The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-19
The Heve~pe FrRuds-Letter from Com mis-
slOner ROllinA to Secretary MoCuIIOeh.

Among tie letters from Hon. E. A. Rollins. com.
missioner Of internal revenue, TO the secretary of
the treasury, called ont by resolution of the
senate, the following was laid before that body
on the l4ih:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 3d. 1867.
Sri beg to call your earnest attention again
& the subject Of frauds upon the revenue in tie
collection of the tax pom distilled spirits. These
I auds have become so monstrous as TO excite
serious alarm, and unless they can be suppressed
or materially checked, will still further reduce
the revenue and bring disgrace upon the Office
and upon the treasury department. | know Of
no way TO suppress or check them otherwise than
by insisting upon increased fidelity and vigilance
on the part Of all who are iutfusted with the
execution Of the laws, especially on tbs part
Of assessors and collectors in the several districts
were frauds are perpetrated, as through them
alone can their subordinate officers be practically
reached. | stated in o letter from this Office al
dressed 10 collectors OF internal revenue, and
bearing date of the 18th OF May last " am in
sructed by the secretary of the treasury to say
that in any district in which these frauds continue
he will consider it his duty to see that such
changes made in the officers of the district as
may give promise OF grester energy and fidelity
These instructions we're based upon the idea tnat
assessors and collectors should be held respOns bic
for the suppression of fraud in their several dis
Ircis, and that a failure TO suppress or check
them should be considered as evidence either Of
the incompetency of the officers or their COM
p lefty with the parties engaged in the irAu1ss
III many ulslilClhs rs l hdNs stlleu 10
you before and as you are aware, officers are in-
competent or unfaithful, and in others they are
corrupt. FOR time hoped that good results
might follow from the appointment of special
agents and inspectors, bat there is reason ieac
that many of these have yielded 10 Temptation,
and as their number has been multiplied. the
frauds seem TO have increased. An efficient
remedy is imperatvely demanded. No legisla
tion, however stringent, can avail without honest
and capable officers, and see no reason TO change
the views have 20 often expressed TO yOu that
dishonest and Inefficient officers must be removed
and men OF integrity and superior ability sp.
pointed m their place. | therefore respectfully
refer you again 10 my communication Of the 18TH
July last, in which recommended tAe retirement
OF several officers therein named. have seen no
reason 10 change that recommendation, aud now
/ earnestly renew it, and, in addition TO tue
changes proposed, / earnestly recommend that
successors be appointed TO james b. Steadman,
collector for the first Louisiana district; John 81.
COssman, collector for the third Missouri Orvin
l.. Mann, collector for the first Illinois; Wm. II.
Mccartney, collector for the third Massachusetts,;
Thomas OCalahan, collector for the ninth New
York; Samuel NJ. SuGick, collector for the third
Pennsylvania; Chss. Abel, collector for the first
Pennsylvania; Vim. o. Collins, collector FOR the
sixth Ohio; Alex. II. Hall, assessor for the tirst
Mississippi; Nm. 5. King, assessor for the third
N ssachusetts.
The secretary, the president and country, uoder
proper organization Of my Office, would have
right TO hold me, as commissioner OF Internal
revenue, ftspon-lOle IOr lhb lalhtul tAeCutipn vi
the revenue laws. The efficient discharge OF
those duties on my part il absolutely impossible,
il subordinate officers, through whom alone the
laws can be enforced and tax collected, fail, from
any cause whatever, 20 enforce the laws AID col
lect the tax. T. therefore. feeit my duty to again
call your attention re this important subject that
you may know why these frauds are continued,
and 10 urge upon your immediate application Of
the only remedy within my knowledge for their
correction, namely, the retirement OF officers
found 20 be inefficient or unfaithful and the sub
stitution Of faithful and efficient men ia their
places. Other changes should be made, aud will
be formally submitted whenever the recon menda-
lions here made, aud those already before you,
shall have been acted upon.
TIE best interests Of the revenue require me
also TO call your attention to several vacancies in
the Office Of assessor, referred TO in my letter VI
July last, which still remain untitled.
lam, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T. A ROLLINS, Commissioner.