The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-11-12

pOrtant result Oh preventing ueStt uSsi'
of books by parties about to be detected
in fraud. There would then be sworn
copv in this office that would always be
admissible evidence in courts against
the guilty parties. l am firmly OF the
opinion that the present large
tax upon distilled spirits can be collected
with but small loss, This opinion Is
based upon the fact that every store
keeper, gauger and employe who Is con
nesied with distilling where fraud Is
perpetrated,s becomes pensloner
upon the distilier. IT, therefore, dis.
tillers be kept under such surveillance
tnat the amount Of money gained by
fraud is not sufficient to pay .srge
corps OF officers and workmen IN neces-
sary collusion with them to consummate
fraud, they will, rs n matter OF policy,
be hol ct. An indication of tie extent
OF the frauds above described,
Number of DistinerIes Seized.
have the honor to report that docu-
mentary evidence is in possession OF this
Office. which has warranted the seizure
of twenty-four distllleries and thirty
seven rectitying houses, and implicated
over fifty L. ). gaugers and starekecpers.
This evidence also shows the issue be-
tween July Is, 1874, and May l, 1875, of
fraudulent spirits by duplication of 20
coo packages containing probably ~
600, 600 proof gallons, and by the aid oi
false gaIgng to the additional amount
81 100000. This, of course Is butts por-
ton of the fraud actually committed, but
in itself indicates loss of tax to the gov
ernmen,, in ten months, to al amount ot
not less than 81, $4,000.
Receipts from all Sources
relating to frrmented liquors Tor the fiscal
vcar$9, IA ,O94, n decrease show OF sloO,-
6Sj, as compared with 1874. The mum
Der of breweres manufacturing terment-
ed liquors are 27Si The Commissioner
expresses full confidence in the stamp
system for the collection of the rcveRue.
Number of cases compromised during
the year, 744, and amount received by
compromise Sl5G,576. A recommenda-
tion is made that deserving gaugers re.
ceive s. W per day, and
that in some instances the
Offices of gauger and storekeeper be con.
soldated, by which 100000 can be saved
in expenses
The total receipts from tobacco are
S37, ,303, i6l, an increase over 1874 OF
$1,000, $50, and an increase over any pre-
visus year of $2,9lIl5S. The total
amount .: the tax collected on tobacco
and suuh from September |, 1867, to
June 50, 1875, Is S22j, 800, ,2l9. and on
cigars chrroots and cigarettes for the
same time SGS, 2S3, 2OG. it Is eA-
pcctcd that during the current
wear the assessment of tax on tobacco
will be largely increased. The whole
amount of taxes assessed during tho
wear WAS SIS. 230, 900, an increase over the
previous year of $3,444,33j. The guam
tity of distilled spirits in warehouses up
to July |, l77iis lI7jj,9j9 gallons of
distilled spirits produced during the
year 90, $50, i25 gallons; total 19,9o6,3i
gallons; total Withdrawn Gj3l9, lil; lcav-
ing in bond June 80, 1875, 1882, 25@
gallons OF spirits; removed from
warehouse for export for the year ending
June 80, 1874, 1860 l0G gallons while
only 5S7,4l3 gallons was thus removed
during the last fiscal year. Quantity OF
/, bacco removed for expectation without
payment of taxes, S7,l79,3l5i decrease,
$1,62l Gil.
The Commissioner says the force OF
revenue agents is inadequate, and recon-
mrnds the passage of u law authorizing
fifteen more. lie thinks afurthcr consol-
dation Of the districts can be made
without affecting the revenue, and thai
the plan OF gauging wholesale liquor
lctlcrs' packages by the United States
gauger, oan be dispensed with, and
system of checks by stamps substituted,
which will prevent an over issue. he
recommends making violation Ut the law
relating 10 friction matches criminal
oiiense, punishable by fine and lmprlS-
onment. He also desire; that the internal
revenue agents be employed to demand
and obtain the inspection Of the books
and papers of di-tillerS, rcctliiers, brew
crs, wholesale liquor dealers. and manu-
tMcturcrs of tobacco, snutt and cigars.
The Commissioner quotes the decision OF
the Supreme Court in the Henderson
case: That the title having vested in
the United States no subsequent act ot
transfer coupled with payment by AN in.
noccut party could divest the United
States its title with the remark that
such ruo is not consistent with justice
or sound policy, and therefore should be
abroguted The Commissioner estimates
the collections for the present fiscal year
from all sources Of internal revenue at
Sl22 100000.