New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-05

~ towns cites or municipal eorTorai ioas pam our,
D yG ~ coected Of go 55 ~ ed o collections
of back taxes under repealed laws OF soDSv or se.,
a, rShjcb thev are collected This fact accounts Tor
the slight discrepancy between The akgIrgan sgliv
cns for the TWO years as ,n,n The treasury
BY warrants during the same years "A.
The Commissioner lenews the ~ fsctons Of
gallons Of distilled spirits. The expenence oi nr
office has demonstrated concusyey ma. ns nrSof
a. 10 mako their packages contain constantly a'so
and often the largest possible untaxed frseno H.
taxable fraction OF gallon occurring only Dy sus'.
mlscbance In the cerfsnment OF the contents OF
package Of distilled spirits which are either exac,y
or below proof 10 fraction occurs other thar, one
half Of gallon bu, when the spirits arr above PROV
final traction of any sizc IN the computation and
collection of the tax the law provides only tof me
dropped or treated whole gallon, az n falls below
or increases beyond hst gallon. douotless upon ths
dropped and added would be. average, about the
same. But the advantages thus derived by dstlisrs
has .6 @Tt GetO tn Sc ' By wahour e spirits b
packages smaller than barrels. 50 as 70 double ana
even guadrIp!e tho untaxcd fraction of less than
The loss to fhe revenue by this adrot manipulation
gives rise to much discomfort on the part OF tbos
diSiiilers OF fine whskey whose profucf nes tnrco
unable to utilize this expcdlcn for evading the pay
ment Of portion OF the iay IN yiew Of Al ne
facts The rocomineNatlon Oh the 'ohHissner ~
TIE Commissioner reports that the number Of
ADEQUATE 10 tho needs Of the service and recommend
that five additional agents be authorized
ALASKA
Tho rapid development OF the Territory OF ALASKA
in population and trade appears not to have berS
forcseen by those I'm authority and in consequence
the customs legislation applicable to that collection
dis riot l. found to be inadequate and unsultsu 10
pr srut needs This condition is a misfortune TO the
ipeope Who amid difficulty and dscouragemcnt.
adding the resources OF vast and prom sing DOMAIN
The present volume of trade Is not Jess than slo
600 900 per annIm and IS instantly grOwng. I'M.
attention a. a promising field for the investment Oh
capital skin, and energy. IL has al,o uesom ae
interesr Ell in It's INDUS res In 1854 when the Terri
tory was organized into civIl and judiea district
S Sng se ao@ ters oa are four S and PEI
month during The summer, ana consqeraoie nuiho'
OF sallvesseis. In southeastern Alaska there Is
large coastw,e trade consisting principally Ia the
products of the salmon industry sh-ols' furs mineral
sitka the only legal port Is nearly 500 l miles lss
distant from DIXON Ehtrancs Lne b eoutSeaStern
peninsula Is q<lucted. 1t does not APPEAR prac 80
to protect tie revenue or Ieasoaa1y Az on,ou az
public interests without a port OF delivery near me
boundary channel Mary Island has been fayorably
mentioned a. site FOR such port by navlgstos.
are needed for the construction of the necessary Gus
tom House buildings to answer immediate needs ana
The only present aids to navigation are the topogsph
cal features of the country. which have not pr1ye,i
available to prevent serious loss To shipping. lhIs
accommodation Is needed public grounds, IN order
that vessels may receive perm son to land passeneIs
way 10 Ska am also advised that angel. Juneau.
Sand Point Kodiak and Ounalaska should :, pe IN
eIothed With annroprafe powers In $50 the
rotary OF the Treasury authorized Deputy
10 be stationed Of these places, win lnsur
tons to enter and clear vessels and receive dpteS ana
fees This action without authority OF Jaw snd
the trade Of the TeTro haf gesem 70 100 gay
II Is desirable that early steps he taken ior aSnS
off and rescrving sizes In Aasha Tor mgtp rOSIs and
expense by Of the Occupation OF the becesa'
II has been found impractlcabe 70 give any, APP
precatve effect to the laws and regulations ioydans
The Introduction Of sprog{ Liquors mo tTord s sd
verse TO prohibition, and the Executive IS withon,
means to enforce the law OYER so erS ana o,en ana
the consequences TO the natives most depofaDe inc
subject is Of such notorety that It Is Only neces
sary TO remind Congress that there mas peeh no no
amelIoretion of the particularly nievous condition oi
the natives in the Aleuiian Islands me Vision o.
latng the Indian service over Alaska is worthy %
attention.
SEAL ISLANDS.
The lease now held by the Alaska Commercial COM
pany of the exclusive right 10 take fr-seas on the
islands OF St. Paul anf George in Behrng sea. ex-
pires on the LIST day Of May next. BY the provision
OF Sections 1853 10 1867, Revised statutes, TIE seee-
tary Of the Treasury required TO lease TO proper ana
responsible parties. for the best advantage OF the
United states. having due regard for the neres 81
the Government, the native Inhabitants their comfort
maintenance and education. the right Of taking hf-
seals the Islands named. and OF sending Vessels
thereto for the skins talen for the term OF twenty
years. an annual rental Of not lass than SooOoo,
and tax Of - upon each frseal skln tat.n
during the continuance OF the lease ihese prONlsIl.
impose q large measure Of responsibility upon me
secretary and the Official record of legislative pro-
ceeings In the preceding session OF Congress IN
dictates that IT IS re viii Of that body that such as
cretOn should remain as originally PROVIDED IN the
The present csseos of the seal islands pay an annual
rental of $4,000 and combined revenue TAX ana
royalty OF ~ 62 . per skin and an experience On
twenty years has shown the capabiiiy OF the easing
system, when faithfully administered; to respond 10
the various public Interests concerned.
The Prbyoy Islands are now the only impor'pSn AM
estimated TO number fIom 100000 to 6'oOO00O q
seals. but the Treasury agents on duty az ths Ssnns
have begun TO note an apparent decrease ~ 'hu an
ber of seals esoriing to the islands IN me Dfssdns
crease is but temporary for should the pfbyloy hera
disappear there IS none TO replace IT, IL Is estmstea
borIzed sealing vessels during the breeding seasons OF
1888 and 1889 and a. the great majority Of these We're
there was IN bc a bd 9 eS oon dSppeS Under
such declmauon Of its PRODUCTIVE nen men even M
seals away from their haunt I'm advance Of their ex-
termination - go , =, 49, ,..ss
authority upon the Executive 10 protect the seals
within the waters of the United states but an APP
preparation IS necessary 10 prov We ehNuNe heens
for ~ prrsinr that authority There not enough
revenue cutters at the disposal of the Department TO
properly police the sealing grounds during the dense
fogs that prevail throughout e breeding season. and
the great number Of petty vessels engaged In maraufns
would render ii impossible for their captors 20 furnish
prize crews 10 take them all 10 Sitka for condemnation
The present and prospects OF the industry soem
to call for prompt and energetic measures 10 preserve
tho valuable Prbylov herd from des ructOn or dis
perslon IL Is suggested that a sufficient force OF
cruising vessels should be chartered. equipped and
manned. auxiliary 10 such revenue vessels as could
BE- spared from stations. and depot for prisoners es
ablished AT Ounalaska. whence they could be trans
ferred 10 ska and dealt With according 10 law. II Ia
believed that two or three Of energetic effort
would break up the present destructive and threatening
operations.
REVENUE MARINE.
Tho expenses of the revenue-cutter service were
1905, 500 during the fiscal year. OF which s67 600
were spent in repairs six of the vessels and $40 800
In arnhn hut 1lnLu o. In,