Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-25
REVIEW q E
ANNUAL nHpoRT OF coMMxs.
sIoNER -YERKEs.
Great Reduction In Receipts Owing to
the Repeal Of War
Taxes.

John W. Yerkes. the commissioner OF In
ternal revenue, in his report for the nscai
year ended June 30, 1902. says:
by an act of the Congress approved
March g 1901, and taking effect on the 1st
day of July of the same year, receipts from
internal revenue taxes were materially de-
creased. By the act approved April IL,
1902 taking effect July / Of this year,
further and largely increased reduction OF
internal revenue receipts Will be produced.
by the provisions Of the two acts the
war revenue taxes provided for by act OK
June 13. 1898, have been abolished. reduc-
Ing in this way internal revenue taxes
about $1OO,0OOOOO. There has, however,
been increase Of revenue from taxes laid
on distilled spirits and other objects that
were not affected by war revenue 1eglsla-
ton.
THE receipts Of this bureau for the fiscal
year ended June So 1901. were $3O6. S7l .6G9;
for the fiscal year ended June 80, Iso2,
$271 1857 $50.
There has been material reduction Of
the taxes imposed on fermented liquors,
snuff and tobacco, and, while the receipts
from these sources through this reduction
have been materially decreased, the work
Of the bureau in connection with these SUD-
jects of taxation is unchanged. or In
creased. The same amount Of labor and
expense, both In this Office and in collection
district, accrues whether the tax on beer is
81 or 81 per barrel, and the tax on tobacco
II or cents a pound.
by an act of Congress Of date June II,
1902 provision was made for the refunding
of taxes paid upon legacies and bequests
for uses Of a religious, charitable or educa-
tional character. for the encouragement OF
art, etc, under the act of June ID. 1873.
This office has already considered and pass
ed refunding claims on this account amount
ing to some s435, COO. and others are now
being considered. and 1t is believed that the
total amount that will be refunded tIln 6a under
this law will amount to some $500, COO.
Under the act of March 2. 1901, provision
was made for the payment of drawback
or rebate on all original and unbroken fac
tory packages of smoking and manufac-
tured tobacco and snuH and cigars held by
manufacturers or dealers on the list of July,
1901 and which rebate should represent the
difference between tbs sum at which these
goods had been tax paid and the rate of
tax fixed by said act to be effective July l.,
1901. Under this law 1864 claims have
been paid in, rebates being $3,10s,511.
1.-The preparation and consideration OF
these claims in the various collectors offices
throughout the United States and by this
office has largely increased the work Of the
bureau.
Under the law authorizing the Commits
sioner to redeem or make allowance for in
ternal revenue stamps large number OF
claims. aggregating 1888. has been al
lowed. These include imprinted checks,
drafts and other instruments, and the
weight Of these instruments presented for
redemption has amounted to fully $50 tons.
Over &c, 1000 Claims.
by reason of the laws above referred
to, this Office has considered during the
past year some $1,000 claims for moneys
due to claimants by the government, and
while every effort has been made to ex-
pedite consideration of these claims and
to make prompt payment of the sums due,
yet this creditor class has doubtless to
some extent felt that delays have oc-
Cured in the consideration and final ad-
jucation of their respective cases.
In addition to the claims for refund or
rebate presented, there have been filed dur
ing the fiscal year 1902 4.T43 claims for
aba ternent of taxes assessed. These claims
require the most careful examination, and
their settlement involves the consideration
Of their legal status. as well as a careful
scrutiny Of the amounts presented and
testimony submitted.
'Of the abatement claims pending on the
LIST day of July. 1901, and filed during the
fiscal wear. 1857 were allowed. amounting
to S4.1S7 .6S1. and 440 claims. amounting to
S449.3S4. were rejected or returned for
amendment.