The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-03


license for sdch manufacture was shown, and tho
inspector being satisfied after tasting the
mash that moasses beer had been run through the still
be placed the en'ire premises under seizu<e.
All the above cases will be taken up for investigation
at the meeting OF the Board tomorrow.
The following lots were detained in order that thoir
may show satisfactorily that the due thonl
has been paid.rwenty barrels spirits belonging TO
ODonnel ~ Pearl street; hytwo barrels spirits, same
owner; seven barrels spirits found pier No North
river five barrels spirits belonging to Carr Blanchad d,
and i've barrels Of alcohol found az l03 Bayard street
Indiscriminate Seizures of Spirits.
To THE EDITOR HERALD
SECTION 20-Internal Revenue law-And DO IL
further enacted That shall be lawful for any internal
officer seze and delan any barrels, casks
packages containing supposed to contain distilled
spirits when such officer has reason TO believe that tho
tax imposed by law upon the same has not been paid.
SEC 45. And the burden OF proof shall be upon tho
claimant OF said spirits to show that the requirements
OF law have been complied with.
II requires great depth OF wisdom to prophesy that
any Law founded injustice and opposed TO common
mover be effective In an enlightened commu-
nifty, that furnishing for an impossibty is comrat-
ible with free institutions. Such enactmens only tend
to destroy legitimate trade which the bono and
Of nation. Is 1t just or reasonable that tho
retailer jobber in domestic spirits should be called
upon TO prove payment OF tax on the material after
It has changed character by rectincaton and passed
through different hands, when the government bound
to collect tho from the distilier by whom due
marketY How can a second or third party furnish
proof or tax being paid What proof is requred2
recner even who buys whskey with tax receipts cau-
not furnish separate receipt and affidavit Tor every
barrel or rectihed spirits no sends out, for Tho
that his receipts bulk and the spirits may
be made up from half dozen different lots, bought
many brokers; neither rectifer swear that
any particular barrel Of spirits is made from any partcu4
lar barrel Of whskey his tubs being filled from
different lots, he procure from government
separate tax bill for each package by this the absurd
ity Of the present law as well oppressive nature
NO, tho parties look for the tax when due and
coectabs at the dislery or bonded warehouse. Cow
ernment In all reason, detectives enough 10 carry
out the law, without embarrassing trade by selling
goods in tho hands Of innocent parties which
often done only for tho benefit OF the Selling officer
Rectders, who form large class have for years held
their position ION Change With the first merchants Of
fairly and honoraby, ike men and merchants, ana ID
aid government In collecting the tax the ymens
for their ree.ed goods than certain advance prcdi-
cated tho market price OF tho day whatever II may
forty cents and pay the government 81 tax, wien tho
article with all the outward appearance o being
tax-paid is selling on the market for 81 IS.
Surround the distllcr and dstieTy such q way thag
pay OF tax cannot be eyaded, the Law of
total connsca,lon and imprisonment, which never VOC
has been tried, but let there DO security he recer
and wholesale dealer In buying goods when the oack-
ages branded according 10 law, otherwise an tu-
porant branch OF commerce destroyed without any
benefit the treasury. Tho Times asserts thar soma
rectihers have been in league with dsars desragd-
Ing the government IL there are any such thew must
oe few In number. But admitting such be the case,
why should government allow such frauds2 Tho law II
comprehensive and stringent enough, aud the very
laxity peculaun OF It's officials may have ed
such dishonesty which has been the means or driving
every legitimate dstiiler this State Of business
and placing IL IN the hands OF irresponsible parties
The Law authorizing indscfminate seizng OF goods in
the hands OF innocent parties must be repealed and tho
purchaser Of raw whlskey be protected when ho buyS
with oil tho necessary brands the packages which,,
by right. should pass current the same as a United
States bond.
As the law stands matter how ahfuliy tho
tax Is iqudaed goods seized all the and
put hoavy expense, delay anirouble rocov.
orng thcm against which outrage there is appeal
redreea
Recllners and dealers who forced into market 10
buy cheap as they can Through the neglect ineis
the point OF production when It is duej must have
liberty buy and sell their goods AZ msrkes
price Ike other merchants, without being at tina
mercy OF petty officials, whose trade 10 corrup-
ton. They demand that their private and per.
sonal rights shall DO respected the same AZ
those OF other citizens, and that their house. ocs
books aud property shall be their own, and DO subj
ject 10 the pryins inspection aud threats OF every
bounty jumper, clothed or not clothed with oilciu
merit officers. bad they are, arc personaied by
legitimate thieves, who impose tho timd. No
law has tended more to demorallze tho con-
munity than the working OF this whiskey law. Wa
a people literally roitng away In morals an5
can only retrieve position by reducing this aud
appointing honest men, IN no way connected with poi-
ties watch the distiller and dislling BY coucon.
trang detective force at tho point Of production gov.
ernment can save thousands ot>dolars IN doing away
community, TO the disgrace OF our country and IL laws.