The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-08

Per cent Per cent,
Net Col. Gross CbE. Net OIL.
Pears. iections. Expenses. lect,ons. lectiNta
1895. $500 59s 2i3 $3.50 100 s2l $40
1862 1862 iSS7ss 2Gs 2G s37SSG Ss2SSl s sSS 81
PROBABLE RECEIPTs FOR THE PRESENT FISCAL
YEAR.
1t has always been difficult to make any ac
curale estimate of the receipts for the future
II ON internal taxetion. The frequent modIi
Gallons OF me laws ,%vei themselves, the varying
rests, the shifting values consequent upon
paper currency, together with other disturbing
titments have ma erislly affected the worth vi
DEL collected at this office, from which other.
wise The receipts Tor any fiscal year could be
ioIeshadowed with considerable accuracy.
The reduction OF the sources or revenue has
now, however, somewhat diminished these
mbarrassments, and the collections for the
current year can be calculated with reasonable
TIE following tabular statement presents
the aggregate q certificates of deposit by col
Yeas 1867, isSs Snd isa 1852 rssess stively- 'a.~
July -........s27 ysiios s2i 7si e5e $40 SsS'sle
aug Gag s,S ss ls 800 4s 4s5
ass s5 $50 $50 ss5
OF the amount collected in 1867 there was
from iocome. s!s46a,665; in 1858. sl7.7as.7i4 and
COMPROMISES.
The power OF com promise has been exercised
with great care, and only upon the recommen.
daiion Of The local revenue officers district
attorneys and the app oval of the Secretary OF
ihe Treasury. No alleged violation oy dis1iI.
lers has been COMPROMISED except upon the
opinion of The Government attorney that the
otiense was technical, or could not be proved 10
lie lumber of cases mpromised during the
year was $685.
Fl om these there were received as ax...s4l9 Oi3
Assessed penalties, fixed by law.......... l42,OO3
In lieu Of fines, penalties, and forieitures 5950H
l54, WI
DIsTILLhD NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE NEW
LAW.
The remodelling of dtstilleries to conform to
the law and the regulations and the erection
Of 81 eat expense and delay TO their proprieLors,
while the survey of disilisr les, The procurement
forms and regulations and the greatly In
creased correspondence coAsequenJ upon the
inauguration of the new lay. has imposed an
immense lauor upon this Office and upon the
local officers of the districts where disillerles
sle situated:
thus far reported to this Office. including those
not intended for present use and those for dis
tlllstion OF fruit, is 1890.
The plans of 3l6 oisLilleres, other than of
fruit. have been received and died, as In accord
have been returned Tor correction.
Distlllery warehouses have been established
to The number of 450
pears that 204 distileries are in operation, with
am aggregate daily producing capacity of 227,75S
gallons.
The number of class warehouses existing
on the lst day of July last was 770 Their mum
ber was gradually and rapidly reduced until the
LIST instant, when the.pu Der was l72 contain
ing manufactured tobacco and most of the
spirits distilled prior TO the act OF July 20 and
The statute now In operation contains many
impIoven epts upon that of 1856. is fuller and
more definite in lis exacGIons, places the distll.
leries and their operations more com pletely In
the hands of the Government, aud Is more
rigorous in / 8 punishment of Offenders, but its
successful OPERATION, after all, must depend
upon The vigilance and hdelity of the local
officers. The corruption OF storekespers.
nd WI
assessors aud collectors are above suspicion,
will always open sources of ruin to honest tax
payers and loss to The treasury, which neither
The wisest legislation nor the most stringent
regulations of the department can close.
ever there has been a large re ia lion ia the
number of Illicit stills In most parts oil the
country. Those properly registered and autho-
lion of their liability than under the previous
law, and the receipts have been in marked and
favorable contrast to those of the correspond
Ing time last year.
THE OFFICE OF oAIMIssIoNER-sEPARATE DE-
PARTMENT.
The bill reported by the Committee OF Ways
ana Means at the last sc Ssion of Congress pro-
posed to create this office into separate de.
parlment, with Com missioner at It's heal,
instead OF continuing IL, as IL has hitherto been
u bureau of the Treasury Department.
My experience long ago convinced me that
such q change would be productive of great
benefit to the service; but the sunjest could so
readily be made to assume personal and parti
san as poets that have hit herLo refrained from
llb huNOCACys JuuRluB from tne pdSbi Iue pas
sage OF no general revenue law can oe OK pecLed
until near the close OF the approaching season;
aud as the change, If made, viii thus coincide
with the incoming of q new administration,
the question can Gow be considered solely In
the light OF It's administrative merits.
The erection OF this Office into a separate de
partment would conduce 10 more vigorous
and through enforcement OF the law In the first
place, by greatly Simplifying the work IN the
office of the Com issioner.
SO vast is the volume of business flowing
through the Treasury Department that it is
manifestly impossible for the Secretary TO make
himself familiar with all It's details; aud the
same may he said of the Comm missj oner aud the
business OF his office. Experienced officers and
clerks, In this bureau. devotiug their entire at.
ieniion 10 special portions of the law, neces-
saIily better Informed than Others can be- of
their particular requirements, and the peculiar
onditiOns OF business or trade TO which they
are applicable.
When the Commissioner has To determine
upon proper regulations to be established. or