The Iola register., 1885-10-30
KANSAS LIQUOR LICENSES.

Commlssioner Miller Of the United States
Revenue Service, lnstructs Collector
| Acers.
! LEAvESwoHTH, KAN, October 23-For
some time past Colonel N. F. Acers, Collec-
tor of Internal Revenue for Kansas and the
Indian Territory. has been beset by parties
for the purpose Of getting copies Of form
eleven, in order to ascertain the names O.
two thousand and fifty-fve persons holding
retail liquor dealers stamps. OF these
| about nino hundred are druggists and the
balance sell liquor i'm defiance of the State
law. Collector Acers, having refused many
Of these applicants, alleging that 1t inter
fered with the work In his Office, they
threatened to appeal to Commissioner Mil
Ter. In order to settle the matter. Colone.
Acers asked Mr.. Miller for instructions, and
is in receipt Of the following letter:
| N. +. Acers, ESQ.,. Collector of Internal
Revenue. Kansas; LeavenwOrth. Kan.
| wASHTN'iTON. d. c., October y, 1sS5. S5.-TREAs-
TRr DEPARTMENT. OFFICE OF iNrEnSAL
stant has been received, regarding efforts OF
| persons WHO are Interesting themselves in
the enforcement of the laws of Kansas
] against the sale of Intoxicating liquors to
| procure from the papers and records of yonr
onice evidence to support indictment under
me demanding certified copies Of form II ON
| file here. In special cases they have de-
manded full lists of parties holding tax paid
stamps as x. l.. ID. and H. ~ L. ID. in certain
towns. in certain .es. in certain counties,
and for the entire collection district.
You are hereby directed not to furnish GER
turns on Form II. filed in your Office or any
lists of persons holding special tax stamps
as retail liquor dealers, etc, in your district,
and, in answer to subpoena iuces .cculu
n 90
other records. and you will request the
United States District Attorney to appear on
your behalf and state to the court your rea.
records come to your knowledge and posses
sion i'm your Ofiic al capacity only; that they
relate to the business of your Office ana
are intended by law to aid you i'm the cOliec-
ton of internal revenue: and that they are
privileged from disclosure on the ground Of
public policy.
The list OF special taxpayers to which Sec
ton 324J revised statute refers IS required,
by the statute to be placed and kept in your
Office for public Inspection. 1t must, there
fore, not be removed therefrOm even upOn q
subpoena duces tecum.
Section 3g40 reads as follows: Each Col
lector of Internal Revenue shall, under reg,l-
'af,ons or the e, Commissioner OF lnterna!
Oiilce for public inspection. an alphabetical
list of the names of all persons who shall
have paid special taxes within his district,
and shall state thereon the time, place and
business for which such special taxes have
been paid
The words '.under regulations of the Com
missioner of Internal Revenue" relate m Gre
ly to the placing and keeping of the list for
the purpose of public inspection. and do not
warrant any objection of the public I'm the
eNaninatiOn of the list, II they make use of
Their privilege in Il reasonable manner 80 as
not to interrupt the work OF the Collectors
Office. While shis section was, as you sug.
gest. enacted solely to aid i'm the discovery or
persons who. without complying with the
law, sre or have been engaged in busincss
for which special tax Is required to be paid.
there is no way for you to prevent those who
inspect the list from making use of this
kncw,edge thus gained for other purposes.
should not advise you to prevent those
who inspect the list from copying names,
etc. therefrom If this does not interfere
with the proper performance OF the work OF
your Office. Respectfully.
JOSEPH s. MILLER,
Commissioner