News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-12-21
THE INTERNAL REVENUE REPORT.
Advising the Repeal of Many Taxes, In
Guiding That on Sugar.

sIoner of Internal Revenue, states that
the internal revenue receipts, since 1879,
have increased year by year $40, 900, 900
to $l2,0OO,000. In 1879, the receipts
were $113, 900, 900, and in the fiscal year
last ended they were $146, 800, 900. The
receipts for the current fiscal year will
probably fall below last years total. but
are likely to reach $145, 900, 900, if the
present taxes are retained.
The Commissioner calls attention to
the maxim that no more revenue should
be raised than is needed to support the
Government economically, and to
gradually reduce its debt, and also to the
TACT that at the present rate of paying the
debt all bonds subject to call will be
paid within three years, after which, in
order to dispose of its surplus revenue,
the Government will have to buy a. and
4 per cent. bonds i'll the open market.
which would probably advance their
price 20 to 30 per cent, to pay which
would be waste of the peoples money.
The debt should be extinguished only at
rate to meet the requirements of the
sinking fund, viz, about 500, 900, 900 per
annum. A reduction of 500 900, 900 to
$40, 100000 in our annual revenues is
urgently called for. He offers the follow
ing suggestions:
In remitting taxation the relief should
fall as far as possible upon necessaries of
life. The great bulk of internal taxation
is derived from liquors and tobacco.
These are articles of luxury, and the
dealers therein are proper subjects for
taxation. Public opinion seems to be
strongly in favor of the retention of these
rba al 81 e int l
alton, with the amounts realized in the
past year, are: Friction matches, s., 272,-
259; patent medicines, etc. 81, 97S, 1885, Sc;
posts, $4,007, 701.9S savings bank de-
posits, $S8, 400. At; bank capital, 81, 1885,
340.S7; savings bank capital, $14, 72938;
total, $12, 7SS, 521. 40. Add to this the
taxes collected by the Treasurer of the
United States from national banks, and
there is a total derived from these
sources of $18, 748, 223.77.
These taxes should be repealed. The
tax ON savings bank deposits is tax on
thrift The tax on patent medicines, ETC.,
is vexatious, being levied upon innumera-
bic articles. The taxes on bank capital,
deposits, and checks are not needed for
revenue. The repeal of these taxes would
would greatly simplify the internal rev.
enue system.
He advises a reduction of 40 per cent.
in the special taxes paid by dealers; also
a reduction of 81 per thousand on cigars.
All the repealed taxes and reductions
above, if carried into eff
feet, would reduce the internal revenue
taxes sos, 502, 1913. He thinks it desir-
able to consider the practicability of
taking the duty off sugar, which now
yields revenue of $45, 900, 900 per an
mum. The best refined sugar, which now
sells at ten cents per pound, could then
be sold at seven, and the reduction would
amount to 80 cents per capita of our pop
ulation. To meet the objection that this
duty now protects the sugar interests in
our Southern States, he suggests that
bounty of % cents per pound might be
paid upon home-prOduced sugar. Our
home product can never meet the de-
mand, as the sugar cane thrives only in
a small area of our territory. The home
product has not increased in 81 years,
while the importations have increased
'our-fold. A bounty was paid for fifty
years to American fishermen, for fish
caught and exported, and similar en-
,ouragement of our sugar interests would
lot be objectionable.
The receipts for the first four months
Of the present fiscal year, as compared
with the same period last year, show an
from cigars, cherOots, cigarettes,
snuff, the special tax of dealers in manu-
tobacco, bank deposits, and bank
and decrease from distilled
spirits, all other taxes on tobacco, and the
special taxes on brewers and dealers In
beer In 1881 the total revenue collected
was S135, 900, 913, and in 1882 it was $146,-
523, 273, showing an increase of 81, $685.
361. Among the largest collection dis
tricts were the First Illinois, so, 466, ops;
Fifth Illinois, $13, 267, 998; First Mis-
souri,, Sc, 1856. 922; First New York. s.,
9S4 1854; Second New York, So, 762, 2f1;
New York, 81, 403, 1886; First |
Pennsylvania, So, OIL ,318. During the
past six fiscal years the sum of S74S, 1884,
OIL has been collected and paid into the |
Treasury without loss by defalcation.
The total cost of collection during the |
past year was S., 10Y, 4S1. The total ex-
penses were less than 81 per cent. on the |
amount collected The force connected |
with the bureau throughout the country |
is: 126 collectors, 976 deputy collectors,
1919 clerks, etc., 2,419 storekeepers and |
gaugers, 80 tobacco inspectors, and 35 |
agents. The reported violations
Of law numbered 1,735
The sweet mash and many of the sour
mash distillers have made an arrange |
ment for reduction of the producing |
of their distilleries. The result |
will be to cut down the reduction of dis
tiled spirits to the demands of the trade |
On November l the spirits in warehouses
to 81, 62S, 331 gallons, mostly |
fine grades of whisky. The stock on
hand is probably equal to six years con-
The demands of the trade
require the postponement of the pay !
ment of tax on this stock until its with
drawal. The Commissioner recommends
an extension of the period during which |
the Government keeps spirits in bond.
Frauds in the manufacture and sale of |
whisky and tobacco have become the ex-
ception rather than the rule, and taxes
are collected with but little litigation.
1t will be necessary to continue the sys-
tenn of policing which has produced this
result. The granting of pensions to per-
SONS disabled while enforcing the revenue
laws, or to their families if killed, is
Thirty-one officers have
been killed and sixty-four wounded in |
5he illicit whisky troubles. During the |
year, 500 stills were seized, All persons
arrested, and four killed.
Mr. Ratlm recommends that the term
If office of collectors of internal revenue
De fixed at four years, and that they be
not subject to removal except for viola
ions of law; also, to protect the revenue
rom frauds, that vinegar factories be
prohibited from using thu alcoholic va
1oiizing process, or else be subjected to
he supervision of Govern ment store
,eeper.
The estimated expenses for the fiscal
ear ending June 30, 1884, are: Collec-
ors, 50, 100, 900; revenue agents, gaugers,
to-, s., 300, 900; dies, stamps, ETC., $780,
90; detection of fraud, $75, 0O0; salaries
4 Office of Commissioner, 1929, 100.
'otal, 1924, 100.
The number of persons who paid
pecial taxes in Illinois were 80, 1923;
indiana, 20, 121; Iowa, 1923; Ken
ucky, IA, 319; Maryland, 1870 Mas
achusetts, 22,345; Michigan, 90, 1875;
Iissouri, "a, 873; New Jersey, 80, 296;
Jew York, So, 419; Ohio, AZ, 431 Penn
ylvania, 81 ,814. Total in all the States
nd Territories, 600, OS6. The total col
ections from tobacco were SAT ,39l,-
1891.
A LADY in Chicago tells very good
tory about three little puppies her hus-
and's fine spaniel brought into the
7orld several weeks ago. Her little girl.
ged six years, was not allowed to see