Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-21

WHISKY Frauds AND INTERNAL REV
ESUE-Mr. Van WICK from the Com mittee on
RetrenC hment, submitted It's report on the above
subject TO the House Of Representatives to-day.
The document is a tolerably lengthy one, aud
enters into the subject under notice with con-
siderable fullness, but ft viii probably disap-
point those who expected something in the
sensational style, beyond the array of ugly
facts. Its disclosures are, however, sufiicient-
ly startling to sec IRE attenti and scrsdtable
enough to disgust and discourage an honest
taxpayer of any political faith.
The report opens with the statement that
many frauds yet exist In the revenue depart
ment an KIND, as heretofore, but not 70 the same
extent and that what Is most needed to secure
the proper enforcement of the laws Is honest
officials. II then proceeds to arraign President
Johnson, charging him not only with criminal
ssieet IN The premises, bat with retaining in
ONCE and befrienoIng those who are kn.wn
10 be defrauding the Government; with re-
moving others whose only Offences was dis
agreeing with him on political questions, and
Win supeudlng prosecutions against Indicted
erin. in; Is.
1t then taxes up the case of Mr.. Buckley, and
ms doinSs at New York as solicitor OF the bu-
reau OF internal revenue. That gentleman was
before the committee, but proved TO he a re-
luciant and unreliable witness, ACCORDING To
the report. 1t says he has done no service IN
his ethce for nearly two months, beyond draw
ing his monthly allo wtncr; that he spent the
s2UO furnished By tn President TO deiray the
cost CT Dis Investigations M New York that IN
addition TO this sum the expenses OF the pro-
ceedIngs he insIituted Will amount - over
c20,HNi that he Is guilty of subJrnatIon of per-
Jury mat he declined to act in cases OF gross
frauds pointed out 10 him; that he refused 10
ala thc U nlted States iStri.t attorney in fer
reuEg out or prosecuting Others. aud tnaJ Ia
idci lac ran away with papers relating 10 such
cases, In order that they mIgnt no, be- used by
The proper officials.
The frauds practIsed by gaugers, store
Keepers. and distIllers, and also compoundtng
houses, are explained with some minutenpss
and the defects OF the law III relation To these
particular matters pointed out. The frauds
oy settlement, compromises, etc, ara Also re-
ierrtd 10, and better and palmer legislation in
this respect Is recommended.
Extracts are given from the evidence before
The Committee of Mr.. Thomas O'Callahau,
collector OF the ninth, and of Mr.. Joshua F.
Baliry. collector of the fourth New York
districts. That of the first named officer ap-
peared 10 be valuable only as showing how
not - do IT. MIR. Bailey. VINO is known to BE-
one OF the most intelligent, and useful ofica
IN the service, is of the opinion that no changes
IN the laws relating TO taxes, and especially to
Tue tax OF whlskey, Will avail anything whtt-
ever, unless there Is unity OF purpose aud ac-
uon on the part of the various branches of the
government concerned in their administration,
and that notifications in the laws will amount
To nothing If cellus OF officers with parties
seeking to evade them is TO continue un-
noticed.
Attention is also given by the committee to the
fraudulent operations of the kentucky Bour-
bon Company, of which the public has heard
a good deal; and extracts from its books ara
quoted al some length TO show the transactions
Of that organization.
Considerable space is given in the report to
the evidence OF MT Commissioner X DllIns as
explaining many IN portant matters connected
with The collection of the revenue. He states
substantially, that previous 10 the PhiladelphIa
convention The Commissioner had a potent
voice in the appointment OF the subordinate
OinCerS OF the bureau. but that since the con-
Ventlon the sole power of appointment was
with the Secretary of the Treasury and the
clerks in his office. 50 that now the Commis-
sloner has no more power with reference u the
appointment OF officers of tue revenue service
than II he Were clerk in tue department.-his
only pTerogatlNe IN the premises being the right
conferred by Law 10 recommend persons for the
office Of supervisor.
The eject of the reduction of the tax on dis
titled spirits from - 10 80 cents per gallon is
shown ny comparative stateme ut of the rev.
rn ae frUa that source during the months of
July, August, September and October last
year, when the tax stood al the hrst-named
ngurr, and a corresponding time this year At
the reduced rate. The result Il as follows
without the returns from several districts for
IL- month of October