Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-09-07

similar result, though L have selected
for contrast the two articles present the
most striking illustration of wasteful
ness and peculation ON the one hand,
and an improved economy on the 9th
er.
Thus you will observe that the seven,
ty-eight millions exempted from arti-
cles previously taxed has been recover,
ed, and its loss counterbalanced by
faithfully enforcing the revenue laws
and honestly accounting for the money
collected.
Observe further, that in 1868, in the
last administration, the expenses of the
internal revenue bureau were S., S,397,.
793, IL ,:.while for the first year of this
administration, the same expenses
were reduced to s6,919, ,4eO,22, making
a gross reduction of the cost Of collect
ing the revenue of $2,471, 1926
desire here to correct a falls impreS-
sion put forth by democratic speaker:
of the defalcation of revenue collectors
and the. large amounts due from them
to the government.
The democratic congressional address
issued from Washington in March last
states that twenty-five millions have
been thus lost to the treasury. II
needs but brief explanation to cor
rect the error. The law requires col
lectors to receipt monthly to assessors
for the amount of tax lists turned over
for collection. The lists thus received
and receipted for by the collector are
are charged against him at the treasury
department, and so remain charged
until accounted for, either by money
collected or by abatement, as uncollect-
able, in the tax lists in the hands of his
successor Their accounts are, therefor,
frequently charged with large sums
not collectable, and for which treasury
department does not expect, nor does
it desire, to hold them responsible
On final settlement they are credited
with all taxes uncollectable, and their
liability, which appeared large on the
books of the treasury, in fact may
have been nothing.
The frequent delays in settling Of
ficers' accounts, owing to deaths, resig-
nations and removals from office, caus-
e5 the apparent balance to be reported
against them.
From recent official report, itap-
pears that the cash balances against col
lectors reach the exact sum of$2, 1884,
397, 83, less than one-siXth of one per
cent. of thefinternal revenue collect
ions; and these balances are secured by
sufficient bonds in penalties amounting
to ten million of dollars. The truth,
then, only lacks twenty-three and a
half millions of the democratic story.
But who are these defaulters, and
whose administrative service did they
perform?
The balances are charged against COL
Iectors during their official term, as fol-
lows:
To collectors appointed Iby president
Lincoln S6JO, ,Ooo
To collectors appointed by President
Johuson 81 ,Sl3756 IL
To collectors appointed by President
So4,0oi 70
Ofthe yearly excise of one hundred
and eighty-five million of dollars gath
cred by President Grants collectors,
there remain but sixty-four thousand
five hundred and eighty-one dollars
and seventy-six cents notpaid over to
the treasury. Whethers or not this
fact will shut the mouth of complaint
anddetraetion, itshows a decent and
unexampled respect for official obliga-
tions and accountability not tobe found
in the financial history of any former
CUSTOM REVENUE.
A similar detailed examination and
comparison of the revenue from Gus
toms, and of the expenses of that
branch of the service, will be attended
with like results, thus showing the SUI
periority of this administration in all
of the revenue. The hour
will not permit heightened statement,
but will refer hastily to the Subject.
During the fiscal year 1S67-68 the re-
ceipts from customs were as follows:
For 4b4 oO9 %
Total for two years s3SO, ,SS2, ,4I9 A
During the fiscal year 1901 the re-
ceipts were as follows:
For 1S7l.-......... 80, ,2I0,4OS 10
a net gain in the revenues
from customs for the first two years of
the present administration over the
last two years of the last administration
of $59, 1926, ,372 05.
1:&4Io l., 4I,o-,