Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-12-09

nal revenue for the fiscal year of 1875
We're S43, ,449 621, an increase of S2,790,
45S upon the previous year. The re
ceipts for the fiscal year of 1880, in face
of reduction of tax on tobacco, were
S123, ,9Sl, ,916, an increase Of so, ,532,-
294. The receipts for the first
four months of the present fiscal yeal
amounted to S43,7S9,31S, showing al
increase over the corresponding period
Of last year of S3, Sos, ,213. In this con
nectiOn the commissioner says: II
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
at the present ratio would 1926, 100000
Continuing, he says that this large in
crease of revenue is unQuestion ably
due to the prosperous times, and there
would seem to be no reasonable prOba-
bility of material diminution thereof
for several years to come, but on the con-
trary, probability of gradual increase
certalnl Y upon the ratio equal to the
increase Of the population. While
receipts from taxes are thus increasing
IN amount, demands upon the treasury
are being lessened by the reduction of
the public debt, and the annual inter
est charge. 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, | respectfully suggest the
following list of taxes, collected during
the fiscal year 1880, for consideration
of the law making power: Bank checks,
1920, ,421; friction matches, IS, ,561 800;
patent medicines or preparations,
perfumery, cosmetics, ect., $685.
673; bank deposits, $2,347 ,568:
savings bank deposits, $163 207;
bank capital 1911, 1856; total $10,990,-
COG. In the event it is deemed advisa-
ble to take the tax off matches, patent
medicines, ETC., due consideration
should be had to the fact that large
stocks of these articles with the tax al
ready paid are nOwin the hands of the
trade, and that very serious reduc-
ton in their value, especially of matches
would result if the tax were taxed off
suddenly, and articles manufactured
free of tax were brought into competi-
ton with those upon which the exist
ing taxes had been paid. In my opin-
ion an act abolishing these taxes
should not go into effect earlier
than after three months from its pas
rage. The same may be said in regard
to check stamps A large stock of
stamped checks is now in the hands of
individuals, banks and bankers, upon
which stamps have been imprinted. |
think it would be wise that operations
of repeal should be delayed at least
three months SO as to give time for the
use Of these stamps, whenever the in
terests of the government will allOwit.
think it will be wise to cOnfne the
internal revenue taxation to spirits,
malt liquors tobacco, snuff and
cigars, and special taxes upon
manufacturers and dealers in
these articles. [ am of the opinion
that reliance can be placed upon re-
ceiving the sum of 120 million an
nually from these sources which
sum would gradually increase with the
increase of population, but which
would probably be subjected to diminu-
ton upon recurrence of hard times.
In considering the question of reliev-
ing patent medicines from internal
revenue tax it should be understood
that large number of articles put on
the market as medicinal bitters are used
as a beverage by persons engaged in
the sale of such articles and are not re-
quired to pay special taxes as retail
dealers in liquors; so that if these az
ticles were relieved from taxation me-
dicinal bitters would be sold every
where without paying any internal
revenue tax whatever. In passing
upon the right of these various medi-
Gated bitters to be taxed as such and
sold without the paymentof a special
tax as retail liquor dealers, the officers
are often seriously embarrassed to find
the exact line between medicinal bitters
liable to stamp tax, and compound
liquors, subject to be sold only as
beverage In my opinion it would be
wise to continue the stamp tax upon
all medicated bitters, containing more
than 20 per cent. of proof spirits. In
reference to the tax upon savings banks
[ would say. thatin my judgment, these
taxes should be removed, or the whole
legislation upon the subject of taxing
savings banks should be modified and
would seem to be no Just
ground for continuing tax upon
capital and deposits of banks,
and bankers fit is found that the reve-
nues are sufficient without it.
During the last four years
and -four months, 4.O61 illicit
distilleries have been seized and
Z ,339 persons arrested for illicit
distilling. Twenty-six officers and en-
ployes have been killed and 81 wounded
in the enforcement ofthe internal reve-
nue. laws. During the past sixteen
months 1,120 stills have been seized
and ,265 persons arrested, and 10 Off
GERS wounded in the enforcement of
the laws, while the number of stills
seized and persons arrested since
my last annual report Is
very large; l am satisfied that there
will be a decrease henceforward in the
number of such seizures and arrests.
Regarding the encouragement of legal
distilleries, the report says that IN
every county where legal distilleries
have been established in any number,
elicit distilling has almost entirely
ceased. Violent resistance to the law
has become almost unknown, and
there has been large increase of rev.
eDue.
General Raum advocates the passage
of house bill 6,460 entitled "a bill to
regulate the manufacture of vinegar
by the alcoholic vaporizing process"
now pending III congress and says,
sE1Ubila a nrraat M aioritv of mann fa r.