The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-05-20
RAIDS FOR. REVENuE-


THE RING OFFICIALS TO BE DECAPITATED IN
ALL CASES AND PROSECUTED IN SOME.
The Washington special to the Chicago
Tribune of Friday, says: The revenue Off
GERS are beginning to consider the causes
which have rendered the existence OF the
whisky ring possible. Commissioner Doug
lass maintains that the frauds are in no
sense due to the present collection system,
which he invented, but ara solely At
tributable to the dishonesty of the Off
GERS. Other government officials insist
that the present system proceeds upon the
assumption that the subordinate govern
ment officials are always likely to be hon
est. The checks of the system are sucn
that two or three dishonest officials can sue
cessfully conceal frauds. The latter class
say that the whisky frauds are due to the
abolition OF the moiety system, and TO the
increase OF the tax last winter. They claim
that from the time that the moiety system
in the internal revenue bureau was abol-
ished, the present whisky ring be-
gan. The commissioner of internal
revenue, tor the last two years, has had
fund of only 100000 which could be used
for purchasing information against fradu-
lentrilstillers. The maximum amount that
could be paid in any one case 10 per
cent. of the sum collected upon judgment,
anf in most instances the commissioner re-
fused to agree to pay so large per cent.
the consequence has been that the Treasury
department. since that time has scarcely re-
ceived any information from outsiders. The
classes OF men who would be likely to have
any in their possession could receive from
the distillers larger sum for silence AS
an illustration, it is urged that very cOnsid-
cradle amounts of delinquent taxes which
are now being collected from railroad cOnl-
panies have been for the most part
COLLECTED UNDER THE MoIETY SYSTEM.
1t can be authoritatively stated that there
are no charges In connection with tie
whisky developments which in any way re-
fleet upon the personal character of Super
visor Mum or collector Wadsworth; but
from sill that can be gathered it seems GER
tain that Mum will lose his Office, as well
as all the supervisors in the states where
these frauds have been committed. Ii is
said that legal proceedings will be COM
menced against Supervisor Mcdonald, of
st. Louis. The secretary of the treasury
appears to sthink that the removal Of
the principal officers is essential to the
good of the service. There is scarcely any
probability that Mum will be able to retain
his position. With him will go the gaugers
and stOrekeepers Immediately connected
with the distilleries seized. An order for
the suspension, If not the absolute removal
OF THESE MINOR Omcers Will proDaOly De lOr-
warded tomorrow. The charges made
against some of them are serious. From all
that can be learned Phil Wordsworth is
likely to escape the fate of Dan Mum; not
as the treasury officers put it, on account
of any superior virtue, but because he has
not been long enough in his place TO be-
held responsible for the tricks OF the
ring. DR.. Dyer, who is Wadsworth's bonds
man, has been looking into the matter,
and does not appear to be uneasy about the
bond. 1t has come out that one of the per-
sons who has been making charges against
the integrity OF the revenue officials in this
city was recently kicked out. of the house Of
one Of them for presuming to offer him
bride.