, 1875-11-07

The following correspondence between the
Internsl Revenue Department and prominent
New Yorl. firm will not be without interest to all
concerned in the disti1ling husineEs:
NEw YORK, Oct. 4.-The Hon. D. u. Pratt, Coxnxnis
sioner Internal Etrtnus, FGshln1ton, b. C.-s1R:
barrels hghwiles which We have received during the
rast two mouths On consignment from the West
This being fair sample Of our receipts. you will oh
serve that there is loss on the actual capacity OF
these .,oo7 parrels Of l,s2aH wine eallons, equal
to 2,2s proof gallons. This, Of course is independ
eut Of the 1oss IN outs and proof. We beg to call
Rauged 1t the diseries By the Un,od staes Gaugers
ar oiuted 10 make correct gauge of the sae and We
aes TO- asF hat remedy sns Is l9f d1se.s ' Tho
actually in the barrels. Cnder the present system,
dtsters are heavy losers BY this apparent naccnrac
the incicsed loa,tfty BARRELS therefore know.
beyond doubt, that the barrels we're overgauged
At tho distlezdss Nov; When s!a. di.tled spirits M
tiljor is assessed Tor such undergauge
end We ask Il it, would not be
res have been overgaused 1t his dst.nerr. It is in
possible for 3 aarser to ascertain accurately the
capacity OF bsrrel By uktng the prescribed instzu
than eueswork with them. There is no means Of
ascecaiaing instance the thickness thu head Of
barrel, Which may be half an inch Or ~ inches,
be 100 high in the centro and low On
aso M sse difference u shs sspes r1ps
Agsin barrels are not always perfectly ronnd 1t the
head This you may say the Gauger should perceive
Gully Is that ss rule many Of The present Gaugers
are quite inexperienced aud do not understand their
business Many haying been recently appointed and
knowing that by underg2ugng they endauRer their
contnuance In Office, they are too apt TO 60 to
the other extreme, as The accompanying stale
to deaf honestly with the Government, they
certainty look for and entitled to corresponding
treatment at the hands Of Government officials. Per-
nit ue to suggest that syBtem Of weighing would
obriate in great the existing trouble per
haps better su to allow the disiiller to measure bis
spirits into bis barrels through q copper-box with
graduating scale which each gallon aud graduat-
ing rart thereof Is marked This would show beyond
doubt the exact amount OF spirits put into each bar
Government This matter Of gauging is really very
SERIOUS obstacle in tho way Of mixing the business Of
distl Ing profitable those who desire to pay
the full taz4 and, in behalf Of Western distiuers
beg to ask you to give this important matter yor
serious consideration for fcel that change Ia the
ote Of gnugns is ~ essential to the interests Of the
Government as the welfare Of uistifers. We are,
yours truly, F. Q. BofD CO.
nkvEsuE, wAsu&cGox, D. G., Oct IS, 1s15.-T. o.
Bosd d. t., 80 Eroad ssreet, He.c Tork-Sm: Tours
Of the 4t inst. is received in which you recommend
propose tie use Of SEIZED measure in Place q The
gsuging rod In reply you respectfully informed
taI The s as it now stands provides That Al spirits
shall he drawn from tho receiving cstern into casks
3. md shall thereupon Ee eauged proved end
marked hy IN 1nternal Revenue Gauger see Sec 3s7
law contempatea the gauging Of the SPIRITS
after they havp been drawn into casks
snd It is not thought that Easing them through
copper box with graduated scale upon which oallon
and fractional parts thereof are marked would be
NTH the requirements Of the law. you
also Say that wien spirits nnuerEauged the dtsi-
for such undergauec and ask It would
not be simple justice to refund to the dsser where
his barrels have teen ovesgauged. In reply you are
informed that any dtstier who claims to
have been overta3ed through erroneous gauge Of
spirits produced by them has tho right, common to
~ ta1r.yerr % apply for refund Of The amount 50
.. D. Pratt, Commissioner