The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-12-10
INTERNAL REVENUE.
synopsis of Commissioned Raunn's
Report.

synopsis of Commissioner Raunn's
Report.
The annual report Of Gen. Green B. Raum,
Commissioner of Internal Revenue, for the
fiscal year, is lengthy document. After call
ing attention to the vast improvement in the
condition of the service the report shows that
tho receipts of internal revenue for the fiscal
year Of 1879 were $113, 449 62l, an increase of
S2,795, 453 upon the previous year. The re-
ceipts for the fiscal year 1880, in the
face Of reduction Of the tax on
tobacco, were S123, 1881, 1916, an increase
of s1O,532,294. The receipts for the
first four months of the present fiscal year
amount to S43, 789,318, showing an increase
over the corresponding period of last year Of
SO. 658, 2l3. In this connection the Commits
sioner saws /: ~ know Of no reason why this
increase should not be maintained during the
fiscal year, SO that the total collections for the
year from internal-revenue taxes Mt the present
ratio would be $125,000,c00." Continuing, he
says:
This large increase Of revenue is unques-
tionably due To prosperous times, and there
would seem to be no reasonable probability OF
n material diminution thereof for several years
to come hut, on the contrary, probability Of
gradual increase, certainly upon ratio equal
to the increase Of population. While the re-
ceipts from taxes are thus increasing In
amount, the demands upon the treasury
are being lessened by reduction OF the
public debt and the annual interest charged.
1t is probable therefore, that Congress will
be disposed to relieve the people from
some of the internal-revenue taxes and,
if such reduction Is to be made, l respectfully
suggest the following list OF taxes collected dur
ing the fiscal year 1880 for consideration Of the
law-mallng power Bank-checks, 1920. 42l;
fri ti M
or preparations of perfumery, cosmetics, ETC.,
S1,S56,673; bank deposits, $2,347, 56S; saw
ings.bank deposits S1G3,207; bank capital
5S11 436 total $40, 800, COG. In the event thatt
is deemed advisable to take the tax of matches,
patent medicines, ETC., due consideration should
be had to the fact that large stocks Of these
articles, tax-paid, are now III the hands Of the
trade, and that o very serious reduction in
their value, especially Of matches, would re-
suit if the tax were taken of suddenly, and
the articles manufactured free of tax were
brought into competition with those upon
which the existing taxes had been paid. In
my opinion, an act abolishing these taxes
should not 60 into effect earlier than say, three
months from Its passage The same may be
said in regard to check stamps. Considerable
stocks Of stamped checks are now in the hands
of individuals banks and bankers upon which
the stamps have been imprinted. 1 think it
would be wise that the operation Of the repeal
should be delayed at least three months. so as
to give time for using these stamps. When
over the interests of the Government will allow
it, think it will be wise to confine Internal
revenue taxation to spirits malt liquors. to-
bacco, snuff, cigars, and special taxes upon
manufacturers and dealers in these articles.
am of opinion that reliance can be placed
upon receiving the sum Of S120,000,00O
annually from these sources, which
sum would gradually increase with the
increase of population but would probably be-
Tod IN mn n M
hard times. In considering the question Of
relieving patent medicines from internal-reve-
nue. taxes, il should be understood that large
number Of the articles put on the market and
taxed az medicinal bltters are used as bever-
age Persons engaged in the sale OF such
articles are not required to pay special taxes
"a retail dealers i'll liquors, 80 that,
if the articles were relieved from taxation
medicinal bitters would be sold everywhere
without paying any internal-revenue tax what
ever. In passing upon the right Of these vari-
olls medicated bitters to be taxed az such, and
sold without specialtax as retail liquor-dealers,
the Office is often seriously embarrassed 10 find
the exact line between medicinal bitters, liable
to stamp tax and compound liquor, subject
to be sold only as beverage. In my opin-
ion, 1t would be wise to continue the stamp tax
upon all medicated bitters containing more than
20 per cent proof spirits. In reference to the
tax upon savings banks, l would Say that, In
my Judgment these taxes should be removed,
or the whole legislation upon the subject Of
taxing savings banks should be modified and
made more equitable, and there would seem to
be no just grounds for continuing the tax upon
the capital and deposits Of banks and bankers
if it is found that revenues are sufficient with
out IL.
..During the last four years and four months
406l illicit distilleres have been seized and
1888 persons have been arrested for illicit dis
tllling. Twcnty-six officers and employees have
been killed and fifty-seven wounded in the en-
forcenent of the internal-revenue laws. During
the past sixteen months 1.120 stills have been
seized, ,265 persons arrested, and ten officers
wounded III the enforcement of tho laws.
While the number Of stills seized and persons
arrested since my last annual report is very
large, l am satisfied there will be q decrease
henceforward IN the number Of such seizures
and arrests"
Regarding the encouragement OF legal distil-
leries, the report says:
"In every county where legal distilleries
have been established in any number illicit
distllling has almost entirely ceased. Violent
resistance to law has become almost unknown,
and there has been a large increase OF reve-
me-"
The granting OF the increased appropriations
asked for the collecting Of taxes from these
distillGries is specially urged. Additional logis-
lation for the protection OF the lives and per-
SONS of the officers Of the United States from
the unlawful assaults of those who resist their
autho' ity Is also recommended.
The total cost Of collecting the internal rove
nue. for the fiscal year was 81, 5O5, s42, being
1863 per cent OF the total amount collected.
The estimates for the expenses for the fiscal
year ending June 80 1882, are "a, 895, $50
During the fiscal year Oil, 002,6l4 stamps
were issued, tho value Of which was S13i, 9a2v-
500.
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