The Portland daily press., 1871-07-17
For Governor:
Sidney PERHAW,
al fga SD .t. OF PARIS
Another Arsumensts) Related

The recent address of the Democratic Con- |
gressional Committee states that the govern
ment has lost through the defalcatiOn of tax
collectors twenty-five millions dollars. Gen.
Morgan, on the Ohio stump, puts the loss at
twenty millions. The Washington correspon-
dent of the Boston Advertiser, WHO has am
pie facilities for obtaining correct information.
calls attention to this falsehood, and then pro-
ceeds to show to what straits the party man
ayers are driven to make such representa-
ton. The Advertiser says:
"The simple state of facts is as follows: Col.
!ectors OF internal revenue are obliged accord
iag 60 law to receipt monthly to the assessors
Tor the various lists of taxes turned over to
them for collection. The internal revenue
bureau charges the aggregate amount of these
1lsts 70 the collector, who receipts for the same
Until they are accounted for, either by money
deposited, or by claims that cannot be collect
ed. These amounts remain charged to the
assessors, even though he resigns or is remov-
I'D from Office For instance, John James,
collector, receipts for taxes on lists turned over
20 him by the assessor to the amount OF $loo,,
COO When he has collected and deposited
$4,000 of the sum he is removed from Office
He turns over to his successor uncollected taxes
to the amount of 100000 but he has received
credit here for only $4,000, the uncollected
SoA0c eLonoACtAOu TomdluluS Cudrg6u 10 MN Till
his successor has collected them, or accounted
for them by claims which cannot be collected.
While this $lOO, 900 is uncollected, James ac-
counts in the internal revenue bureau show
MIN to be in default,and still the entire amount
may and usually is collected, and whether it is
or not, be is powerless and blameless. By the
system of keeping the accounts large balances
are found upon the revenue bureau books
against ex-colectors who do not owe the gov
eminent anything, and it is these balances
tlr
to month by the charges of new lists and the
credit of deposits which the democratic organs
and orators are holding up to the country as
defalcations. By an official report the real
cash balances aginst ex-collectors amount to
just 81, 768 1891. SO, which is less than one-sxth
of one per cent. of the taxes collected under
the internal revenue laws, and this sum is Sc.
cured to the government by good bonds
amounting to ten million dollars. Of the total
defalcatiOns stated there is overdue from col
lectors appointed by johnson, $1,813,757 p
from collectors appointed by Lincoln, $3.50,
V66 VI, and from collectors appointed by Grant
64,6T.76, or less than one-fortieth of thu
WHOLE The revenue receipts show in the same
favorable light In 1868, johnson had com
plete power over the bureau Spirits were
taxed two dollars gallon, tobacco 40 cents {
pound, and cotton from Q IL to 3 cents {
- pound. There were also taxes on boots, shoes
cloths. clothing, confectionery, furniture, iror
IN ell its various stages Of manufacture, leather
and saddlery, sugar, soap, fermented liquors
banks, sales, licenses and innumerabe other
OBJECTS The entire receipts for that year 1868
were were 3nly $l91 1s0,5e4 %. With the begin
went into effect. The whiskey tax was reduc.
5 ed to 90 cents gallon, the tobacco tax to 80
cents pound, and all taxes upon cotton. boots,
shoes, cloths, clothing, furniture and more
than one hundred other articles were removed
wholly. With the collections made by John.
son 90 basis, this was expected to take from
the revenue on whiskey, $13, 500, 900; tobacco
j 100000, 900, or $7S,OOO,OOO in all. Instead o
this reduction, by the appointment of honest
onicials and the collection of taxes from rogue.
who had escaped previously and thrown tn.
who'd burden upon few taxpayers, the re
ceipts on wniskey were increased $37, 900 OO(
Per annum over 1858; on tobacco, $l3, 900 900
and so on through the list. the $4,000, 600 re
auctlon anticipated being prevented by the
honest enforcement of the law. In 1868 il
cost to collect the revenue So, 1893 IL: during
Grants hrst year of Office it cost So, GIG, 40 %