The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-22
Whisky Frauds aud tue Internal ReTenVe
Department.

From 1.e NJ Y. Herald.
The report Of the Committee on Rstrench-
ment gives view Of whisky stealing to date,
dealing almost altogether with the question OF
the Presidents relation to the subject and
the Buckley muddle. II sets out by accus-
ing Mr.. Johnson of framing apologies for
official robbery by his declaration that the
removal of the robbers was beyond his power,
and charges him with shielding those whom
he might punish, and who, IL Is alleged, are
the more reckless in their villanies because
confident of his protection. The committee
charges Bnokley with corrupt practices In
Offering his assistance in the investigation OF
fraud only to fool the members and delay and
prevent their investigation until it should be
too late to make it effective, and with other
wise acting as a shield TO accused parties.
BincSley's expenses amounted to twenty-five
thousand dollars. The report regards Court
ney as ga faithful public officer" and the
movement for his removal as "base con-
spiracy." In short, all this portion Of tho
report presents the doings of Buckley and
Fitch as very rascally transactions, and seems
to regard thesPresident as cognizant OF the
rascality.
Enormous losses to the revenue are reported
as occurring through fraudulent, false gaug-
ing, case being given in which lot Of whisky
gauged for taxation was put down one thou
sand gallons short of its real quantity. 1t is
city, of stills fails because distillers by push
ing the processes oan produce third more
than a fair estimate, and thus the rogue has,
under the law, clear advantage over the
honest dealer. The provision of law to pre-
; vent fraud through rectifying houses is now
evaded by So bstituting for these compounding
houses. Two important points are touched
One is that under the tax of fifty cents more
revenue is collected from whisky than was
collected under the tax of two dollars. An
other is the effect Of the fraud on honest Off
GERS. "The most wonderful feature in the ex-
animation" says the report, sis the fear and
dread with which revenue officers discharge
their duty; and while they have willingness
10 expose frauds, they feel they are exposing
themselves to the vengeance of the whisky
ring and the risk of removal by the power Of
the very men they expose. Humiliating as is
the confession, honest officers know that they
incur the odium of the base without the COM
pensatipg advantages OF protection from the
head of the Government.
The following is printed in the report as the
opinion of Commissioner Rollins -
The chief obstacle to the full collection OF the
revenue lies In the character of the local Otf-
GERS. 1t is in the power of the assessor and col.
ector, with such assistants as the law allows,
to enforce the requirem ents of the law. These
| ofhceis should have the full confidence of the
| communities i'll which they strye, and possess
| alike integrity and ability. Their sHbordiuates
! should be men Of like character Wherever a
collection district is poorly oficered there will
| frauds abound and the service be disg esd.
! Tax payers in other districts, competing with
| those paying only q portion OF th6r indoDted.
! ness, are driven out OF business or to the com
mission OF fraud. The Commissioner should
have more than seeming power. This he once
had and exercised: He snould nave the control
of his subordinRtes and the support OF MS Supe
rior officers. If he is 10 have RESPONSIBILITY ne
! should Rave powers ard privileges"