New-York tribune., 1868-03-07
INTERNAL BTyENUE MATTERS.

An exhibit of collections of revenue from
distilled spirits said to be compiled from official sources,
and presented to the Ways and Means Committee, is
given considerable currency the receipts from the tax
npon whisky in the principal dis'iing districts Of the
country for the last four months OF 1867 and Is compared
with the corresponding months OF 1866 10 show large
falingOh Among the districts noted ore the First OF
OHIO and the ThrtysecOnd OF NewYOrk. Now these are
not dstlng districts hut receiving districts and II is
quite probable that the First OF California and the Seventh
O Missouri also the other collection districts parteu-
Iarzed should be cassed as receiving and dstng.
The exhibit published 10 show thai there decrease
OF collections during the four months Of over 3O0OOO
and argue from this that the tax upon whisky should
be reduced II the country is TO De saved The country
standing the exhibit" which greater testimony to
the personal piGue Of the compiler than to his PATRIOTISM
if he designed his labors for the 10 which they have
been put. Why assume that the collectors 0i.
receiving districts are responsible for the small
receipts from whisky taXatiOni They should in no way
be held accountable The entire ress upon the col
lectors in distng districts who do not exercise proper
vigilance and prevent the hoodng OF the market WITH te
illicit production These are the men who have almost
totally destroyed the legitimate trade whisky and their
completely with dstIlcis or criminal ncgh% nee 80 long
continued, warrants their summary removal that Their
places may be occupied by, honest aud com
petent men. in the bonded warehouses OF
the XXXIId District, on the 1T OF March,
there 6972 barrels OF whisky. What prospect Is
there that any portion OF this VIII be Withdrawn under
the operation OF the existing law, which requires the
payment Of 81 gallon tax before pint Of 1t be re-
prices ranging from 81 Is and 81 4O Indeed II
reported yesterday, that an uptown holder, who was IN
hurry to realize upon lot which he held disposed OF
a 9j cents gallon 81 % below the price legazed by
Congress, not to speak Of the cost OF material
and OF manufacture. Until collectors who will
not wink at such grossly illegal
transactions unearhed and prosecuted and punished
for their crimes there Is little hope OF the revenue
increasing from the tax on whisky because Is not TO be
expected the OF dealers will pay e. 10 the Govern
for article which the officers of the Government
enable them TO purchase from 81 90 down 10 81 25 Not
outstanding the existence Of many bars 10 legitimate
transactions there honorable merchants enough in
ruary, from the bonded warehouses located
therein GO6O263 gallons Of whisky, and pay into
the Federal Treasury for such withdrawal $lO 205 2C
and II the Illicit manufacture could only be stopped for
few months Collector Shook aInl the other Collectors OF
receiving districts, would without doubt, by that time
"clean out the warehouses under their control and
give to the Government its claim npOn the property
which In the XXXId District alone the beginning
Of the present month upon 69,772 barrels amounting at
the lowest estimate, 70 over a. O00,OOe