The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-10-11
Washington.
Tax on Spirits-Eldcr Hastings
Supreme COArt Il immigration

Tax ON Sp1r1tS-ElOcr Ht0sttmSs-
Supreme COArt Il Immigration
Statistics.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11.-In an edilo-
rial Of the Boston Advertiser, Of the 9Th
instant, appears the following state
ment: SAT the last session Of Congress
the rate OF tax upon spirits was increased
fifty per cent. The spirit tax should
then have yielded nearly five million
dollars more than during the first quar-
ter of 1874 and rs, whereas the whole
gain IN the Department Is but two mill
ion dollars" This statement contains
two important errors, one OF fact, the
other OF inference, and both are calcu-
lated to mislead the public. Congress
did not, at its last session, increase tue
rate OF tax OIL spirits fifty per cent. The
increase was from seventy two to ninety
cents per gallon, which is only twenty
five per cent.
The certificates of deposit sent to the
Commits siOners show there was an In.
crease in collections from Internal Rev.
enue for the first quarter Of the fiscal
year OF something over two million dol
lars. The returns from spirits have not
yet been received from the Collectors OF
the different Districts, so as to allow to
be made the necessary comparison, to
show how much was derived from spir-
its. The reports from spirits for the
first quarter Of the fiscal year OF
1S74v75, not including special taxes,
were nine hundred and ninety-two
million, eighty thousand, two hum
dred and eight dollars, assuring that the
effect of increasing the rate of tax
should have been to. increase the collec-
tiOns in the same proportion that this
rate had been increased. Even then, in.
stead OF a yield OF five DIillion, the rate
should have been but little over hail
that sum, but three, or even six millions.
1t is BY no means sufficient length oi
time to test the operation o.
any marked change in the rate 0l
tax, and particularly so when, al
in the case OF the late increased rate
imposed on spirits and tobacco, the ques
tion OF such increase had been agitated
in Congress and out, from the first day
Of its session, until the day the act was
passed. The ordinary and natural effec
OF such agitation and discussion was t.
stimulate the removal OF the Article to bt
affected by such increased rates ant
lpayment OF tax thereon before it was
made subject to such increase, and also
to check Tor time operations i'll the al
tice. Afterwards, such was the actua
effect.
Elder Hastings, of Boston, who wa'
with Moody and Sankey in England
and who expects to return to that coun
try in about two months, preached yes
terday afternoon from the steps OF thu
Capitol to about four thousand people
He has been preaching during the pas
week ut the Foundry Church, this city
to overtlowing houses.
The Supreme Court of the Unitet
States meets in regular session to-day
!. Some very important cases Will come vi
, Tor decision. At the present term on
leading case will be adjudicated-th
Wisconsin, Illinois Il Mississippi raj
road-arising out OF the railroad cor
. testing the constitutional right of Stat
to regulate rates of passenger fares an
Z. freight charges.
The following information, just re
ceived at Bureau Of Statistics, show
: the following immigration at the port @
New York during the month OF Septem
Der, 1874 and 1875: In 1874, males, S,79t
females, 1854; total, 1880. In 1877
males, 4,949; females, 4,4O0; total, 9,349
Decrease In 1875, males, 3,S4I; females
3,ls4; total, 1881.