Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-03-19

WIN NlcW 10 retfcnchmcDt oil the ex-
penses of the Government, in the reduction
Of the number OF offices, and intimately
connected Herewith, an increase of the
revenues, much time was spent in examin-
ing the nature and extent Of the frauds in
the non payment of taxes on whisky and
tobacco, how far Government officials
were concerned, and what remedy should
be recommended.
Testimony taker before committee of
the XXXiXth Congress, of which the
Hon. William \. Darling was chairman,
Was Of great value in this examination.
The object of this inquiry was not so much
to demonstrate that frauds exist, for every
man in The country knew that faci-not so
much to expose the guilt OF officials, that
they might be subject to the penalty of
public exposure and the disgrace of reno
val. Many had borne with becoming
meckness and resignation the former, whcp
they knew there was not the remotest
danger they would suffer the unpleasant
consequences Of the latter. The President
had abundant evidence, In numerous cases,
showing conclusively the unfaithfulness of
many officers, yet they are undisturbed--
not to detect fragrant violations where
individuals had amasscd princely fortunes
by cunningly devised schemes Cases of
that kind had been reported, We: not
single criminal has been compelled 10
disgorSe the fruits of his crime; not one
victim to suffer the pains and penalties of
thc violated law. Persons engaged In
ether branches of business. and ali depart
ments Of industry, paving honestly their
taxes, have been bewidered in the csntem-
plation of the magnitude of there frauds
The whole people know that great crimes
were committed, with the conniyance. if
not assistance, of Government officers An
honest payment OF the tax on whisky
would realize 5000, 100000, whereas but
little over S25, GO0, 900 is received; SO that
every man can see and feel the enermily
Of these wrongs. With honest and effi-
cierit officers, this tax could be collected.
They certainly know where every disiilIcry
Is located, and can know with reasonable
certainty the amount az production of
each. While, from defects in the system.
some frauds can be pcrpetrated without
the knowledge of the officer, a great ma
iority are committed through such knowl-
edge.
To say that all revenue officers are dis
honest would be unjust To say that the
Secretary Of the Treasury and Commits
would be equally so; for the President
stands like wall of adamant to protect his
friends in Office, and the Commissionerand
Secretary are powerless for their removal.
In districts blessed with honest officials,
whisky distillaiion has almost ceased.
! while in all the large cities ii is wonderfully
increased. Why Is it that in the City OF
New York from 10 to 80 (Which was the
number before 1900 distilleries have
increased to several hundred, when whisky
can be manufactured much more cheaply
where the grain Is grown!
Neither are all the officials in the city
districts dishonest, but they are stunned
by the ring, and distileries are concentra-
ted in those districts where honesty is an
easy virtue. When whisky Is sold for
81 so in the market, does not every man
know that no person is engaged in the
manufacture intending TO pay honestly the
every collector know that be or his
authorities at Washington know that such
officers are Ia completely with disiillcrs?
Many frauds are consummdted through
Bonded warehouses, and The last susges
ton holds good In that class of cafes.
where honest officials control. The ring
soon ascertain where they can store their
whisky. operate their schemes. aud be
undisturbed.
A collector must knew that where mil
lions Of gallons are stored In his district,
and Its value In the market Is less than
81 so per gallon, the owner never expects
te pay the Government honestly S. for
every gallen; and the President musl
know that such districts arc placers where
whisky thieves are mining fortunes so
that II needs na proef where heavy
distillation Is carried on. and large quaint
| ties bonded, there Ii the rogue's harvest,
and the ring and the officer are in com
plicity.
The conclusion is irresistible that the
present law, from inherent defects and
| fraudulent execution, Is failure. All the
earnest and faithful endeavors of the Sec
rclary and Commissioner have been with
out success, and al the well-intended zeal
Of Congress has been equally fruitless.
For three years efforts have been made
to collect this tax; each year the frauds
have increased, hut not the revenue. The
operators throughout have possessed more
ability than Congress, more shrcwdnesl
than the Revenue Department No sooner
would regulation OF the department OF
| an act of Congress I've passed than meani
would be devised to evade It
The human intellect seems far more
inventive. and skill far more effective
when to Incentive TO gain Is added the