The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-09-28
ST0LENI
NO9,0OQ,0OO.0O A YEAR 1
Radical Corruption Proved by
Republican Authority

m0lJ VI BlSdhbtO hou" "i'H' y r.
allel in the history of the world-a Ions
continued career Of fraud and corruption
of so bold and fragrant a character tha
it would be impossible to credit it. Die
not the report of the Commissioner O.
Internal Revenue to Congress establish
il beyond the existence of a doubt.
What we have to say of this matter We
take from the Commissioners report last
December (pages 142 and l45).
We allude to the frauds of the whisky
rings.
In 1850, according to the census re-
ports there were manufactured $4,000,
900 gallons of liquors, and the report o
the Commissioner (page l42) shows
that in 1863 there was tax collected on
12O,OOOOOO gallons of liquors. 1t mus
be recollected that before 1861 there were
large quantities of liquors imported, anc
that after the heavy tariff on liquors I'M
posed that year, importations almost
wholly ceased. Nor must we forget that
the population in 1860 was only 10000
600, while now it is about 45OOO,OOO
nor that the emancipation Of 100000 Of
former slaves have swelled the consump'
ton of liquors to an enormous extent
Taking then these facts into considera'
ton we are safe in saying that the aver
age manufacture of liquors per year since
the imposition of the tax has been at
least l5O,OO0,0OO of gallons.
IT ia we'll known that the consumption
of liquors has been uniform, no matter
whether the tax was high or low, and for
proof of this we refer to the report of the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue made
to Congress last December. He says
(page l42):
"The amount of spirits actually con-
"sumed has not greatly varied during
"three years, Notwithstanding the chan
'ges in the law fixing the amount Of the
"tax and this fact has been one of the
"standing arguments in favor Of taxing
distilled liquors, not only here, but in
"other countries, viz; That the amount
"consumed does not depend to any con-
siderable extent upon the rate OF tax
Imposed. The demand is as steady as
"the appetite is fixed and exacting. Ex-
"cessive taxation may be the cause of
general and systematic fraud leading to
"great loss of revenue, but production
"and consumption 60 on as before, what
"ever the taxes. This is well illustrated
Gin the years when the tax was two dol
Glars. In 1868, the taxes were less than
1919 100000, while in 1870, when the tax
"was fifty cents, the taxes collected were
cover $55,OOO,OOO. Yet no one can doubt
"that the actual production in gallons
"did not essentially differ in those two
"years."
The Commissioner further tells us on
page 143 that the tax imposed on liquors
were as follows;
From July l, 1862, to March 7, 1864
20 cents; from then to June 80, 1864, go
cents; from then to December %, 1854,
$3.50; from then to July 20, 1868, $500
from then to Jure 6, 1872, 50 cents from
then to March 3, 1875, 70 cents, and since
then so cents.
Now taking for basis the production
of liquors to be as above mentioned at an
average of 15O,OOO,OOO, it is no great task
to compute what the Government ought
to have received from the tax on liquors
from July l, 1852 to the close of the fiscal
year, June 80, 1873. The Government
ought to have received in those thirteen
years the enormous sum Of 81 100000,
10000!
Now what did it receive? We will let
Commissioner Pratt answer He says
(page 143) the whole amount received in
those thirteen years for tax on whisk y
including the tax and license of whole.
sale and retail dealers, and all the other
special taxes in connection with distill-
ing Of the liquor trade, is $489, 763, ,999. IA
making the amount actually received fol
taxes on liquors about 100000 100000
What has become of the other $780,.
O0O,OOO.OO?
Now it is certain that it is impossible
to defraud the Government out of one
cent of this tax without the completely ot
Government officials. If any one doubt
this, single visit to Sol Miller's dis
tillery north ofCanton will convince him
Sol Miller cannot even go inside of hii
distillery except in the presence Of Ma
Mcclure. Mat Mcclure carries the key
to the distillery and even with the con
nivanee of Mcclure, Sol Miller could not
defraud the Government, for he woulC
in addition have to bribe the guager
Billy Wyant, before he could defraud the
Government of one cent.
Commissioner Pratt in his report
(page l46) after describing the method
of defrauding the Government says:
"As an indication of the extent of thu
"frauds above described 1 have the homo
"(forsoothD to report that documentary
"evideuce is in the possession of this of
"fce, which has warranted the seizure o
"twenty-four distilIeries and thirty-sever
"rectifying houses, and implicated ovel
fifty U. s. guagers and store.keepers
"This evidence also shows the issue be
tween July l, 1874, and May l., 1875, o
fraudulent spirits by the duplication o
100000 packages containing 1,2O0,0Ot
proof gallons, and by the aid of falls,
"guaging TO the additional amount o