The New York herald., 1876-02-23
FINANCIAL POLICY OF THE DEMOCRATS
Action Of The National Democratic Commit
tee and Its Indications.
1.-THE FIRST BLOOD FOR HENDRICKS
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

success OF the great whiskey frauds out West Will
appreciate the purpose ofthe committee OF the Wine and
Spirit Traders Society OF tho United States who are
here TO get Congress to pass a bill cody and sim
pfy the Internal Revenue laws relating to the tax on
distilled spirits.
The Committee is composed OF tho following named
gentlemen;-G. W. Kidd, OF tho nrm OF George W.
Kidd Co., SUCCESSORS to S. N Pike Co. J. Lienan
& Co.; VIM. NJ Fliess, OF VIM. N. Fess Co. Colonel
c. Mc. K Loeser off. H. Smiths Sons and John
Tracey, OF John Tracey Co.. Chairman OF Committee
The bill will be introduced this week by Mr.. Meade
or New York. II is claimed that the ilegtimate pro-
duction OF spirit has been great injury to honest
business few men in colluson with officers have
robbed the government of millions OF dollars and
nearly ruined the legitimate liquor trade of the
try. II is estimated that two revenue officials
are associated with every private defrauder No
ring be complete without the co-opera-
ton OF the supervisor. collector, deputy col
lector, storekeepcr and gauger OF the district To
remedy these evils and prevent fraud and Irregularities
1t is proposed to delocahze the officials Under
the present system S. o6o 600 paid salaries The
bill reduces the amount to 936 ooo also tho present
tax to fifty cents gallon.
1t Is sai that the experience of the four years from
July, 1864, to July, 1865 showed, with tax OF 81 6o
during six months and So during the remaining three
and half years. an average yearly income of
$2,727 4os and that of the six and half years from
July, 1868, to January, 1875, with tax practically
at seventy cents, average yearly income of
$27 S56 thus showing surplus OF nearly $5 900
annually In favor of tho lowcr rate in spite OF the
that the volume OF business VIGOROUSLY very
much greater during the years when the higher tax
prevailed.
The other provisions OF the bill In substance as
folows:-Salary of Commissioner raised to 81, 900 a
with salary OF IS, 600 each, in bonds OF $1O0 600
each so Collectors at salary OF S450O, bonds OF
100000; $50 Deputy Collectors, salary OF $4,000
bonds of $4,000; 500 gaugers salary
$780, bonds $4,000; 500 storekeepers salary
ST. 200 bonds OF $40 000 All these officers 10 be APP
pointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
The President also has power to appoint temporary
storekeepers and gaugers without confirmation when
absolutely necessary according to limitations specified
in bill, but such appointments to be valid only for
year. Tho Commissioner assigns the officers
TO stations, but no officer is allowed to
remain at the station longer than SIX months,
two or more officers serving together allowed
to be changed at the same time to the station
oGcers allowed two per cent additional compcnsa
ton for each years. faithful service without suspcn
for misconduct for which elaborate provisions arc
made; all commissions hold during the pleasure of
the President. All bonds must be approved by United
States Judge and Commissioner and to
hold without regard locality ard
conditioned that officers shall obey superiors. The
expectation OF spirits is allowed present with addi-
tonal safeguards The powers Of supervisors en-
largcd and they specially charged with the duties
OF surveying dstilleries, upon which mainly depends
the amount Of liability OF each distlcr The penal
ties against Official malfeasance increased but the
principal object OF this part Of the bill ia
10 render the profession honorable that
officer will stoop 10 defraud and, by detaching
II from local political influences and extortons tho
profession will free from corruption as the mill
tary or naval service This portion of the law has
been framed after the successful systems OF
foreign countries with notifications necessary TO our
form OF government Penalties against distiliers
are increased for instance the nnc OF three
times the amount OF fraud instead OF dou-
Bile the amount as now. The abolition OF
stamps is purposed, because IL is claimed that
they have not prevented frauds but rather facil-
stated by their use the second time as recently
the case In Chicago and St. Louis. Penalties
against unlicensed distilaton are heavy and
ample force OF officials provided for its suppression
but the entire espionage the dealer Is withdrawn
for the reason that the tax, being manufactured
spirits only must be obtained from the manufacturer
ana the present large force the expensive officials and
have proved inefficient collect the tax and claimed
20 be plausible for fraud. However, guilty col
iusion OF dealers with manufacturers is very heavily
punished by 1ne and Imprisonment The distinction
between recthers and wholesale dealers is abolished.
Wholesale dealers license Is fixed at $500,
with privilege OF retailing without further pay
ments, and reiaiI licenses remain at SIS, the
present price; transportation OF spirits in bond
is permitted under restriction warehouses al
points designated By the Secretary of tho Treasury;
spirits are allowed TO remain bond for period not
longer than three years. that nne whskeys may have
time rpen before consumption allowance for Leak
age in warehouse restricted and half per
cent for one year. twelve and half for TWO years and
seventeen and half for three years; the regulations
for expectation claimed to be fully defined
than now aud greater restrictions imposed
The committee say that long Congress refuses to
listen TO the advice OF old and experienced members OF
honorable nrms, It may expect have an imperfect
system OF collecting the revenue They urge that Is
for the interest OF all leading houses have the tax
collected uniformly throughout the country
THE SELECTION OF ST. LOUIS BY THE NATIONAL,
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE AND WHAT 1T ISD1-
Gates.
The Democratic National Committee ancra session
lasting until nearly midnight decided upon ST. Louis
as the place and the 27th OF June tho time for hold
ing The Presidential nominating convention. ST. Louis
had the lead from the start as the choice
OF the committee and after few ballots
cot majority Of This selection Is taken 10 be
decision Of more less weight in favor OF Hendricks
as the candidate FOR the nomination, Notwithstanding
the assertions and pledges almost given that the place
would have nothing TO do with indicating avorng
any candidate TO the prejudice OF another. As a
leading democrat said tonight when he heard St
Louis agreed upon, ''wc that Is FIRST blood for
Hendricks"
That the place likely to have more or less innu-
once respect candidates also illustrated in the
small FOR Cincinnati As the members OF the
committee explained Ohio has two II not three candi-
dates viz, Thurman, PcndIeton and Allen, and the
stre al The doors II inside the Convention n held
IN Cincinnati. would tc say the least, be unseemy.
The famous Pendleion cohort might again parade tho