The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-03-16
THE WHISKY FRAUDS.

The Committee on Retreuchment presented,
some days ago, a report on the whisky frauds.
II contains some disclosures OF q nature caleu-
lated to arouse the tax.paying community, and,
we trust, 1t will lead to a much-needed reform.
We doubt II q parallel Of fraud and corrup.
ton can be furnished in any country on the
globe, which, for downright swindling, is at all
comparable to this.
Mr. Van Wyck lays bare a systematic series
Of operations on the part of the whisky rings
and rascally inspectors which must strike the
country with alarm.
In New York city In lsGo there were some ten
or twelve distilleries. There are now in that
-.'g -~'S.'' n."ufeu al r-ii OiHst lhere are
other portions OF the country where this bust
these places being now blessed with honest as
SCISSORS and collectors, the manufacture OF
whisky has almost entirely ceased
1t has been clearly ascertained that in this
country some 100000 900 gallons OF whisky are
annually manufactured. This amount, at "
pergalon the legal tax ought to yield 500 900
but the amount actually collected will not ex.
coed s2j, 900 900. One would naturally suppose
that such a wholesale swindling operation as
this, which takes from the Government slT5,-
VOOOOO every year, would be broken up, the
rogues detected, brought to Judgment and pun
ished. But how is 1t, Mr.. Van wyek says:
Not a single criminal has been compelled to
disgOrge the fruits of his crime; not one victim
10 suffer the pains and penalties of the violated
laws"
1t has been stated again and sga ain, asd on good
authority too, that both the Secretary Of the
Treasury and the Commissioner of Internal Rev
enue have repeatedly urged the oval OF these
dishonest revenue officers, but up to this hour
nothing has been done to rid the public service Of
these Thoroughbred rogues.
Ia ~ aLaa .pI aArlp
charges against the President, accusing him OF
protecting and keeping in office band OF bad
and corrupt men. Commissioner Rollins test-
fed before the committee that millions had been
lost to the country through these treacherous
officials 1t is moreover stated that the President
has been urged to remove these men, but the
committee assert that he Islands like adamant
TO protect his friends in office and that the Com
missioner and Secretary are powerless."
Mr.. Van Wyck is responsible for the following:
lie says, that sin the autumn oflses, some friends
OF the President from Washington called on col
lectors and assessoIs, requesting from each con-
trIGution Of 5000, when 1t was known that the
annual salary Of each, II honest, did not much
exceed that sum. Was not that an intimation
that an attempt on their part to obtain more than
the legal salary would not be severely criticised
At headquartersr
As a public journalists and as friend Of the
people who are called upon to bear such griey-
Gus burdens in the shape Of taxation, we feel 1t
to be our clear duty to make known to the pub
lie these facts. Let the blame fall where it be.
longs.
Doubtless there are defects In the law, and
several Of its provisions are easily evaded, and
the system Of collection has been such as to re.
quire an army of officials, a large number OF
whom have sought these places in order to rob
the Government, and to thereby enrich them.
selves and friends.
Mr.. Van Wyck gives some good advice. His
suggestion is that the system of collection be
Blmplifed by abollshing altogether the ware.
houses, and this of itself would get rid OF a
swarm Of rapacious thieves. Mr.. Van Wyei
would reduce the tax to fifty cents, estimate thu
capacity of the STILL and collect the tax at onc'
and on the spot
But in our judgment the thing to be done, ant
done as soon AS possible, is to simplify the law
get rid of the corrupt officials, appoint homes
men, and make the penalty SO stringent tina
none will dare to violate the law.
Surprising the amount Of whisky distilled IL
this country to be 100 600, 900 gallons, a tax o
nifty cents per gallon will yield go 900 900 In rev
enue. But few persons will feel disposed Il
eyadc the law If the tax imposed be only hft!
cents on the gallon, and doubtless the revenu
from this source will be amply sufficient to NEE
the demands Of the Government.