The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-18

According b the report Of the commissioa-
er OF Internal Revenue, the receipts from all
sources, exclusive Of the tax ON b lnk circuls-
ton aud deposits, for the fiscal year ending
June 30tb, 1852, were 8 100, O39 ,344.28. This
includlea the sunls refunded for taxes illegally
assessed and -a0llectSta. amounting "a $780,.
235.l2, nearly all Of which was for taxes NJ
sessed aud collected on previous years. qo
The receipts for the current year are esti-
mated vt $l75 900, 600; receipts for the first
six months Of the fscal years 1868 and 1869
are compared, and y comparative statement il
! submitted, showing the total receipts from the
same general sources OF taxation Tor the first
six months of the fiscal year 1868 to have been
$66, no. 900; for the first six months of the
fiscal year 1869, SCI. 1896, 1893; total gain for
first six months OF 1869, Sl,lS6,358. For the
last six months Of the fiscal year 1868, the re.
ceipts from the saue general sources were
$64 ,479, 94S; same period 1869, $9O.542. 76O ;
gain, 1869, $2G,O62. Sl2. Receipts from the
| same general sources tor the six months end
ing September 3Dth, 1869, were $l04,377. $50;
for same period 1868, $So,542,OS2. The total
receipts for the first quarter OF the fiscal year
1870, from. June 3Oth to September 3Oth,
1869, show an aggregate OF x46,64l, AIS,
against $3S, 62O, 1893 for the same months in
the preceding year. The aggregate receipts
from June Both to November 30lh, 1869, are
$74,Sl6, 7O4, against 500, 3s5,47l, of the same
months in the preceding year. m
The number OF gallons of spirits in bonded
warehouse, produced before July LIST, 1868,
was 24,5l6,637. The number of gallons pro-
duced from July Goth, 1868, to June 3Uth,
1859, was 81, 575,4l7, showing that from June
3Oth, 1868, to June 3Uth, 1859, tie tax was
collected on q? ,092,5l7 gallons, which was
o., 1882 ,87l more gallons than paid tax in
1867. During the eleven months ending June
SOth, 1869, there were produced and the tax
collected on 37,575,7o3 gallons of spirits,
which, with l6,6j3,S3S gallons remaining in
bond, shows 4 total product for the eleven
months of "a ,239,G2l gallons, equal to nearly
$4,000, 900 for the whole year. This however,
the Commissioner does not believe includes
all the spirits actually distilled.
Hitherto, in surveying distilleries the aver
age termenting period was seventy whine hours.
under this rule 1914 distilleries have been OBJ
Grated, having total MASKING and termenting
capacity OF $50, 155 bushels of grain in twenty =
four hours, and a spirit producing capacity Of
473,66G gallons for the same time Four hun
dred and torty-four OF the distllleries are now
in operation and the Others are temporarily
suspended. Having become convinced that
seventy.nine hours was too long for q ferment-
ing period, and that frauds were perpetrated.
forty-eight hours has been fixed as basis.
and, by this resurvey, the present capacity Of
1854 distileries IS 677 942 gallons every twenty
four hours This change will not only in.
crease the revenue, but prevent frauds. The
repeal Of all deductions on account of leak age
on spirits in bond is regarded as wholesome
reform. The Commissioner estimates the an
nual production Of spirits at $4,000, 700 gal
Ions year, which ought to produce $4,000
0OO OF revenue. He thinks it possible to so
execute the law as to secure $4,000, 900 of
tax annually. He advises against an essential
change in the law, until its provisions have
had further practical test
The number of cigars returned for taxation
In 1863, at ~ average tax of IS per 1000,
was 99l ,535 1914, against 347 44s,S9l in 1866,
when the tax was $40 per 1000. The Com.
missioner advises that no change be made in
the law respecting tax on tobacco.
The receipts for stamps since March, 1869,
exceed by nearly million of dollars the re.
ceipts for the same period of last year.
The Commissioner regrets his inability to
recommend any satisfactory plan to prevent
frauds and evasions in the use of stamps.
The receipts from income tax for the wear
ls6a are va, 100000, against S2339O, 900 for
the preceding year. The Commissioner is of
the opinion that, rs long as large revenue is
needed, the Income tax ought to be continued,
and as it expires by limitation next year ne
recommends that it be renewed by Congress
at the approaching session.
he advises that the appointments of super.
visOrs OF the revenue be vested in the Presi-
dent, that an increase of the salary be piyen
and that the Office of Revenue Detective be
changed to that of Assistant Supervisor. He
says that where honest and efficient officers
have been placed the taxes have been prompt
y assessed and collected.
The Commissioner is of the opinion that Us
30 per cent. of the entire receipts was collect
cd from few objects, all of which may be
classed rs Injuries or as the accumulated and
associated wealth of the country, the Revenue
law is not unjust or burdensome and he
thinks that, fairly administered, $l73,OOO,0 900
may be collected annually from spirits, tobac-
co, fermented liquors, incomes, salaries,
stamps, banks, legacies, and gas companies.
He is o! the opinion that the Tice meters in
dlstileries have failed to accomplish the de-
sired end, but has appointed commission to
practically test their efficiency.
The expense Of collecting the revenue for
the year was $5,7S5,477, reduction of ST..
991, 1897 from the expense of the preceding
year. The number of officers EMPLOYED, re.
porting to the bureau, is 6,O03.