The Portland daily press., 1868-07-17

Ever since the conclusion of the impeach-
ment trial Congress has been at work on the
tax bill. After several days consideration in
committee of the whole of the comprehensive
bill reported from the Ways and Means Com
mittee, it was finally concluded not to attempt
a general revision of the internal revenue sys-
TEN durlng the present session, but to concen-
trate attention upon the vital matters of the
whiskey and tobacco tax. The result is bill
lhat NJ Just passed both branches of Congress,
ot%hich the following is synopsis - q. g (
1t applies TO distilled spirits, tobacco, snuff,
CARS and coal OIL, and sets aside ali provisions
OF the existing laws on these articles. The rate
on whisky is fixed at fifty cents. Wholesale
dealers pay 500 tax on annual sales not over
$4,000; one dollar per thousand on all sales in
excess OF that limit and one per cent. on all
sales. Retail dealers pay sos. The taxes are col
iected at the diStillery. Whiskey and rum
may be exported, and drawback OF sixty
cents per gallon is allowed to be paid by the
Secretary of the Treasury, and not to be due
until thirty days after the sailing of the vessel.
Distilleries pay four dollars per day while run
ming, and two dollars when work is suspended.
There is to be one or more storekeepers for
each distillery, to be pald by the government.
The whiskey now in bond pays four dollars
per barrel specie tax, and must be withdrawn
within nine months. Tobacco pays thirty-two
cents on chewing and sixteen ceuts on smok-
ing. Ihe proposition to make warehouses for
plug TOBACCO was not agreed to. Manufactured
tobacco can be Withdrawn in bond but twice.
SnuH pays thirty two cents; cigars five dol
lars per thousand; cigarettes one dollar and a
nan when not weiehing over three pounds per
thousand, and five dollars when they exceed
this weight. The bill does not increase bank
taxes, as the Senate almost unanimously de-
clined to make any change whatever and the
House was obliged to abandon the proposition
or lose the bill. Coal oil and its manufactures
are hereafter exempted from tax but distillers
and refiners must pay the same tax as other
manufacturers by the act of last March The
meter system Is again introduced. The new
stamp provisions go into effect in sixty days,
put the Secretary of the Treasury may in his
dlscretlon put off the time until December.
The Secretery and Commissioner may change.
the style olstamps. There are to be twenty
hve supervisors OF internal revenue appointed
by the Secretary on recommendation OF the
commissioner, assigned to districts by the
commissioner, aud have a salary of $1,000.
The commissioner has power to appoint TWEEN
ty 1--WE detectives, and assign them to duty at
will. The whole of the present system of rev.
enue inspect orS and special agents is abolished
at once, and hereafter there are to be no in
spectors except of tobacco, snuff, and cigars
Suits are hereafter to be compromised only by
the Secretary and Commissioner. Collectors
and assessors are hereafter to be confined to
their own districts, and are subject TO suspen-
glect of duty, &c, revisory authority being
vested in the Commissioner. This summary
is merely intended to include a statement of
final action on controversial points, as the gen.
eral provisions of the new law are well known.
The bill is expected to- mpke the number of
internal revenue officers less than half what it
is now, and will effect great reduction in ex-
penses. 81 -tt 'f
FORCED TO APoLoGIzE.-Senator Buckalaw,
Miles O'Reilly of the New York Citizen and
and other prominent Democrats are forced to
apologize tor Bar's revolutionary letter.
They acknowledge with some qualification
that it is a very unpleasant document, but, as
ter all, they say, it is only proposed to make
Blair Vice. President, and what can a Vice
President do?
There are several ways of drivi ng these po-
litical sophists from the position where they
have entrenched themselves behind the in-
er knew the Democrats to let a President
stand in the way of the accession to power Of
an acceptable Vice President? Assassination
Is political force with which they are not
unacquainted. Johnson's policy was more
acceptable than Lincoln's, and as a reliable
Democrat killed off the Chief Magistrate in
as fine a tragic way as ever was seen. The
assassination of Ashburn and Richardson
in Georgia and the attempted murder of
Judge Bustead at Mobile are further exam
Piles Of the facility which the opposition par.
ty has acquired in the use of this Copper
head speciality. a. -.sal ......I..
But why should poor Seymour die, even in
the improbable event of his accession to the
Presidency? The revolution is in the
Democratic platform as unequivocally as in
Blair's letter, only lacking a little fullness of
detail, and Seymour adopts the platform. The
platform says that the reco Instruction laws are
Unconstitutional, revolutionary and void; !"
Seymour said in his speech accepting the NOM
ination, II accord with its, (the platiorm's)
views, stand upon its positions in this con-
test; and shall strive, whether in public or
in private life, to carry them into effect" If he
should as President fulfil tn at pledge there
would be no need to kill him to make room for
Blair, whose letter the Democracy EN- iorsed
and ratified by nominating him Immediately
after its reception.