The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-10

ble to 80 amend the laws as to levy {
whisky tax directly upon the capcity o
fermenting tubs and require it to be col
lected in advance; and second, to create {
corps OF excise to hold Office indefinitely
removable only for incapacity or NAL
feasance In Office. 81
Mr.. Gordon said the resolution pro
posed radical change in the revenue
laws and it was therefore proper that he
should explain the reason and necessity
for such change. He disclaimed, in ad
vance, any disposition to reflect ,op the
head Of the Revenue Bureau or Treasury
Department. His purpose was 10 dea
with the system alone and show It's de
fects. Had this resolution been adopted
three years ago even Joyce would have
been compelled to act as an honest man
the whisky distillcrs would have paic
| tax and the whisky ring would have beer
impossible. Money enough would have
been saved by the government to pay tht
cost of one hundred Centennial Exhibi
tionS, or build the Pacific Railroad no
only to California, but around the worlt
if there was land to sustain it. He be-
lieved that there should have been re
ceived in the Treasury since 1864 s., 200,
100000 from the tax on whisky but insteat
OF that only about As millions had beer
received. Take into consideration the
fact that the production as well as the
consumption had been increased by the
Southern States resuming their relations
with the Federal Government, and he be-
lieyed that at least 1000 millions had
been lost to the Government on account
Of whisky frauds. Where has all this
money gomez Into the pockets OF dis.
honest distillers, or, what was worse,
into the pockets of dishonest Government
officials, and brought its disgrace and de-
moralization on the country. Why was
it that England, under the same system
as ours, could collect ten times as much
in gold as the United States could in
greenbacks? 1t was because England
appointed her officers solely to collect
taxes, while here they were appointed to
collect taxes and help the party which
for time might happen to be in power
[Applause in the galleries, which was
promptly checked by the presiding Off
GER. The English excise officer was for.
bidden to belong to any party organiza'
ton, but here such an officer might moi
only belong to party, organization, but
he must belong to the party, and to the
party to which he was indebted for his
Commission, he must work for and pay
to the party appointing him, and il he
refused TO do sohis official head was cut
of. In England the revenue system was
success and the pride OF the people
while in the United States the same sys,
TEN was an ignominious failure, famous or
ly from failure, and conspicous only from
crime; Infamous with the people
and disgrace TO the country
As long as the revenue officers
were appointed by the party for the time
in power, the country would have
these corruptions. Diligence might bt
doubled and agents quadrupled, but a'
long rs agents were appointed on account
OF their party influence 80 long would
dishonest distillers bribc dishonest off
cials. He wished to add his deep convic
ton that whatever party might be called
on to administer the government, ifit ap
pointed men TO collect taxes on account
Of their party influence, disgrace would
be brought on the party. II it should be
the will Of the American people, as he be-
lieved it would be soon, TO put the Dem
ocratic party in power that party would
bring honesty to these departments. Yet
so fully was he persuaded that there
would be n temptation to use money to
keep the party into power that he fell
very much like praying the Lord to de-
liver the Democrats also from tempta'
ton. He said corps OF excise must be
created to remove from the temptations
OF the party the support to-day standing
in the shadow Of that awful event. II
grieyed him to say the American institu'
tions were imperiled by these sad and
sickening disclosures Of the last few
years. What are they? Corruption in
office, corruption. in high places and in
low. Credit Mobiliers, Sanborn contracts
Washington City government ring, and
last the horrid, filthy, dirty, whisky ring
This wave OF corruption which has swept
over the country and broke at last at the
very steps of.the Executive Mansion, had
become sickening to the people. This
was a good year to begin reformation
and this was a good place TO begin it. HI
hoped all would unite to restore a pure
purpose.
SENATOR MORTON.
Mr.. Morton said it had been said tha
civil war was generally followed by {
hnrinl Of dnmnrnlizntinn tn n rreatnr nl