The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-08-18
,,e.r, cen, Accounted For.
,,,.,srv ,yp EFFICIENCY IN THE IN
rrRxAL REVENUE BUREAU GRAr-
,rx,,xe REPORT FROM COMMISSIONER
RAIN.

I HONESTY AM -
rrpx a. REVENUE BUREAr-A GRAr-
rv,xe REPORT FROM COMMISSIONER
/ RAuM.
WASHINGTON, August The fol-
loving Is the text of an official com
mnnieation addresses - ,ne Secre-
tary m of the Treasury to-day, by
Commissioner Raum, of the Bureau
| of Internal Revenue:
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 1880
10 Hon. John Sherman, Secretary Of
the TfeGs,0y:
SIR Since the close of the fiscal
wear which ended June 30, 1880, a
careful examination has been made
of the records and accounts of each
CollectorofInternaiR Revnuet through
out the United States, for the pur-
nose of ascertaining whether the
public money collected had been
duly accounted for take great
pleasure in reporting the fact that
during the past fiscal year S234, ,9S1,-
e16 10 of internal revenue taxes have
been collected, and the entire sum
has been paid into the Treasury.
During the past four fiscal years the
total amount of taxes received by
collectors of Internal Revenue was
s467 ,0S0,SS5 10, and the entire sum
has been paid into the Treasury.
All deficiencies which have occurred
in the accounts of the Collectors dur
ing that period have been made
good by payments into the Treas
ury.
The accounts for disbursements
Tor the last fiscal year have not yet
been closed. | am, therefore, una
bic to STATE the exact expense for
that year. For the four years, how
ever, the total expense of collecting
the above amount of revenue, in
cluding theAsalaries and expenses of
the bureau, will be about Sl9, ,920,00O,
or but litth more than 81 per cent,
upon the amount collected. In the
disbursement of said sum Of money,
the Government has incurred noloss.
Fidelity in accounting for the public
funds is one of the highest tests OF
the efficiency of officers intrusted
with the collection of revenue and
the disbursement of public money:
Judged bv this rule, the officers OF
internal revenue are entitled to q
high rank in the public service, and
take pleasure in bearing testimony
to the fact that, as Il body OF officers
it viii be difficult to improve upon
them in respect to integrity, lnteih-
eence, fidelity and zeal in the per
iormance of duty. 1t has been my
aim to cause the laws to be enforced
with frmness, justice and modera-
| ton. and the officers and agents OF
the internal revenue service nave,
for the most part, administered the
| laws in this spirit, so that at tins
time the relations OF the taxpayers
with the Government and its officers
are harmonious, and the great bulk
of the taxes are paid promptly, with
few penalties and without litigation.
Frauds in most of the districts have
been reduced to minimum.
During the past four years a well
sustained effort has been made to
suppress the Illicit manufacture and
sale of whisky and tobacco in num-
her of districts in the Southern
States, where for many wears these
practices had been rife. During that
period 1874 Illicit stills have been
seized, 7,70S persons arrested for il
licit distilling, and - officers and
emploves have been killed and %
wounded while enforcing the laws.
1t is gratifying to be able to state
that the frauds upon the revenue
have been greatly reduced, and that
violent resistance to law has practi-
callv ceased in all of these districts
except the Second District of Geor-
gia. But it must be borne in mind
that the violations of law and the
spirit of resistance have not been
voluntarily abandoned, but have
been suppressed and dsubdued by the
earnest and determined efforts of the
officers of the Government, sustained
by the courts. | am satisfied that
continued efforts in this direction
will in a short time establish the su-
prcmacv of the laws in all these dis
tricts, and secure the collection of
the revenues of the Government and
the PEACEFUL observance and enforce
ment of the laws.
! append a statement of the col
lections made by districts during the
past fiscal year, with the name of
each Collector, and the amount col
lected and paid into the Treasury by
him.
Very truly,
Your obedient servant.
GREEN b. RAUM,