New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-07
gliding IA Thus obtained. admitting Of high polish.
With silver AMI platinum salts similar results ere
obtained.
THERMAL REVENUE MISMANAGEMENT

INTERNAL REVENUE MISMASAGEMENr.
DECREASE IN THE TAXES COLLECTED ON DISTILLED
sPIRrTs-A DEFICIENCY or TEN MILLION GAIL
Ions IN 1878 As COMPARED WITH FORMER
YEARs-MAKING ENDS MEET IN THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT.
TO Ms EDITOR Of TAs Tr,oxns.
SIR 1t has now become question between tho
Administration and the people whether the ex-
travagance which has brought the Treasury To its
present straits is to cease, whether the people,
already overtaxed and heavily burdened, are to SEQ
old taxes raised, new ones imposed. and their bur-
dens made still more grevous. This Administra-
ton can never be justly accused OF economical ton
denotes or able nanciering, but not one-ha Of tho
truth in these matters is yet generally known For
q record of INSTRUMENTATION in tho collection OF
the revenues, let me commend your attention to the
following facts:
The Internal Revenue receipts from distilled spirits
have been as follows the first distilling not being
included:
iso....stS sa'Tss is2...-...'s .,ssl.s,s
During 1870 1871 and 1872 the tax was 80 cents per
gallon, with additional taxes known as the barrel
and per diem capacity taxes. making in all rate OF
about GA cents per gallon In 1873 the latter taxes
were abolished and the rate fixed at 10 cents por
gallon. Taking 10 cents per gallon as the rate tho
taxes would have been as follows on spirits proper
without stamps:
Is7o...S4oas.457 10 t1sT7.........Nbe0llen
1871 ....... Al ss9,s3l 81 1s73......-. 09is'iS ~
The S2.O67,6ll 50 difference in 1873 was for taxes
due to former years and for stamps. Or taking tho
number OF gallons zach year the figures are. ~
shown by the COMMISSIONER report
G,roua
20 '5,os
Average OF $50. and '7i.............. 6s,sO0oO,
Average OF isi2 and rs. ............ 81, oooooo
Average Of $50. II, T2--......-. -6,s0 o
deficiency Of "a 10 com'd with 70. 7il5.cooOe)
The latter test presents very clearly the actual
falling off in revenue for while in 1913 the receipts
we're larger than in 1871 by about S2.oo,OO' tho
number of gallons of spirits in 1878 nearly Soo).
900 less than that which tax paid in ISL and
the total sum was sweed in 1873 by receipt OF taxes
due to former years
Mr. Delano estimated in 1870 the annual product
at 100000 gallons and he collected taxes on moro
that r. 100000. Taking 80OO0OOO as the actual pro-
duct, Mr.. Douglass failed to collect the tax in 1873
on 100000 or 30 per cent Of the product In tho
face of this there were more stamps used IN 1913
than in either of the years 1870, 1871 and 1871 al
though these stamps represent quantity Distilled
and are considered very accurate test. Inc
"Warehousen "Rectifers" and "Wholesals
LIQUOR Dealers which were paid for by the con-
sumers thereof aggregated as follows
1870 ...,.... 32ss,sS3 1s73.-.--....-..--. 3l9tS
1871 ...... 3,033,7Os 1sT3............... i1ol9i5
One million more in 1873 than the average of 1870
1871. and 1872, and yet smaller number Of gallons
was taxed in 1873
The foregoing shows large falling-of in 1873 OF
taxable gallons compared with 1870. 1871, ana 1917.
and that is the main fact. Delano, In his estimate
of SO.OOOOOO was shrewd, because he had collected
on 77.OOOOOO That the annual product Is much
greater than Delanos estimate no one who has any
personal knowledge Of the distiling business OF the
whole country has any doubt. and it is said to have
been in excess Of 1OOOOO0OO in 1872 by one who had
a very intimate knowledge of what was produced
that fiscal year. Again. we hear through tho press
of all the captures of tho tea-kette dis
tilleries of the mountain districts OF Ten
nessee; but in case like that of the
Antioch distilery in California. where hundreds
of thousands of dollars of revenue are lost to the
Treasury, there is no mention Of fraud Of any
Importance, because it reflects too seriously upon
tho impotent head of the office. Mr. Douglass. "
save his reputation, forced tho collection OF two
annual special taxes into the fiscal year 1873; that
is to say in former years the annual lists of the
assessor did not come into the collectors hands
until after the expiration Of the fiscal year in which
the assessments were made so that the collection
of the special taxes of 1872 mostly carried TO
the credit of 1873, and in the Spring of 1873 he
hurried up the special taxes so that they wers
mostly carried to the credit Of the same fiscal year
That was good generalship for the time being; but
what will the year 1874 do unless be can also hurry
lect X.
N T.,