New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-28

THE INTERNAL REVENUE FOR 1S77l78.
COMMISSIONER RAUM HAS MUCH TO SAY on THE
RESISTANCE TO LAW IN THE SOUTH AND on
THE TOBACCO TAX.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.-The annual report
OF the Commissioner the Internal Revenue that
the heavy falling or in the receipts from taxation has
ceased and that the receipts for the current fiscal year
have thus far shown an increase.
The Commissioner reports that in majority OF the
States the Internal Revenue laws have been enforced
without serious difficulty obstruction; there has
been cOmmendable spirit exhibited the part OF
manufacturers and dealers to observe the law and II
believed that the distilled spirits is now being
collected with fewer frauds and less loss to the Govern
en than OF any time since the establishment OF the
internal revenue system. Tue Commissioner reports
however, that there is great to the in the
South He says:
In the REGIONS Of country named there known TO
exist 5000 copper stills many OF which, at GER
tain times are la fully the production Of brandy
from apples and peaches; out 1 am convinced that
illicit OF spirits Part OF the spirits thus pro-
ducod has consumed IN The immediate nelghOorbood
the balance been sold ana distributed Throughout
the districts THIS nerarous business has been
carried rule by determined sci OF men, Nso'
i'm their various neighborhoods league together for de-
fence against tho officers Of the law, and nc gwen
signal ready 20 co ne together vita arms IN tneF
hands drive the officers Of the Internal Revenue out
OF the country.
With reference to the proposed reduction OF the TO-
baccc tax the Commissioner argues that tie reduction
Of the tax onethir proposed by the bill now pend
ing would Inevitably result In a corresponding reduc'
ton OF the He also states that an examination
NJ the market quotations OF tobacco for series OF years
fails TO SHOW that manufactured tobacco has
had any depressing effect tho market price OF Leaf To-
baoco. He continues:
obvious that the price Of the tobacco used by our
manufacturers affected by the foreign demand for the
surplus product. small accumulated surplus, hght
cIs and active foreign demand, will increase the
price OF all grades, while large accumulated stoess,
heavy crops, and sluggish foreign demand VIII result
III al, pr - i Nc re IaT on mann acted
tnbacrO remained at "a cents. or should be reduced 70
10 cents per pound or n The tax were entirely removed
The bill before the Senate proposes reduction VI VIZ
tax cigars from 80 10 50 per thousand This WOuiu
be equivalent to reducing the tax on each eSar MIL
IL incredible that such reduction can alcc tue ~
Tail prlce. degree operate 10 stimulate me con-
sumption OF cigars aud in my opiuion the reduction
would be absolute loss OF revenue without any COM
pensaiing advantage. . 49,.
OF the tax utacturrd TOBACCO does not come oh
the consumers who alone pay The tax NOT singie 's
pay has yet code forward as such TO denana Us in
ductiOu. The Whole niOyelneuI IN nav lu1smen' va
yOves absolute sacrifice OF Sl1OOOOOO oi trNenus'
without reasonable prospect uf bepent 10 the ptOau
or relief to tie taxpayer. The agitation oi the quesuV
oil reducing the tax manufactured tobacco Iast Pc!
palalyL,d the trade during tho tune the nhCertlnv
prevailed. Many manufacturers were cOlnptiSu
porry 10 suspend Operators, ana large nnuiga, sI
work people We're thrown out OF employment lle ~.
on manufactured tobacco IRON December 1910 "A
June. 1878, showed falling on a. eom IP'esd.
with the corresponding months at the pteesu.
ing year OF 81 ,9i7Oil, while immediately upon . tn
adjournment OF Congress, wLenh Oeane kiGMh ia n,
the would time remain uudis,uibci. the u.us
began the receipts from tobacco lax 100
jay. 1878, SHOWING an increase OF s546,i"7 over u
CORES pOnding mouth OF the previous year haIo ~
doubt Inat similar results woId follow PfOl0hgeoss
tatiun subject year 1t. therefore. appears to
very desirable that Whatever action - had Dy vs. vs.
greSs in regard TO tho proposed change Of tse az
should be had as early IA possible, IN tne inter"
tho revenue well as Of the manuldclnftls' lWf .
thousands OF employees, and tie producers, 10 a'V'
whom continued suspense must prove Injurious
statement OF the collections oi internal revenue @
by districts for the fiscal year euded jane 3d. ~,
shows that the sum OF $40. $50 SO was coeetei
and accounted Tor during the past fiscal year, add tu~'
tue sum OF $9,705 81 remains unacccuned 10"
The Commissioner Is assured thar tho amounts due W"
be paid during the prescott year. tie sarccs 81 tue ~
leciofs' bonds being entirely good, 50 iEai tH,'
will be- 20 actual loss 10 the UCiied states i'
defauliing collectors have been rmoved hun cav
The total cost OF collecting internal rvenn ~ %,
United states for tho fiscal year ended jane 30 l.t
was 81 056,ol0. beIng less than 3A per cert nro" 70
whole amount collected. ,hs
The Commissioner tanks that the r"rrnn" ~, a.,
present. rseai year, " the rae OF ttNatiih i'h''
turled, VIII not Iall short OF sli5,0vv,vVu.