Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-26
INTERNAL REVENUE.
COMMISSIONERS ANNUAL REPORT.
Some Interesting Figures as to the Years
Busness-The Receipts from Whisky
and Tobacco - Illicit Dis
tilIeries Destroyed,

WASHINGTON, November 25.-The an
nual report of the Commissioner OF In
ternal Revenue, which has just been
completed, predicts that the receipts
from internal revenue taxes will, during
the present fiscal year reach the sum OF
$lI5,000,0O0. During the last three
years, 3,ll7 illicit distilleries have been
seized. In order to provide ample force
to suppress illicit distilling, General
Raum recommends the appro-
priation of 100000 as q deficiency
to be used during the present fiscal year.
During the year ending June 80, 1879,
Sll3,449,62l of internal revenue taxes
were collected and paid into the treas
urv. The receipts from distilled spirits
for the year 1879, as compared with
1873, shows an increase OF S2,l49, ,46S;
as compared with 1873, the increased
production Of spirits during the year
1879 was l5,7S9,56S gallons; the in
crease in the production OF manuiac-
tured tobacco for the last fiscal year was
L., ,O26, S2l pounds; number OF cigars and
and cigarettes, l94, ,l0,7l9.
The report is very vOluminous, and
contains u large number OF tabulated
statements.
During the past three years 6,S63 per-
sons have been arrested for illicit distil-
ling, and q officers and employees
killed and 4S wounded while engaged in
enforcing the internal revenue laws.
The Commissioner says: at is
clear to my mind that in some portions
OF the country, for a considerable time
to come, reliance cannot be placed upon
the State courts for Furnishing citizens
who commit murder, or assault TO MUIR
der, upon our officers while engaged in
the performance OF their duties. 1t
seems TO me OF the utmost importance
that the United States should, under its
own laws and through its own courts,
undertake the trial and punishment
of all persons who are guilty of
murder, or assault to murder, OF officers
while engaged in, or on account OF the
performance of their official duties, and
! have the honor OF renewing the rec
Ommendation made in my last report
of the passage of such law by Congress.
The increase in the number of legal
distilleries, he says, will materially aug
ment the expense for storekeepers and
gaugers, and will make it necessary that
a deficiency appropriation be made for
the present fiscal year Of 100000. 1t
is recommended that where spirits are
withdrawn in good faith for expectation
and due diligence is exercised in their
transportation, and on losses occurring
BY evaporation or accident, that
no tax shall be levied for
any such loss, and that provision OF
law be made for the expectation OF alcO-
hOl in metallic cans OF ten gallons and
upward.
A comparison OF the receipts from
several sources of revenue for the first
four months OF the current fiscal year,
as compared with the corresponding pc
rod in '7S. shows an ifiCrease OF Sl,27S,-
$50. The quantity of spirits 7l,S92,62l
gallons) produced and deposited in dis
tillery warehouses during the fiscal year
was greater than the quantity produced
during any other year. The closest ap.
Proclamation TO this product was that OF
the year ending June so, 1870, which
was II ,337 ,009 gallons. The production
of the year 1870 was obviously excessive,
as it fell to 54,576, ,446 gallons in 1871,
and it might be apprehended that the
product Of that year would fall below
that of 1879 but when it is considered
that l4,S37,5Sl gallons of spirits we're
exported during the year 1879, and that
the foreign demand is unabated, it seems
probable that the large product Of the
early portion of this year will be con-
tinued during thear.