The New York herald., 1870-03-29

Operations OF a Known Internal Itcvenuo
Deiauiicr-lnternni Revenue Raids In the
Southern States-Ths Meter Businoss-rho
Howiett Casc-IrresponsiblO OGicials-Aboli-
tion Of tho Internal Revenue Bureau Do
mnnded.
WASHINGTON March 2s, 1870.
The Bailey and other internal revenue
troubles must not be regarded as anything new or
perhaps serious. They are nothing but external In
ocatons OF the chronic corruption that pervades our
entire internal revenue system, which will occa-
slonally appear in spite OF the most vigorous appi
cation OF plastcrs and other external remedies by tho
official quacks who control the bureau. One OF the
most startling features OF the Bailey frauds Is the
brazen- -facedness OF the defence. The lobby organ
Of Saturday puts forth tho following:-
When Mr.. Bailey was first made Collector he sent
for Mr.. Childs and appointed him deputy. When
was likely TO become known to Mr.. Cnilus he volun-
tarliy connded TO him the facs that he was de-
right II II could be concealed Tor year. Mr. Chids.
having the utmost confidence In the man whom he
loved ~ his own son, consented 20 keep the secret
and to aid hum IN covering It." This he did re-
to make good the amount. To the last no had isilh
In Mr. Bailey, and does not now believe that he In
tended TO defraud the government.
In other words Mr.. Bailey merely "borrowed,
from the gov ernment, intending to make 1t up with
the proceeds OF his raids upon the business men OF
New York We are told by the lobby organ tnat Mr..
Bailey ibid not intend to dcfraud the government
but can scarcely put on the face to pretend that
did not defraud and rob the business men OF New
York, whose shoes he Is unworthy TO unloose. L
merely mention the Bailey case in passing because
It IS near home. 1t Is OF very little importance In
comparison with others, as can be proved BY the
nles OF the Internal Revenue Bureau.
For downright wholesale robbery we must look at
the operations OF the internal oicers in our
Weatarn Southern Ho, att
case, for example II exhibits q sample OF the
general operations OF the internal reven ocors as
well as any.
Farley l. Hewlett was q wel-to-do distller in
Sangamon county. Ill, about the sort OF man =
collector VINO wanted to make raids for the purpose
OF covering In" defalcations would IKE TO see.
The act OF Congress Of March, 1857, authorzes the
Secretary or the Treasury Ito adopt procure aud
quallty or amount OF spirits subject TO tax on the
l4tn day or May the same year, the Collector OF In
terna Revenue Demanded OF Mr.. Howett the pay.
ment OF $4,000 for two meters, the estimated cost OF
which was. according TO circular 1000 each, stat
Ing at the time that the meters could not be manu-
facufed and delivered In less Than slX months from
that date.
Mr.. Hewlett expressed his willingness ana anxiety
TO procure and pay FOR the meters, bur demonstrated
against the wholly unlawful exaction OF part pay
Dent six months in advance OF delivery or even OF
$500 above the price; and finally knowing there
was no law 10 enforce IT, refused to
next day the Collector closed the distlllery and
shortly afterwards, upon some pretext, seized II,
and 10 THIS Gay Mr. H0wlett mas been unable 10 re-
gam his property. Tne tried IN the United
States Circuit Court and the seizure adjudged illegal.
Tne Collector prayed the court for probable cause,
which was refused by the court. Nevertheless the
Internal revenue Bureau still keeps possession OF
The property Dy some hook or crook that cannot
learn ana Mr. Hewlett, unless he gets MS rights, Is
ruined man. His case ID no worse tnan tens OF
thousands OF other men whose business has been
destroyed aud ruined because they would not will
lngy submit to the illegal and arbitrary exactions OF
irresponsible ana corrupt internal revenue ofclals.
need not multiply examples since New York has
been for months past edi1ed by the spectacle vi
known internal revenue defautcr rai0ing among
your own business men for money to cover" has
detalcatonA
In the southern States the internal revenue
officers accompanied their raids By squads or
cavalry, and their reports to Commissioner Deano
Of property seized or destroyed and lives taken or
put in jeopardy read very much Ike the accounts or
British tax gatherers In ireland and India.
IL IL unquestionaby the duty o. commissioner
Delano 10 that the revenue does not sun.r ifon
any lax interpretation o. the law, but many OF his
rulings alike arbitrary and illegal and give his
irresponsible sub0rdnates every possible opportu
nifty 10 blackmall the honest and Industrious. HIS
attempt TO lobby through Congress the resolution
extending the income tax another year was botl
decisions.
There Is one plain and simple remedy for all our
Internal revenue troubles Abolish the whole sys-
tenn with its myriad OF anizaries and apportion lae
collection OF whatever internal tax the national gov
| ernment may require among tue several States.
| Thus IL what II must como to- The sooner the
| better.
MATER FOR SAN FRANCISCO o-Therc Is before tho