Wichita eagle., 1889-11-19
INTERNAL REVENUE.
The Annual Report of Commissioner Mason
Given to the Public.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18-CommiSsioner
of Internal Revenue Mason, in reporting
the operations of the internal revenue
service for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1889, says:
The aggregate receipts for the fiscal year
were Sl3O, S944 4a34 , or sc, SCI. 95S more than
the receipts for the previous year. The
only object of taxation showing decrease
during the first quarter of the pres
emit year is oleomargarlne, which
dropped from S14S.623 in 1888 to
Si24, 730 in 1889. The total cost of collec-
tion during the past fiscal year was 81, 1885,
729, fraction less than 3.2 per cent. OF the
amount collected.
The commissioner says that owing to
the great number of distiileries in opera
ton during the last fiscal year and the in
creased quantity of spirits produced, re-
sulting IN an increase of the taxes collect
ed from that source, as compared with the
receipts of the previous year, of more than
S5,000,000, the expenditures for salaries
exceeded the amount estimated
by the appropriation. The. commits
sioner regards the general condition OF the
service throughout the country as very
satisfactory One thousand two hundred
and fifty-three violations OF internal rev.
enue law have been reported during the
year. Six hundred and fifty-nine persons
have been arrested on their information.
Property to the value of s137, 704 has been
reported by them for seizure and $94, Cos
for assessment of unpaid taxes and penal
ties. The number OF stills seized was 456,
resulting in the arrest of $50 persons and
the death of one and the wounding Of two
officers of the service. High tribute to the
revenue agents is paid for efficiency and
fidelity, but he says he does not regard the
present fore as sufficient for the important
work intrusted to them. He therefore re-
commends that the force be increased
from twenty TO thirty, and that their al
lowances for travelling expenses be in
creased. The total expenses for the next
fiscal year is estimated at "a 266, 29o.
The increase in the quantity of tobacco
and snuff and in the number OF cigars and
cigarettes for the last fiscal year over those
taxed during the previous fiscal year is:
Manufactured tobacco, IL ,535, $50 pounds;
snuff, 626,63l pounds; cigars, %, 65S, $3.50;
cigarettes, 2SS, 7e9, 200.
The export amount shows an increase in
manufactured tabaccs of lis. 1873 pounds,
an increase in the number of cigars eX-
ported of 266, 700 and An increase in the
number of cigarettes exported of is, 9U9, $50.
The number of cigars imported duriug
the year was 9O,O77. 4O7. The value of the
manufactured tobacco imported was S0,-
353
The total number of special tax payers is
given as $50 1874, of whom 590,0l3 are deal
ers in manufactured tobacco.
The whole number Of grain distilleries
registered during the year was LAO,
of which number 1,267 were oper-
ated, an increase of 40 in the
number registered and of 23S in the
number operated, as compared with the
previous year.
In the class of large distilleries there was
an increase of two in the number register
ed, but there was an increase of IS in the
number operated.
There were 3, 126 fruit distilleries regis
tered and 3,O72 operated, an increase of 442
in the number registered and of 465 in the
number operated during the fiscal year.
The total number of grain, mOlasses and
fruit distileries registered and operated
during the year are $50 and 4.349 respect
lively.
The number of gallons of spirits pro-
duced from grain during the year 1885,
456 gallons) shows an increase of Is, 499, 296
gallons over the product (6S, 3SS, 100 gall
lons) of the previous year, and is 4,161, l50
gallons more than the average produced
(S3, 726, SOC gallons) for the last ten years.
The quantity of rum distilled from
moasses during the past year All ,054
gallons) shows a decrease of 420, 1872 gallons
from the product of the previous year
than the average product Il ,SS7, 564 gollons)
for the last ten years
The commissioner renews the recon-
incubation of his predecessor in regard to
the eXpediency OF taxing all fractions of
gallon of distilled spirits, and expresses
the nope that legislation will be had to eff
fectualy remove all opportunity for
evasions of existing law on this subject
The increase in the production OF bour-
bon whisky is II, 49,, l75 gallons; rye
whisky. 2,S70.0.S; gin, 156,91s; high wines,
1859: pure, neutral or cologne spirits.
963, Sal; miscellaneous, ! ,125, G69-total in
crease, 1865, 500 gallons.
In regard TO the use of alcohol in the
industrial arts the commissioner says that
III view OF the fact that the special tempta
tion to demethylation Is to secure a cheap
alcoholic beverage the Importance of sep
arating methylated spirits from all stock
OF such beverages is very great. IL is also
equally important he says, to keep methy-
lated spirits out of the hands of distillers
and rectitiers, who use stills, as it is
impossible TO demethylate spirits
without the use of stills He esti-
mates the quantity of alcohol an
nuallv used III the arts aud manu-
lures at 5000, 900 gallons The quantity of
fruit brandy OF all kinds withdrawn from
dlstiilerles during the year to be deposited
in special bonded warehouses was 991, $50
gallons.
The quantity of distilled spirits in the
United States, except what may be in Gus
toms bonded warehouses on the 1st of DC
tober was l02, 650, So gallous. The average
monthly production of oleomargarine dur
ing the fiscal year was 1872 ,002 pounds