Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-22
INTERNAL REVENUE. TAX Shows Receipts Fall Below the
 Estimate. A DECREASE OF $21, ,3o2,0 1000
Tho Attempt to Enforce the Income Tax Law
 Cost S9i ,O0O.
THE LAW SHOULD BE MODIFIED
So as to Meet the Reasonable Demand For the Distillation of Pears, Plunes, Apricots, Oranges
 Nnd Other F. 1ts.

Washington, Nov. 21.-aThe report of Joseph S. Miller of West Virginia, com missioner of internal revenue. made pulp lie today, states that receipts for the fiscal year had fallen below his estimates by $27, ,753, 900. This he attributes to the decision of the supreme court declaring the income tax unconstitutional after only $77,000 had been collected. His es- innate for the year was $17l 100000 The actual receipts were s146.246.000. In re- gard to next year the commissioner says: After careful comparison of receipts from all sources of internal revenue for the months of July. August and Septem- Der, 1895, with collections for the same months in the previous fiscal years and giving due weight to the improved busi- ness conditions manifested throughout the country in peculiar lines touched by internal taxation, I estimate that the receipts from all sources of internal rev. enue for the current fiscal year will ag- gregate $165 000 900. The receipts for. the first three months of the present fiscal year show a decrase of $21 ,302, 900 in the taxes collected on distilled spirits as com pared with the corresponding months or last year, when there was rush to take spirits out of bond in order to escape the extra increase of duty under the new tariff law. There has been an increase of $460, ,600 In the revenue from tObacco and cigars; an increase Of $T92,6SO from beer; decrease of ,00O from oieomar- garine and a decrease of $20, 300 from mis- celia neouS sources.
 The preliminary work of attempting to enforce the income tax law cost the government $91, 900. as against ,O0O ln- come tax collected and now in process of being refunded. The commissioner closes his report recommending number or amendments to existing laws and the re- peal of the free alcohol in the arts pro- vision in the late tariff law.
 Among the amendments recommended is this: Amend section 3255 so as to al- low the use of fruits other than apples, peaches and grapes for disillation.
 This is desired in order to afford bran dy distillers the privilege of distilling pears. prunes, apricots, oranges and other fruits fit for making brandy when they desire to do so. Great complaint reached this office during last season when the early frost destroyed the or ange crop in the state of Florida, and It was made clear that if the people had had the privilege of distilling the fruit they would have realized a considerable amount upon the crop, which was rem dered entirely useless for any other pur- pose. There seems to be no good reason why the law should not be modified to meet this most reaSOnaDle ueiHdHu.
 Senor Augusta De Sequire Thedim, minister from Portugal to the United States died this morning from the effects of very severe hemorrhage that came upon him suddenly last Sunday evening.
 The announcement of the death of the minister was shock to the diplomatic corps and others who knew the family inasmuch as the serious nature of the ill- ness was not generally appreciated. Complete arrangements for the obsequies have not been made, but there will be state funeral at St. Matthew's Catholic church Sunday morning at 10 o'clock.
 Senor Thedim came to the United States as the accredited minister from Portugal during the summer, but was not officially presented to the president until some time last month owing to the ab- sence of MT. Cleveland at Gray Ga bles. When he reached here the minister was in an advanced stage of consumption, and some surprise was manifested that he should have accepted an appointment to a capital where the climate is as rig orous as it is in Washington. He had his first hemorrhage soon after coming to this country. but it was not severe enough to cause any alarm. When stricken down Sunday he was making ar arrangements to go to the south of France to spend the winter.
 The remains will be sent to Portugal as soon as convenient and Madame Thedim will sail for that country with