The evening times., 1895-08-19
Commissioner Miller Expected to
Make Some Suggestions.
BIS FORTHCOMING REPORT
It VIII Probably Recommend Many
Changes In Existing Laws to Meet
the Emergency Of the Treasury.
Liquor and Tobacco Taxes May
Come in for Revision.


The forthcoming annual report OF the Com
missioner of Internal Revenue will, II is be-
lieved. contain some important suggestions
as to changes In the revenue laws. The in
crease of revenue from internal sources will
receive his consideration, and IL is also
probable that he viii discuss administra-
tive questions.
A restoration Of tax on proprietary medi-
cines. cosmetics and the like Is under consid-
Grafton by Commissioner Miller. and rec
ommendation OF o tax of per cent on these
articles is among the probabilities. Such q
tax can be collected without additional ex-
pense to the Treasury except that incurred
for the printing OF stamps.
Many of the larger nanufa cturers would
not be averse to the restoration OF this tax I,
for the reason that the possession of q
stamp OF special design issued by the Gov
ernnlent Is means OF protection against
limitations. from which most of the popular
and efficaci0Us articles of this kind now
suffer. Several niillion dollars would be
raised from this source without adding to
the cost Ofthe articles to the consumer
TO PROTECT CONSUMERS.
Commissioner Miller has been giving some
thought to scheme TO promote the sale of
the old aud better grades OF whisky, both
In the home and foreign markets.
TheexteDiso n of the bonded period enables
manufacturers and dealers in the higher
grades TO give u guarantee of age up to
eight years, under the certifIcation of the
Government as to large packages But
when this old liquor leaves the bonded ware
house In large packages IL may be blended
and adulterated by the dealer without
fear Of detection.
Thescheme OF the commissioner Is to have
the law amended so that ma nufaeturers
may put up the old whisseys in quar-. bottles,
the bG,tling TO be done al the bonded ware
houses, under the charge of a Government
officer. who shall attach his signature, with
the date OF .bettling. to the special stamp
issued for aud applied 10 the bottle n such
manner that the drawing OF the cork will
destroy the stamp
The Commissioner believes the enactment
OF such a law would not only insure the
people at home against the impos ition OF
dishonest dealers. bIt would prunote the
sale of American whis kies in foreign
countries where distil spirits are used as
beverage.
LIQUOR AND TOBACCO.
Whether an increase in the present tax
on fermented liquors will be recon-
mended is uncertain. With a tax on dis
TILED spirits of S1.1O per gallon the tax
OF 81 per barrel on fermeDted liquors is
generally regarded as too low, a nd an in
crease of so cents or 81 per barrel is ad-
vocated by many persons and will doubt
less be proposed at the next session OF Con-
gress, whether or not the Treasury makes
Recommendation! fer an increase.
An increase of 81 per barrel would add
S32, 900 900 to the annual revenue from
this source on the basis OF the average con-
sumption for previous years, and half that
sum If the tax shopd be raised to $3.50
per barrel. 4
Commissioner Miller is disposed to IA
vor a return to the Scent rate on all forms
of manufactured tobacco, and will prob
ably make a RECOMMENDATION in his annual
report for the restoration OF that rate. The
annual consumption OF manufactured to-
bacco is close to 10000, 900 pounds, and
an increase Of cents per pound would
increase the annual revenue from this
source to about $3.50, 900.