has
recently instituted that the advantages TO be
derived from II cannot be properly estimated; but
IL is believed that in consequence of It's abOTs the re
mOvai Of spirits fraudulent bonds has ceased, and
Illicit disatiOn largely decreased The violation with
which has been assaed by some who to say the least.
do favor honest execution of the law, affords
COura gng evidence that II is movement in the right
direction aud that distillers may yet be compelled to
bear with others their portion OF the burdens OF The pub
Tic debt In conclusion is proper for me To remark mat
the Board in New York created with the concurrence
and advice OF the Commissioner Internal Revenue,
whose untiring efforts % enforce the law against the
powerful interests which have combined 10 evade and
violate IL the thanks Of every honest taxpayer in
the country. Enclosed will he found copies of all the
documents and correspondence relating to this Board
that record, or file in this Department., or It's
Bureaus. Very respectfully
HUGH McCULLocH, Secretary OF the Treasury.