The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-04-28
VIRGINIA NEWS.
About Internal Revenue-HOw and by
Whom 1T is Collected.
For tic Dispatch.

From time to time we find in our ex
changes little paragraphs showing how
much the State of Virginia is now made
annually, TO pay of internal revenue taxes
for the support of Government in advance
of what was paid here in other years. The
chief source of income seems to be the to-
bacco tax; and while, as inhabitants ol
Virginia, our vanity may be tickled upon
hearing that this State, dismembered and
down-troddcn as she is, today yields more
in taxes upon these actual products, thrown
into the lap of manufacturing industry,
than any other State standing in ever so full
communion with those which unite in re-
fusing to accord to this Commonwealth It's
equal rights in the general sisterhood, it i
not to be denied that our producers, ma
nufacturers, and dealers, find themselves
continually subjected to that sort of inqui.
sition and understandable interference in
their business on the part of Government
officials as to become at times intolerable.
1t would seem to be good policy upon the
part of the General Government to cherish
an interest from which it derives such vas,
income, and to treat those engaged in fos'
tering it with at least reasonable degree ot
consideration and protection. But, unfor.
tunately, the fact is that no such considera.
ton is afforded, or not afforded until relief
comes quite too late. AS now organized, the
Bureau Of Internal Revenue, although In
tcnscly consolidated, and having but one
head to its million arms, shows itself unable
or incapable OF proper protection OF the
rights of those involved. 1t is lamentably
the case that the Central Department, having
appointed some person rs collector, or SUI
pervisior, or assessor, or detective, leaves
each almost unlimited authority to hang
draw, and quarter and if poor accused
"wrctch," however innocent, complains.
and wishes to be heard ut headquarters, hi:
application is either forgotten, overlooked
delayed, or finally referred for determine
ton to the very party from whom the ap
peal was made.
Not long ago the manufacturers Of to-
bacco in this city were exceedingly annoy.
ed by the unwarranted seizure by Collector
Bailey Of their tobacco which had been
shipped to New York. Upon presentation
of their case at the Department it was re-
ferred to Collector Bailey for his opinion
That officer, the pet of the Department, In
his characteristic black-mailing way, higgled
about the business, and delayed making
chants were seriously crippled in their bu.
siness, put to great expense in procuring
counsel and visiting Washington, and
| almost driven from a market in which their
goods were naturally held in suspicion.
Of course it turned out that the seizure
was causeless, and like many other seizures
made by this same Bailey for the same pur,
pose, involving millions, as we aretold, tel
to the ground.
With the sudden fiasco and disappearance
Of Bailey from the scene, leaving his bonds
| men in the lurch to an unknown amount
the question arises whether it would not be
quite as wise and far less owlish on the par
of the authorities to set their detectives tx
watclr the very officers of the department
| rather than send through all the country
hordes Of paid agents to spy out if some
man has not failed to cross ''t'' in some Q
his entries in book, or omitted to do some
little insignificant thing which may be tor
| tured into a technical violation Of pena
statute. 1t is beneath the dignity of a poWe
| which, however disagreeabie may be th'
exercise of its office, still seeks to be wor
thy of respect, to allow, or in any way en-
courage, by mOieties or otherwise, men to g
about and designedly induce persons entire
" innocent of guilty intent, to violat,
some word of a law Of which they neve'
dreamed.