Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-23
THE INTERNAL REVENUE.
ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMITS
sIONER MILLER.


June 30, SI12,42I, 121-IllinOis Pays
the Most Tax on Spirits-Recommend
atoms as to Future Methods.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-The annual
report of Hon. Joseph 5. Miller, Commas
sioner of Internal Revenue, shows that
the total receipts from all sources Of In
ternal revenue taxation for the fiscal year
ended june 80, 1888 were Sll2,42l,l2l as
compared with $l2l590,o39 for the year
1884. Sl44.5l3.S44 for the wear lSS3' ana
gftb 523 273 for the year 1889. 1t was esti-
mau.d that tae receipts for the last nscal
year would be about $ll5. 900. eco, aud that
they fan over 5000 900 short OF the estl-
maIethat the Comm Sei0uer SAYS resulted
from tina seven months extension al
lowed for the expectation Of distilled splr-
lis in bond on g. Mich a tax was due.
100000 GALLONS ABROAD.
He adds hat there are now about 7,0O0,-
900 gallons of distilled spirits abroad
which to find a market will have 10 be re-
imported. This with more than lO,O00,OOO
gallons that had on June 30 last been In
pond for tnree years or longer under the
seven months extension, afforded ample
margin for assuming that tue receipts for
the current fiscal year would aggregate
at least 10, 100000.
THE TOTAL DECREASE.
A table giving the receipts during the
last two fiscal years, shows that there
was a decrease of 1894 III in the collec-
tons on spirits, an increase of S344,6SS on
tobacco, an increase of $l45,S21 on Ter
mented liquors and an increase OF S24, 03O
from banks and bankers. The total de-
crease was SO. 16S 9l9. The largest collec-
tions were made in the State OF Illinois,
amounting to $23, 075 S65. Kentucky was
second with $l4, $40, 475, New York third
with S13, S23645, Ohio fourth with Sl2 3D.
b16. PENNSYLVANIA fifth with $1,37l ,209,
Missouri sixth with So. 276, 1865 and Indiana
seventh with 81, OBJ. S66. The collections
in Virginia amounted to $3,052, $50.
VERMONT AT THE BOTTOM.
The smallest collection was made in
Vermont, amounting to S29.SJO. The
total receipts for the first quarter OF the
present fiscal year were $2S.6IO, 149, beng
an Increase of $23, sos over the collections
OF the corresponding period during the
previous fiscal year. The cost of collec-
ton for the past fiscal year was 81, 1854
against So ,9l4 for the previous year.
The total expenses Of the service for the
past year was about SO per cent. Of the
amount collected. The Commissioner re-
ports the general condition Of the service
10 be good and that the collectors and
their subOrdinates show commendable
zeal IN the performance of their duties.
VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.
Six hundred and twenty-four violations
OF the internal revenue law have been re-
ported during the year. Two hundred
and thirty-four persons were arrested.
Property to the value of $l71 .052 was re-
ported for seizure and $52, 500 for assess
ments for unpaid taxes and penalties. He
recommends an increase in the number
of revenue agents. The estimated eX-
peDses of the service for the next fiscal
year are SASS, 100. There was reduc-
lion OF 926 in the force of stOrekeepers,
guagers, etc, during the year and re-
duction Of . in the clerical force of the
bureaus. The number Of stamps issued to
collectors during the year was 500, sos, 339,
of the value of $l23.3SS, $50.
THE TOBACCO INTEREST.
The report ofthe tobacco interestfor the
last fiscal year shows gratifying results.
Not only has there been a small increase
in the amour of taxes collected, but a
marked increase Of the manufactured
product, and an unusually large increase
Of the quantity of these products exported
TO foreign countries.
The whole number OF grain distille-
ries registered the past year was ,195, of
which only 9lS were reported. being de-
crease Of 96 in the number registered and
100 in the number operated during the
previous fiscal year.
FRACTIONS OF A GALLON.
The commissioner invites special atten-
ton to the necessity of legislation, having
Tor its object the taxing OF all fractions of
8 gallon Of distilled spirits, and says the
operation Of the present system of taxa
ton has resulted in a loss OF very appre-
ciable amount ofrevenue. The commits
eioner also recommends that the pro-
visions Of the act of March 3, 1877, under
which grape brandy producers are
afforded the advantage Of three years stor-
age OF their product in special bonded
warehouses which are authorized 10 be
established for that purpose. be made an
plcable to Gistillers of brandy from all
fruits.
USE OF WOOD NAPIHA.
The commissioner says he is informed
that certain manufacturers are sue
cessfully using wood napthia in their
business to the detriment Of others EN-
plOying tax paid grain alcohol, and that
the process of GeOdorizng wood. alcORol
has been so far perfected as to render il
possible TO employ 1t in many arts and
trades in place OF ethyc alcohol without
detection and possibly with equal adYan-
tage. The quantity OF spirits produced
and deposited IN distillery warehouses
during the year Is 520,376 gallons less
than the previous year.
TAXES PAID AND wTTHDBAwN. ~.
The quantity of spirits withdrawn, tax
paid, from distlllery warehouses during
The year is 10 sos, 1913 gallons less than in
the preceding year. The quantity OF dis.
TILED spirits IN the United States, except
what may be in customs bonded ware.
houses. on Oct. 1,1SSj, was 80, 1910 gal
Ions, distributed as follows: In distillery
and specia bonded warehouses A.. 502. 1874
gallons, in the hands Of wholesale liquor
dealers 1926, 1872 gallons. in the hands OF
retail liquor dealers 27,347. 700 gallons. In
making the above computation the aver
age stock Of each retail liquor dealer in
the United States is estimated at $50 gal
Ions.
ASSESSMENTS on DISTILLED SPIRITS.
There was decrease Of 5 $50 Ola OF tho
assessments on distilled spirlt3 as CON-
pared with the previous year, mainly be.
cause the production Of distilled spirits
three years agO was less than it Was four
years ago, aad because large quantities of
spirits on which the tax had become due,
were bonded for export and suffered 60
remain in the warehouses without pay
ment or assessment OF tue tax FOR "a period
not exceeding seven months. The com.
a missioner recommends that the office OF
' inspector Of tobacco be abolished and his
duties be devOlved upon the collectors OF
the districts where inspections of ~.
bacco, snuff, cigars or cigaretts for ex.
portatiOn are necessary, and that export.