Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-14
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
INTERNAL REVENUE IN GEOR-
GIA.
Reports for the Two Districts-Hubbelrs
Pillagers-Garfield's DOotOrs-The Stu.
alton in New York and Pennsylvania.

| Reports for the Two Districts-Hubbell'.
Pflagers-Garfield's DOotOrs-The Stu
alton in New York and PENNSYLVANIA
WASHINGTON, September l2-Acting Com
missioner Of Internal Revenue, Mr.. Rodgers
is allowing access to the special annual reports
made by the Collectors of Internal Revenue.
The report for the Savannah district was made
by ex-Collector Wade He says that he is sat
isfied that this district is freer from frauds
upon the revenue in the manufacture and sale
Of taxable articles than it had been at any time
since the commencement Of his term of Office.
During the past year the different divisions
have been thoroughly canvasssd for frauds in
the sale Of Illicit tobacco, and he believes that
there is little opportunity for any fraudulent
working combination between the manufacture
ers and dealers, as did exist two or three years
ago, when complaints from wholesale dealers
In the large cities were quite general. The
Illicit distillation Of spirits. which was carried
on In almost every portion of the district four
years ago. has been gradually driven from
each stronghold and overcome, with the ex.
ception Of two counties. With the exception
OF those counties, the Savannah district is as
free from this pest as any section in the
Union. In those two counties, however, the
evil still has foothold in spite of the most
strenuous efforts to suppress it. The senti
ment OF the rough hillsInen seems TO have inl-
proved very little toward an obedience to the
Avs. ,Iney seldom now meet the revenue Off
entirely upon the concealment afforded in
their ewampS and forests for carving on
their Illicit work. They have a system of out
nuaA
over the movements of the revenue officers
that Is very difficult to overreach
since January /, 1881, no less than eleven
Illicit olstlllerles have been seized or DESTROYED
IN tnese counties, and whenever the parties
have been caught or sufficient evidence Oh
tanned they have been held to answer "a fire
courts These methods have been followed
1y tne estaoilshment OF legally registered
trict, and it is hoped that by persevering
In vigorous enforcement of the laws the had
portion OF the district may be brought up to
that just appreciation Of tn laws That obtains
In the other sections Violation of the lew
viii occur from time to time. but il ia believed
that with the exception of the two counties re-.
ferred to-Elbert and Oglethorpe-which EN-
brace but a small portion Of the district obe-
dlence to the laws furnish as general and com
plete arendition of the governments revenues
as Is made in any portion Of the country
Tne sentiment OF the people OF the district
Is better than it has ever been
in regard to complying With the
laws Of the General Government, and the
State officials have shown disposition to assist
and cooperate with the revenue officers of
late that has insured q more complete coIlec-
ton OF the revenues Of both the State and
National governments. The people have come
to realize that uniform enforcement of the
law is necessary to prevent unjust competition,
and act upon it.
COLLECTOR JoHNsoN's REPORT.
In his special annual report Collector John
son, at Atlanta, says that he does not think
that the government is at the present time de
frauded to any great extent in his district
The great mass of citizens of the district not
only do not oppose but favor and encourage
the execution of the internal revenue laws.
There are no combinations to thwart or op-
pose their execution it is true that
the laws and defraud the government
when an opportunity offers, but they have not
combined for such purposes. Most OF the in
ternal Revenue officers are well liked by the
taxpayers, and are meeting with less diff
Guilty in enforcing the laws than in late years
Collector johnson says that on account OF the
very promising outlook for the corn crop he is
informed that there will be good deal OF Illicit
distilling carried on or attempted, but hopes
that this apprehension will not be verified
and that with the assistance of the Internal
Revenue Bureau and the aid Of the laW-abiding
citizens in encouraging the enforcement OF
the Laws, 1t will be entirely abated.
THOSE BILLS
People sincerely hoped that when Congress
passed an appropriation of S35 900 to paw all
the bills of the late Presidents illness that no
more would that matter be haWked and be.
draggled into the halls of Congress. such viii
not be the case, however. The commission of
Treasury officers appointed to audit and settle
all these claims have only had two bills pre-
sented to them, one of which is for S25 O0O
only $40, 900 less than the whole amount appro-
priated, which has been presented by Dr. Bliss
The claimants are not satisfied with the amount
appropriated. They will not present their
claims, but intend to go before Con-
greSs again at the next session and
try it again. If any one should accept the
allotment which the commission of Treasury
officers might be willing to accord him be
could never go to Congress for more. Such
are the terms of appropriation The S35, 600
being so disproportonate to the amount of the
claims, the claimants are not willing to lay
their cases before the commission. There
could be but one result. At the next session
there will be more unseemy wraDgling about
the settlement Of the bills incurred during the
dead Presidents Illness.
AN UNEXPECTED PHASE OF THE THING
The Hubbell committee is surprised and
somewhat out at the nose joint They first
sent out their circulars Of assessments, and
then followed it up with another circular as a
eort OF reminder. The clerks in the Treasury
Department especially did not respond with
any great show of alacrity. Then the COM
mittee sent around collectors who were to re-
ceive five per cent. Of the amount they sue
ceeded in robbing the clerks of. Secre-
to go through the Treasury Department.
When he left on his trip short time ago the
Hubbell committee, thinking this a good op-
portunity, put watchman Of the department,
a man named Molair, on the war path. MoIair
went at it, and for the past few days has been
doing some work in collecting. He struck last
Friday the office of the United States Treasu-
rer, Mr.. Gilhllan, and asked permission to go
among the clerks in that office. Mr.. Gilhllan
wanted to see his authority for making such
demand. Molair pulled out letter from the
Hubbell committee He was told he
from secretary Folger. But that / can't
get" he said. Then" replied Mr. GiIfilIan
you cannot visit any of my clerks" Molair
left. The other Treasury officers, learning of
the stand taken by the Treasurer, soon, with
one or two exception, put themselves on the
same ground. The Hubbell picsings in the
Treasury Department promise to be very light
indeed in the future.
ABOUT NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA.
The great States Of New York and PennsyI
vania excite the most interest evidently in poll
tics, judging from what the politicians here
talk Every New Yorker and every Pennsyl-
vanian who so5ourns ever so shortly at the ma
course these views are varied as
the politics of the visitor
is. But it seems to be the preponderance of
opinion that the Cameron machine in Penn
sylvania is this time broken beyond doubt.
There does not seem to be, however, much
chance for the Democratic candidate to slip in.
The reports generally TEND towards the cleo
tion of the Independent Republican Guberna-
torial candidate, with the balance of the ticket
shared between the Independents and the stall
warts. Senator Mitchell, heretofore the most
active opponent OF Cameronism. is reported
to be acting strangely. Some Pennsylva-
mans say that he has been, to
a very great extent, fixed by
Don Cameron. In New York reports 60 it
that Folger will certainly be the stalwart can.
didate for Governor. He will have the sup
port of the administration, though il will not
be accorded any too warmly. Folger has been
a little too liberal in his management Of the
Treasury Department to entirely please stall
wart Arthur or the other stalwarts. 1t must
be admitted that New York Democrats who
came here do not talk very confidently Of party
harmony. OF course it is for the same aid
Kelly will prevent such harmony.
pQTOEFlC