National Republican., 1886-07-29
The whisky Cat in Mr.. Hewitt's Meal
Tub.

Tub.
The whisky interest is determined not to
pay the tax on that product when IL be-
comes due, and Congress is determined not
TO extend the time Of three years during
which It may remain in bond with the tax
unpaid. The whisky men have secured a
notification Of the law by the treasury off,
cials to this extent: They begged of from
paying the tax on about seven millions Of
gallons on the pretense that they were
going to "export" IL. Secretary McCul-
loch gave them six months time, after the
tax was due and payable, within which to
send the whisky abroad. They gave
bonds to export It. At the end Of
the six months they concluded not to
export more than one-hfth Of IL. Thus
by false representations they obtained
six months grace on the remainder In
violation OF law. Secretary Manning had
then succeeded Mr.. McCulloch. His sub
ordinates in the department took no steps
to enforce the penalty Of the expectation
bonds. Nor was there any enforcement of
the penalty prescribed by law for the ne
glect to pay the tax. But these dellnquents
were allowed TO withdraw their whisky at
their own convenience, from time TO time.
upon merely paying the naked tax, which
was due and payable seven months before.
(The law gives one months time within
which TO export, after the tax is due. Nc.
Culloch added six months 10 that.) Thus
there was found way to extend for six
months the time for paying tho tax in
spite Of Congress.
But this six months extension was not
enough. The three years refused by Con-
gress must somehow be hatched out OF ex-
istipg laws.
Although two Attorneys General have de.
clared that whisky exported to be brought
back is not 'exported" at all, yet the rec
ord shows that about million and half
OF gallons have been thus ''exported" and
returned as foreign import Instead of
being seized and made to pay the penalties
provided by law, 1t is enjoying the honors of
the warehouse system, under which 1t is
excused from payment OF duty for year,
and can be still further excused for two
years upon payment Of 10 per cent.
The whisky men have thus found way
the six months referred to, and are now
moving at lively pace for the other two
years. In this latter enterprise they flud
themselves greatly indebted TO Representa-
tive Abram S. Hewitt. He has Just re-
ported bill (H. II. sT30) in which the
whisky cat is so entirely concealed In the
warehouse and revenue meal-tub that It
would be impossible for even Thomas b..
Reed or Frank Hiscock to find 1t without
assistance. Section 2 Of this bill provides
that any merchandise Qncluding of course
sreimported whisky may be withdrawn
from bonded warehouses at any time within
three years (instead OF one) on payment OF
the naked duty, instead Of having, as now,
to pay 10 per cent. after the first year. This
would, II passed, complete the scheme OF
the whisky ring. They would, under this
| Hewitt bill, be enabled TO export their
whisky after keeping it in this country for
three years, and then keep 1t three years
longer after reimporting II before paying a
cent of taxes or duty to the government.
This cunning device has been heralded fre-
quently in the press dispatches as Mr.
Hewitt's plan for orimproving tho administra
ton Of the revenue lays. It was given out
that 1t was to be tackled on to Morrison't
tariff bill or Randall's, whichever might &C
through. AS both failed, the Hewitt re
form(D Of the customs laws comesin all by
itself in sanity garb, and with its eyes rolled
up as II to testify to its own goodness. And
the committee on ways and means have
authorized Mr.. Hewitt TO ask for suspen.
sion Of the rules to accomplish this grand re-
for-r-rm. When he does he will do well tc
explain away the above explanation. AND
at the same time he might explain tht
third section, which provides that all good
| Cncluding whisky now In bond shal
have the benefit of any reduction
of duty hereafter made. The duty oI
whisky is the same as the internal tax. i
there to be a raid on Congress to reduc,
the whisky taxi And is this section taking
time by the forelock and giving whisky
fraudulently ''reimported" reduction o.
duty, when paid, equal to the reduction
that may be made in tho taxi
Mr.. Hewitt, In his report accompanying
his bill, discusses 1t exclusively in its bear
ing on sugar. But 1t has only enough suga
In 1t to 60 with the whisky. Hs shoult
| amend the title, and have II read "a bill
to extend for three years the time for pay
ment Of the whisky tax" The bill is II.
$50. 1t furnishes an additional reason
why Senator Dawes should press his investi
cation In the Senate.
|
| "Bedad, Your Excellency."