The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-04
LATEST NEWS.
FROM WASHINGTON.
Internal Revenue Statistics.

Washington, Dec. 2.-1he report of the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue aggre-
gates the receipts OF the fiscal year at
$144, 900, 900; estimated receipts of the
current year, 1925, 100000.
The number of distilleries registered is
l,043, producing 45, 800, 900 taxable gall
Ions. The fruit distillation aggregates p
125,OOO gallons.
The total receipts from tobacco are $33,-
100000, an increase of s2,250,000. The
total yield of tobacco is nearly l06 ,000, 900
pounds, of which 10000, 900 pounds were
exported. The number Of cigars, cheroots,
&C., upon which tax was collected, was
], 1885,, 100000.
The continuance of the present system
of stamps is recommended. The commits
sioner also recommended uniform tax of
thirty-two cents per pound on tobacco o
special tax on peddars of fifteen, twenty
five and fifty dollars, increasing with the
number of animals used by them a special
tax of $500 on persons who sell raw or leaf
tobacco to others than those who have paid
the special tax, or who shall sell leaf to-
bacco in quantities less than twenty-five
pounds. This would protect the manufac-
turers and increase the revenue.
The abolition Of the present system ofex-
port bonded warehouses is suggested in the
interest of manufacturers and the govern
ment. Drawbacks to be allowed upon
proof that the goods landed abroad loss
at sea also emitting the shipper to draw
back.
The government has gained 1882 and
lost 456 revenue suits. s
The seizures of property for violation of
the revenue laws aggregate S9l5 200.
The early disposal of lands acquired by
direct taxes is recommended.
The commissioner, upon the results of
uniform tax at different rates, says: From
the table presented in this report it will be
seen that more than two-thirds of the mar
ufactured tobacco which reached taxation
during the fiscal year, paid the tax of 30
cents per pound yielding four-fifths of the
revenue which was collected directly from
the article by stamps. Had tax been
collected at uniform rate of 80 cents on the
entire product Of manufactured tobacco
which reached taxation during the last fis-
cal year, the receipts therefrom would have
reached $50, ,443 ,06l.2S.
Added to this sum the taxes collected on
cigars, the special taxes Of manufacturers
of tobacco and cigars, the dealers in leaf
and manufactured tobacco, &c., the total
receipts would have been S3S, ,46l ,72S. 10.
Similar calculations show that the uniform
receipts per pound on the same quality
would have realized the sum of $50, $780,
SS8.47, and that uniform rate of l6 cents
per pound would have realized the sum of
S23, ,240, ,048. Is.
Thus it will be seen that on the assump-
ton, that the same number of pounds
would have reached taxation had the rate
of tax been uniform either at lG, "a or 32
cents per pound, a uniform rate of 32 cents
would have increased the revenues by the
sum of $4,SS2 ,S21.61; while uniform
rate of "a or 16 cents would have dimin-
ished those receipts in the sums respective
ly Of So, ,72s, ,0lS.71 and $40, 1886, ,Ss9.03.
The commissioner suggests "a cents, but
under the probable decrease from other
sources rather fayors 32 cents per pound
as the uniform tax.
Commissioner Douglas concludes his par
agraph regarding the uniform tax on tobac-
co thus: "My own opinion is that with our
tax at twenty-four cents, taking into ac-
count the natural increase of the revenue,
as shown between the collections of pre-
ceding years, with the advantage Of the
legislation hereafter recommended, we
shall be able to keep up the collections
on tobacco up to those under the present
rates.
"rhis recommendation, however, is made
without regard to its relation to future total
revenue receipts.
''If it should be the opinion of Congress
that the yield of revenue from internal
taxes should not be materially decreased,
then to accomplish the desirable results ex-
pected from a consolidation of the tax on
tobacco and to compensate in part to the
revenue, the expected large loss from the
expiration of the income tax during the
current fiscal year, and the future material
loss from articles and occupations formerly
taxed, but now exempt, rapidly decreas-
ing item, of course, would advise consol.-
dation of the tobacco tax at 32 cents per
pound"
Commissioner makes no suggestions re-
garding the whiskey tax. He urges legis-
lation for the disposal of damaged tobacco
which will not realize taxes, and for relief
in cases where stamps are lost from pack
ages by accident.
The accounts of $50 ex-tax collectors are
still unsettled, of which l15 have been
placed IN the hands OF attorney.
General News
Washmgtoa, d. c. Dec. 3.--Only about
twenty claims have as yet been presented
to the United States and British Commits
sion.
At the meeting on Wednesday important
questions will be considered, as various
claims of British subjects heretofore adjudi
Gated in the Supreme Court and Court o
Claims, may now be presented to the Com
mission.
A rule will be established concernin,
them.
The Treasury buys million of bond
every Wednesday and sells million o
gold every Thursday during December.
The Secretary Of the Treasury has order
ed papers to be issued to the schooner Hor
ton, recently seized at Gloucester.
Michael Stroham, Implicated with Stoke
in the Tennessee bounty frauds, has al
rived here and been jailed.