New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-15
EXCISE METHODS DEPENDED.
LETTER FROM MORRIS FRIEDsAM.

LETTER FROM NORRIS FRlEDSAM.
pr.soss WHICH LED TO THE ADOPTION OF THE
METHODS COMPLAINED OF.
Morris Friedman. District Collector Of Internal
Revenue, who was formerly memper OF tne
of Excise Commissioners yesterday wrote alettertc
Mayor Edison regarding the alleged defects IN tne
management of the Department Of Excise. FOLLOW
IN arc portions of the letter:
when NV late colleagues and myself assumed the
duties OF Commissioners of Excise: some three years
since we found the system OF bookkeeping In vogue IN
the Office insufficient for the prevention OF 1rau
new and efficient sysiem was therefore adoptco'
hch was ackno wledged by the Commissioners OF hc-
counts not only good but very creditabe 10 Ine
Commissioners of Excise. and under its operation Tue
amount received from licenses was LARGELY increased
fbIs increase amounting 10 S150000 in one year
Ar the same time the Board adopted rule by when all
licenses Issued dated from the expiration OF pre-
yious licenses-or from the date OF commencing bnsi,
ness in cases where previous license mad
been issuei-although the payments for such licenses
ninety days thereafter During this interval number
of these applicants we're arrested for selling liquor Will
ont license but before their reached the cOuf
many OF them paid for their licenses 0nd when hrir
cases called in court produced the same showing
that they covered period beginning prior 10 the date
of their arrest whereupon their were usually dis
missed This antedang of licenses being considered an
important question OF law by the Commissioners o.
was by them referred 10 the counsel OF the Board
who gave the opinion that the Commissioners mad no
tis% Localized what had been a violation
Of law the part Of the liquor deaer and acting nur
mi, oppion the Commissioners decided TO date licenses
from the day on which payment therefor was MADE,
thus leaving to the dealers the accountaotY ior uos
huSiuPss
date which their licenses were grahou anu Iho u"0
on which payment was.made. - Ar, .,,
I'M to the discrepancies between inc nuh-
Der OF specia receipts Issued by the Internal rev
enue Department and the number OF licenses issued D
the Board of Excise, / would state that this suJect
fcrrs of the Society for the Prevention r., OF
Crime aud should be well understood ino
limited States Internal Revenue officers Issue specla "a
rece To any person who sells or onrs Tor sa1 sIl
uous or malt liquors without any regard TO the indVu
nal while the Board of Excise only issue licenses 10
those character Is proven 10 the
O. tine Board The collection OF the Internal Revenue
tax IL simple and effective, !f person lniis 70
nav the special tax required by law tnsl PEI 10
pored by the Collector t. the commissioner OF iteIn'
Eevenue for tue assessment OF tie am0u1t oil the TAX
with penalties added his neglect, and H. atter ssses
Ia emo wered levy the property OF the uehqIent
ana also forward his name 10 the onite1 S,s.ss
trct- Attorney for criminal prosecution lns lotoi
iusurrs the PROMPT collection OF the Government TAX
On The other hand the Excise laws Of tins state are com
pcaed aud deficient and confer no power on tno uOlh
tine PROMPT pay mcnt thereof. Tho bOsfu Is
CON PEELED 10 refer the cases OF ueihqnleeh.s
10 the police authorities Tor arrest. incF
are then brought before police justices ana held III ho.
nal rail for trial before the Court OF SeasioDs ana
deIava OF months occur before their cases are
I'm regard % the question OF keeping an apnsbctlcaI
record OF surcties permit me 10 state tha wue such
record mig BIT be desirable addition, the Board was AT
least during OF Office provided with record OF
lcensees or principals opposite the name OF each OF
which are entered the names OF their sueteH ana Ihs
reason that the surees OF any particular psrson could
be Ascerianed at glance. whe the pan suggested III
your would neceeitate search through the en-
fire record for the same information