Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-11-19
IUB HtI HIIIUUHIb TbCUIVUU IIUIII dII sUuIUVH I
OF internal revenue during the last fiscal year
in the several States is given as follows:

Minnesota rs, 1862 Wyoming. zee. IL ,94S
Mississippi. 96,0S5
= DIsTILLERIEs.
The number Of distilleries registered dur
ing the year was 4,736, and the number
operated, 4,60S. OF the number operated 656
were grain distilleriesN 'mofBssesvdis ill
eEfes and 3, 45frdit distilleries.
The Commissioner says public attention
has been often called within the past few
months to the extensive frauds committed in
certain localities upon the revenue by distill-
ers and rectifers of distilled spirits. He
gives an account, first, of the checks, guards
and projections against frauds established
by law; second, of the manner in which the
whisky frauds, so-called, lately exposed were
.perpetrated upon the Government; third, the
extent of these frands; fourth, the checks
recently established to prevent recurrence
ofNhe same, and, fifth, suggests legislation
which, in his opinion, is necessary to insure
a fuller collection in future of the taxes up
on dAtilled spirits.
ThaCommissioner gives it as his opinion
that the only law necessary is one that shall
make tne requirements as stringent and the
penalties for defrauding the Government as
Ssevefee tn the case OF the rectiter as they
now arefn tlre-ease.~of- the distiller. The
ectifier should be required to give a -bopds
in an amount equal to the tax represented by
all the spirits he can possibly rectify each
month The house and tract of land upon
which the establishment is located should be
forfeited TO the United States in case Of fraud.
He should not be allowed to handle any
spirits at his rectifying- house except those
he purchases for rectification and sells
under rectifers' stamps. Under the present
system of detecting frauds at least thirty
days must elapse before discovery could be
made and guilt fixed. As the apparatus in
rectitying- house capable OF refining the
quantity Of spirits upon which the tax would
amount 10 100000 amonth may not be worth
more than $4,000, it will readily be seen that
under the present law, which only forfeits
the apparatus and spirits owned by him at
the time of seizure, rectifier may aid in de-
frauding the Government of 100000 and
forfeit only $4,000. BY absconding to for
eign country he also escapes criminal punish
ment.
The Commissioner Is firmly of the opinion
that the present large tax upon distilled spir-
its can be collected with but small loss. This
opinion is based upon the fact that every
Storekeeper, Gauger and employe who is con-
nected with distillery where fraud is perpe-
trated becomes pensioner upon the distiller.
IT. therefore, distillers be kept under such
strict surveillance that the amount OF money
gained by fraud is not sufficient to pay large
corps of officers and workmen in necessary
collusion with them to consummate fraud,
they will, as a matter of policy, be honest.
AS an indication Of the extent OF the frauds
above described the Commissioner reports
that documentary evidence is IN possession
of his Office which has warranted the seizure
of "a distlleries and 81 rectifying- houses, and
implicated over so United States Gaugers and
Storekeepers. This evidence also shows the
issue between July l, 1874, and May l, 1875,
of fraudulent spirits, by duplication, OF 1000
| packages, containing probably l 200 600 proof
gallons, and by aid of false gauging to the
additional amount OF l,OOO,0OO proof gallons.
This, he says, is but a portion of the fraud
actually committed, but in itself indicates
the loss of tax to Government in ten months
of an amount not less than 81 ,65OIOOO.
FERMEETED LIQUORS.
The receipts from all sources relating tO
fermented liquors for the fiscal year were
la, ,OO4, a decrease OF $l6O,675 as COM
! pared with 1874. The number OF brewers
manufacturing gfermented liquors is 2,7S4.
The Commissioner expresses full conf
dence in the stamp system for the collection
| of revenue.
The number of cases compromised during
the year is 744, and the amount received By
compromise $l56,576,
TOBACCO.
The total receipts from tobacco were SS7,
303, ,461, an increase over 1874 OF 81, 900, $50
and an increase over any previous fiscal yea
| of 81, ,ql7, ,15S. Tho total amount OF tax col
lected on tobacco and snuff from Sept. 1
1862, to June 80, 1875, is S225, ,356, ,2l9. Tht
total collections ON cigars, cheroJts and Gig
arettes the same time Is $6S, ,233, ,206. 1t is eX
pected that during the current year the as
sessments of tax on tobacco will be largel
increased. The whole amount Of taxes as
sessed during the year was S., $50, ,0O3; In
crease over the previous year, SS44, ,4S5.
OTHER STATISTICS.
The quantity of distilled spirits in ware
house July l, 1874, was 17,755,9 ,969 gallons
distilled spirits produced during the year
&C, $50, ,425 gallons; total, 1856 394; tota
withdrawn, 65,319, ,141, leaving in bond Jun
so, 1875, 1885,, ,25S. Spirits removed fror
/ warehouse for export for the year endin
June 80, 1874, 4,O60,l06 gallons, while onl
597, Alb gallons were thus removed during th
last fiscal year.
The quantity Of tobacco removed for e1
portation in bond without paying the taxei
9,179, 5pounds,a a decrease OF ], ,62l GIL pound
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Commissioner says the force of rev
enue agents Is inadequate and recommend
the passage OF law authorizing tiftee
[ more. He thinks further consolidation
collection districts can be made without a
fecting the revenue, and that the system {
gauging wholesale liquor dealers package
by United States Gaugers can be dispense
with and a simple system of checks by stamp
, substituted, which will prevent Overissue.
He recommends making the violation {
the law relating TO friction matches Grim
nal otfense, punishable by fine and imprisoI
} ment. He also desires that internal revenu
? agents be empowered to demand and obtai
z the inspection Of books and papers Of distil
ers, rectifers, brewers, wholesale liquo
dealers and manufacturers OF tobacco, snu
> and cigars.
5 The Commissioner estimates the collection
of the present fiscal year from all sources
internal revenue at $l22 100000.
"
r THE bell which called together the vi