New-York tribune., 1884-02-29
THE INTERNAL REVENUE SYSTEM.
SOUTHERN CoNGREssMEN ARGUING FOR ITS ABoLI-
TION.

SOUTHERN CoNGREssMEN ARGUING FOR ITS ABoLI-
TON.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUSE.I
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-The Ways and Means
Committee listened to-day speeches by Senators ana
Representatives from Virginia, North Carolina, "eoigm
aud Tennessee in favor of the abolition of the Internal
Revenue system Congressman Cabel spoke for Virginia
Senator Vance and Congressman Bennett, Scales ana
Cox North Carolna Brown for Georgia ana
Congressman Dibre and Caldwell for Tennessee fains
to secure the repeal of the entire system they wou"
be satisfied for the present with the abolition OF inc .
tobacco and spirits distilled from fruits, and' nothing
more could be gained, would try to be contented win
the repeal of the tax on spirits distilled from fruits III
the system is to continue they demand that shall DC so
modified as to do away with the deputies ana spies
who now harass and oppress the Southern people Suos
pictures were presented Of the and injuries III
ced by the Internal Revenue officers upon Ihe pe"co
able mountaneers OF North Carolina. Georgia ana
Tennessee whose moonshine occupations are rudely
disturbed and ruthessy destroyed by the mnion of the
Government.
Mr. Benefits fervid eloquence this subject was
greatly enjoyed He besought the committee to lena
him its ears which moderate request was readily grant
ed He quoted Barnard and Blackstone to show
the adherence with which excise laws were regarded III
England $50 years ago, and then proceeded by easy
stages down the present time ana the
State of North Carolina, which, he saa
is penup Utica" That fact, however, did not seem
spoke earnestly about cystalized OF ber-
ty praised the crysallized sweat OF labor whch pro
duces tobacco from Gods footstOo defended the crys
tazed rights of the citizen" and described as ma
rauding chieftan" the Internal Revenue officer who
"goes forth surrounded by Gordon Of bayonets,
shimmerng in the sunlight, and with snouea
guns ushes his prey" the unsuspecting moonshlner
Mr. Bennett informed the committee that obedience Is
the tap root OF virtue and that "le is earnesis rea
and facts better than theories He then outiheo
plan for the collection OF the spirit tax without onehce
10 the citizens. ,
Senator Vance said the law operates unequally, ana
discrminaes against small grain and fruit dlstlers
of the South. In North Carolina he said there was more
than 600 such dstieries only six of which nave ady
rison asked Senator Brown where the government
sufficient revenue If internal taxes are aDonsneu'
He replied that expenditures might be reduced S'o-
100000 year by bold rcfOIneT such as he hopes 10
see placed at the head of the next administration lie
neglected 10 name the man. ~
Messrs. Hiscock and BlOunt, both OF whom nave seen
wears Of service in the Appropriations Committee
said that il would be impraccable to reduce the
ordinary expenditures of the Government more n0Ie
than S10.O0O000 a year, counting Ihe S0ooo'oVV
now required for collecting the Internal Revenue sen
Tor Vance estimated that the cost OF collecting te TAX Oh
fruit Spirits including the expense OF forced colecons
and other legal proceedings, Is equal 10 tue no'o Vi
collected. --..o..,
Among the oppressive features OF the present system
which we're dwet upon the transfer to United states
Courts of cases brought in State Courts against
Internal Revenue officers General scales
said the amount of Internal Revenue collected
in North Carolina is about twice great the amount
raised by State and local taxation for all purposes, III
cuding education sad the present system fosters
mOnoIoes and he mentioned the bonded spirits bill re-
Gently reported te House example OF the meas
ures bright forward capital and m0DOpOcs