Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-29
INTERNAL REVENUE BUREAU
Receipts for the Fiscal Year Estimated at
1926, 100000.
Various Changes In the Laws Recon-
mended--Additional Deputy
Wanted.

Commissioner George W. Wilson of the
internal revenue bureau, in his report to
the Secretary of the Treasury of the opera
tons of his office for the fiscal year ended
June 80. 1899, shows that the receipts from
all sources aggregated $273,4S4,573
The total amount expended in the collec-
ton of revenues during the last fiscal year
was A.591,754 or Les per cent of the COL
lections. This percentage of cost is the
smallest that has ever been reached in the
history of the bureau. For the fiscal year
lSlS the cost was 229 per cent of the col
lectons
The estimated expenses for the next ifs
cal year are S4.S17,34O a slight increase
over the last year.
In addition to the statement of the re-
ceipts for the last fiscal year figures are
presented showing that the receipts for
the hrst four months of the current year
amounted to SOB, 103.4S5. an increase over
the receipts for the corresponding period
last year of S9,37s, 307. While 1t may be
possible, the commissioner says, that this
| large ratio of increase will be maintained
during the current year he is of opinion
that it would not be wise to anticipate
such a result. All things considered, the
commissioner estimates that the receipts
from all sources for the present year will
approximate $2s5 000.0 600, which is about
S1 .5o0ooo in excess of the receipts for the
year closed June 80. 1899.
During the last year officers of the in
ternal revenue seized 2 1870 illicit stills and
in the discharge of their duty one officer
was killed and three wounded. Seven hun
dTed and eleven persons We're arrested in
connection with Illicit distillng which, the
commissioner says, is rather on the in
crease III certain sections of the country
The commissioner recommends various
amendments To existing laws.
Changes Recommended.
To afford better facilities for the general
distribution of documentary and propfie-
tary stamps it is recommended that pur-
chasers of such stamps be allowed a dis
count of not less than per cent, when pur-
chased in quantities of not less than 500
It is also recommended that agricultural
fairs be exempt from payment of revenue
tax.
1t Is also recommended that such legisla-
ton be enacted as will empower the com
missioner of internal revenue, with the APP
prevail of the Secretary of the Treasury, to
prescribe the size and kind of package in
which distilled spirits must be contained
when imported into the United States.
He also recommends that a special tax
be imposed upon the business Of distillng
such tax being applicable only to distiIlers
producing distilled spirits from materials
other than apples, peaches. grapes pears.
plneapples oranges, apriCots, berries and
Irunes, and that the minimum rate of sucn
special tax shall be fixed at not less than
$50 per annum.
The commissioner calls attention to the
inadequacy of the salaries of collectors of
internal revenue, and favors an amend
ment to existing law. So as to allow reve-
nue. agents 81 a day in lieu of subsistence.
He also favOrs a law authorizing the re-
dempti0n Of adhesive stamps when pre-
scented in amounts of not less than 81 face
value. 4