New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-14
A FEW FACTS ABOUT THE REVENUE.
DEMOCRATIC EFFORT TO BREAK THE FORCE OF
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUSE.l

NIX. kAUMS RECENT LETTER.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.i
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13.-The recent letter of Com
missioner Raum to the Secretary of the Treasury
showing the very creditable manner in which the
officers of Internal Revenue have performed their
duties during the last fiscal year has excited the
ire of the Democrats.
To break the force OF the letter, The Washington
Post published long article yesterday impeaching
the accuracy of Commissioner Raums statement,
and making great account of the falling off In the
amount Of revenue collected since June 80 1877.
The Post refers to the report of the First Con-
troller, which stated that T3.7G0249 was outstand-
ing against Collectors of Internal Revenue on the
30th of June. 1875. An examination of this docu-
ment reveals the interesting fact that of this sum
in default nearly S3000,000 in round numbers ac-
crued during the administration of President
Johnson's appointees. Under the Administration
OF President Hayes, the total shortage thus far Is
Only 81, 1856 ID, all of which is believed to be col
lectable. The figures speak for themselves.
As to the decrease OF internal revenue receipts
since June 80, 1877, it cannot be forgotten that
great financial depression was the marked feature
Of the years 1876. 1877 and 1878. The stringency
of the times forced the dsuers of spirits generally
to suspend operations. and there was a closing up
IN all the spirit-producing sections of the country.
Congress was appealed 20 for further time whereby
spirits might remain in bond and a law was passed
extending the period two years, making with the
year previously allowed, a total of three years for
spirits to remain in bond and hence not liable to
payment of tax. This extension has not yet ex-
pred by the limitation of the law. Except for the
passage of this law 10000 gallons of spirits
then in bond would have been forced to with
drawal during the fiscal year ending June 80, 1878,
and the tax paid thereon would have amounted to
$2,741 900.
During this era Of financial distress there was
necessarily great lack Of manufacture, and hence
the amount of spirits produced was far less than
previously. Again during this period there was
constant agitation as to probable Congressional
action reducing the tax on Whlskey ana tobacco
which interferred with and operated 10 unsettle
business and impair confidence IN these bran ches OF
tax paying home production. The proposed reduce
ton of the tobacco tax occupied the attention OF
the XLVth Congress during the second and third
sessions, pending which manufacturers hoping TOT
the success of the measure of reduction did not
Withdraw their tobacco from the factories and pay
tax at existing rates. The consequence was thatcon-
sinners were supplied by dealers who sold their
stocks bare, and this state of affairs continued
until the LIST OF May. 1879, when the new law re-
ducng the tax tobacco from "a cents TO ~ cents
per pound took effect. Then the manufacturers
poured out their stock on hand paying tax at the
reduced rate from which occurred an estimated loss
of tax on tobacco of about 49, 900 600 for that
1t was well understood by Congress and certainly
is ineligible TO all minds, that an extension
of the time from TO three years for paying the
tax on whIskey, and "a reduction of ths tobacco tax
33l3 per cent would naturally cause decrease OF
revenue.