The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-03-18
THE WHISKY FRAUDS.

We publish sephere an extract from the
report of the Congressional Committee on the
Whisky Fraads That shows how vicious 10
its effect upon that branch Of the revenue has
been the Presidents efforts to reward his par
,izans without regard to their fitness for place
But that extract i.n't nearly all of the report.
The COMMITTEES trace the Law into ill its work.
ings they show how that instead of the Gov
ernment deriving from this tax revenue Of
ito hundred millions, as it should, it gets
scarcely fifty millions, the otter one hundred
and fifty millions remaining with fraudulent
manufacturers, or going into the pockets OF
corrupt officials, swindlers and scoundreliy
operators. The COMMITTEE, sfter reviewing
the experience Of .hrse years, say "ihe con
c'usion is irresistible that the present law,
from Inherent defects and fraudulent execn-
ton, is failure" and they add.
The operators throughout have possessed
more ability than Congress. more shrewdn-ss
than the Revenue Department. No sooner
would y regulation Of the department, or AZ
act of Congress be passed than inea,s would
be devised TO eyade il.
During all this time the people have been
vainly hoping. Congress has hepn vigorously
legislAtlnR. the department actively framing
rules. YET all has been as ropes OF sand.
Congress enacted that IL whisky sold for less
than s.. the purchaser mass shaw that the
tax has been paid. The price of whisky i'm,
mediatesy vent down.
In looking about for . remedy for ,bese
frauds. the Committee frst consider the pro-
position 10 use government meter. Thev
say:
THAT il, tco, will be without good results
unless smother can be invented which viii
gauge the honesty n government officials.
Human ingenuity viii be inventive 10 fnd on,
means 10 prevent an honest register by any
automatic machine II honest men will han.
die the meter Il will doubtless record cor.
Ieslis; oat u honesl men had charge Of dis.
tilleries no meter ,eould be necsxsdrg If dis.
honest men have charge ii viii resistsr insl
what crime ana gfeensaacks dictate. Chear
as 10 wrter IN all cities, water ~ m
tampered, With. Whatever Of force there NAV
be, It Is the fact that spirit metefs sra 4 Is.
carded by I'LL conntries which have used
them. That = large disiiilery has been run.
ming for fosne lime psst in the ciiy of Me-
York with meter II the tail of the stiIl i,
conclusive aud Irresistible evidence that thu
thing - = failure and fraud
The remedy proposed hy the Committee !,
TINS stated in the report.
First Oh oil il needed s;mnl;6r.,;o., <
the system and aboii,ion Of hondsa 49,, =
houses thai The great and rapacious armv 4
officials msy Be mustered out. Second u,
the tax should be materially reduced. NJ
collected Ak4hs stu. eseimaaing he cspsrssj
All plans looking to correct estimate Of pro
duction arb liable 10 sesioas ohje6sioas 90
many abuses, but the capacity system. hal
probably 1Iha lease Expesis cas ascertaia q
reasonable certainty, basing judgment upor
qa,nhtfy OF beer, fer.Ben4irx mower. rxs 81
~. .., sar,acs Of heat. and extent cf steam
sa.h Tose.ssepefs, Syenfs md ms neef6FS
life 20 ~ honest wRlkA ul
Notwithstanding ,hs repor,. n. H..
Committse voted 70 keep the ,.x :, - II,
lars. They deem j. worth Will. i -. 80
further efforts TO have the Law .nf.rr.d ~ a,
the tar h6rsssiy collected. In hi. ds.,. H.
thsre ~illbsiadividusls Who viii refu,. !,
concur. bu. We afe dl,poaed Is think hat II,
people At large viii endorse the recommend.
Goss &As-HA,s snd Means Coan;tt.,
Congreas hes removed The .sx from nssrl
III asssfsesafsd articles \ psopesss tAss q