National Republican., 1880-08-05

Inc lOllOWlng is inc text OF an onClal COM
municaton addressed to the secretary of the
treasury yesterday by Commissioner Raum of
tho bureau Of internal revenue:
WASHINGTON, p. c., August 1, 1850.
lion. John Sherman, ScrttqiR Qf ne Treasury!
SIN; Since the close OF the fiscal year which
ended June 10, 1850, q careful examination has
been made of the records and accounts Of each col
lector of Internal revenue throughout the United
states for the purpose Of ascertOining whether the
public money collected had been duly accounted
l take great pleasure in reporting the fact that
during the past fiscal year Sl239Sl gig 10 Of internal
revenue taxes have been collected, and that the
cntre sum hos been r0id into the treasury.
During the past four fiscal years the total amount
Of taxes received by collectors of internal revenue
was St67 ,0S0 sSjl0, aud the entire sum has been
paid Into the treasury. All deficiencies which have
occurred In The accounts OF collectors during that
period have been made good by payments into the
treasury.
The accounts for disbursements for the last fiscal
year have not yet boon closed. am, therefore,
unable to state the exact expense for that year.
For the fOur years, however the total expense Of
collecting the above amount of revenue including
the salaries and expenses Of this bureau, will he
about sl692o0t0 or but little more than three aud
n-halfper cent upon the amount collected. In
the disbursement Of said sum OF money the gov
crntnent has incurred no loss.
Fidelity IN accounting for tho public funds Is
one of the highest tests OF the efficiency of Officers
intrusted with the collection Of revenue and the
disbursement ofpublc money Judged by this
rule, tho officers ofinternnl revenue arc entitled
to high rank in the public service, and I take
take pleasure in bearing testimony 10 the fact
that, as body ofoicers, IL will be difficult to i'm
prove upon them in respect to integrity. intcli-
gence fidelity and zeal In the performance OF duty
II has bcen my aim 10 cause the laws TO be ell
forced with hrmness, justice and moderation, aud
the officers and agents of the internal revenue
service have for the most part Administered the
laws In this spirit, so that at this time the relations
of 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 re-
duced 10 n minimum, During the past four years
a wcll.Sustaincd effort has been made to suppress
the Illicit manufacture and sale of whisky aud
states, whero for many years these practices had
been rife. During that period 1874 Illicit s,ill2
nave been seized, 707S persons arrested for Illicit
dlstillng, aud twenty-five officers and employees
have been killed aud ffly.ive wounded while en-.
iorcrlnfhe laws
II Gratifying to be able to state that the frauds
upon the revenue have been greatly reduced, and
ceased in all these districts except the second
district of Georgia, but 1t must be borne IN mind
that the violations of lazy aud the spirit of resist
ancc have not been voluntarily abandoned, but
have been suppressed aud subdued by the earnest
and determined efforts of the officers Of the govern
ment sustained by the courts. | ain satisfied that
continued efforts in this direction will in q short
time establish the supremacy Of the laws in all Of
these districts and secure the collection of the rev.
enues of the government aud the peaceful obserY-
ance and enforcement OF the laws.
append statement OF the collections made by
districts during the past fiscal year with the name
Of each collector and the amount collected and
paid into the treasury by him.
Very respectfully, your Obedient servant,
GREEN j. RAUM, Commissioner.