The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-11-25

..
Iowa. 1,O4O, 1854 Tennessee s5S,9i(
Kansas. 1888, 535 Texas ....... 49, AZ
kentucky. 9 ess s sse Utah s1,s4;
Maine. 107, 261 Virginia. go. 1853, 63l
Maryland..... 2,755S45 Washipeton 2114f
Massachusetts, $3.50, 491 West Virginia 1854
Michigan...... 1880, sos Wisconsin,. 2720,86s
Minnesota.... 2s, 362 Wyoming..... 1,94S
DIsTILLERIEs.
The number of distilleries registered during
the year was ,736, and the number operated
4,6OS. OF the number operated 656 were
grain distilleries, molasses distilleries, and
3,945 fruit distilleries.
has been often called within the past few
months to the extensive frauds committed in
certain localities upon the revenue by distill-
ers and rectifiers 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
extent of these frauds; fourth, the checks re-
Gently established to prevent recurrence of
the same; and fifth, suggests Legislation
which, in his opinion, is necessary to insure
fuller collection in future of the taxes upon
distilled spirits.
The Commissioner gives it as his opinion
that the only law necessary is one that shall
penalties for defrauding the Government as
severe in the case of the rectlfer as they now
are in the case of the distiller. The rectider
should be required to give bond 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 rectifcation and sells
under rectifiers' stamps. Under the present
system of detecting frauds at least thirty
days must elapse before discovery could be
rectifying. house capable of refining the
quantity of spirits upon which the tax
would amount to 100000 month may not
be worth more than $4,000 it will readily
be seen that, under the present law, which
only torfeits the apparatus and spirits
owned by him at the time of seizure, a
rectifer may aid in defrauding the Govern
ment Of 100000 and forfeit only $4,000.
By absconding to a foreign country he also
escapes criminal punishment
The Commissioner is 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
is connected with distillery where fraud is
perpetrated becomes a pensioner upon the
distil]er. If, therefore, distillers be kept un-
der such strict surveillance that the amount
of money gained by fraud is not sufficient to
pay large corps of officers and workmen in
necessary collision with them to consum-
mate fraud, they will, as 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
twenty -four distileries and thirty-seven recti-
fying-houses, and implicated over fifty United
States Gaugcrs and Storekeepers. This evil
dence also shows the issue between July 1,
1874, and May 1, 1875, of fraudulent spirits,
by duplication, Of 10000 packages, containing
probably 100000 proof gallons, and by aid
of false gauging to the additional amount Of
1000, 600 proof gallons. This, he says, is but
a portion of the fraud actually committed,
but in itself indicates the loss of tax to the
Government in ten months of an amount not
less than $l,65O,0OO.
FERMENTED LIQUORS.
The receipts from all sources relating to
fermented liquors for the fiscal year were
50, IA ,OO4, decrease OF Sl60,675 as compared
with 1874. The number of brewers manu-
featuring fermented liquors is 2,7S4.
The Commissioner expresses full conf
The number of cases compromised during
the year is IA, and the amount received by
compromise sl56,576.
The total receipts from tobacco were $37,-
300. 461, an increase over 1874 of 81 ,O6O. $50,
and an increase over any previous fiscal year
of $2,917, 15S. The total amount of tax col
lected on tobacco and snuff from Sept. l,
1862, to June 30, 1875, is 1925, 1856 ,219. The
total collections on cigars, cheroots and ci-
garettes the same time is sos, 233, 2O6 1t is
expected that during the current year the as
sessment of tax on tobacco will be largely in.
creased. The whole amount of taxes assessed
during the year was SS,23O,O 03; increase over
the previous year, 1914, 435.
OTHER STATISTICS.
The quantity of distilled spirits in ware.
house July l, 1874, was 17,755, 1859 gallons
distilled spirits produced during the year,
withdrawn, $3.50, 141, leaving in bond June
SO, 1875, 1857 ,253. Spirits removed from
warehouse for export for the year ending
June 80, 1874, 4,O6O,l06 gallons, while only
7,413 gallons were thus removed during the
last fiscal year.
The quantity of tobacco removed for ex.
portation in bond without paying the taxes,
9,l79,3l5 pounds, decrease of 1,&1,611
pounds.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Commissioner says the force of rev.
enue agents is Inadequate, and recommends
the passage Of a law authorizing fifteen more
He thinks further consolidation of collection
districts can be made without affecting the
revenue, and that the system of gaugine
wholesale liquor-dealers' packages by United
States Gaugers can be dispensed with, and a
simple system of checks by stamps substi.
tuted, which will prevent over-issue.
He recommends making the violation Of
the law relating to friction matches Grim.
inal effense, punishable by fine and impris'
onment. He also desires that internal rev.
enue agents be empowered to demand and
obtain the inspection of books and pa 2ers o.
distillers, rectifiers, brewers, wholesale liquor
dealers and manufacturers of tobacco, snuff
and cigars.
The Commissioner estimates the collec.
lions of the present fiscal year from al
sources of internal revenue at $122, O00, 900.
StanleY,s Exnlarati0ns in Africa.