New-York tribune., 1869-03-30
From The New-York Tribune, March is, 1868.
THE WHISKY SEIZITRES

The frequent seizures of distilleries and rec
tlfying houses made during the present week and duly
chroncled The TRIBUNE have excited general inquiry
to the disposition made OF seizures formerly published
but which have no place upon court records The pub
c at least the great body Of the people, who have no
special interest in the transactions of officers
and the operations Of dstillers and rectifers
manufacture OF whisky and collection OF the tax should
be enforced like laws bearing upon similar articles % o.
very few exceptions the announcement OF seizure
the first, last and only publication concerning IT, TINS
week is not one which has been specially devoted 10
raids During last summer, and througnouuII uI
the FAN and Winter. II TRIBUNE readers ie will Will
but recoect the seizures were published OF the houses
OF Pike Co, Gordon. Fellows Mcmillan, Kerr
Haas, Joseph Jones' Joseph Ross, Ambrose O,Nell,
reference to the es have an impression that these
Collector or under his orders and that the seizures were
rated and that a condemnation OF the properties would
law according TO the supposition Although sufficient
time has elapsed for the courts TO take eognzance II e
several brought their notice. the understand
ing another mode Of procedure was preferred and
the courts not troubled with consideration them
ton commit fraud upon the revenue. however agree
able t may be to the accused. Seizures are made at
difficult to believe that all persons mentioned as
guilty OF violations Of the law. are really so; ana
this hesitancy would seem to be justified by
cations. Moreover, 1t does not follow because
merchant Is willing to pay $4,000 or soOG TO & regain S
valued sl5O,0OO 100000. that he confesses TO
fraud that extent for every business man VINO Is al al
con yersant with OF capital invested In the
extensive rectfyng houses knows that 10 keep at
capta and the contents locked for even co days de-
prlying the owners ofls and scattering their Gus
toners Is tantamount to condemnation by the courts
of the whole amount involved, even II the proprietor
should be proven guilty Of hagrant violation OF
the aw This may be one reasOn-at least, we are quite
willing to so understand II, however inconsistent win
equity the proceeding may be-that the Mesrs Pike
Co should consent to compromise that would restore
TO them their properties, estimated at sl5OOO Dy the
$4,000 that the Meeers JOfuOn, FELLOWS
4 Mcmillan were willing pay $500 to regain posses
sion OF whisky valued at less than s2500O; or that
Kerr was anxious business with his SlOOOOO
worth OF stock by the simple deposit OF s2o'OOO;
or that Joseph Jones paid $500 (Or, as some
people estimate, s2O,OOO), 10 have tho pleasure
OF accommodating his customers out OF SoOO WOrlD OF
whisky; or that Haas should pay 81 900, Joseph Ross
s OOO Ambrose ONell 81 800, and Fisher Boyer O,
10 be enabled prosecute their several occupations
The remaining OF Hoheimer Somers has not yet
been arranged but perhaps will be as soon as the re-
qurement OF the Treasury regulations IS compned Wlth
that seizure made by Collector in district other than
his own shall be reported to the Collector OF the district
in which the seizure occurred then the pro rata compo
mice will be effected In this case as IN tne others " tue
person in ard the person claiming possession These
eompronises may be according to law or regulation,
or with the approval OF the Secretary OF tho Treasury
but either regulation law by Its phrase00gy, may
he so construed perverted as 10 constitute Que man,
however pure he may be, the prosecuting oncer, tne
tury and the indge, II Ia about time the law or regua
zion were revised IL best interests OF the Treasury
Department aud the mercantile community are 10 be
buDserYed.