The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-27
REVENUE COLLECTIONS.
Large Decrease Last Year, Because
of War Tax Repeal.


Washington, July 26.-Some very
interesting facts are shown by
the annual report of collections of
internal revenue for the fiscal year
ending, June 80. just made public by
Commissioner Yerkes. The total col
lections for the year amounted to
$3.50, 74O, 1882, a decrease of SAL, 172, 607. This
decrease was due to the repeal of the
war taxes. When the law repeating
the war taxes was passed it was
estimated that the effect would be
to decrease internal revenue receipts
by more than 100000 The increas-
ed consumption of taxed articles has
been so great, however, as to bring
the actual decrease in revenues far
below the estimates The rate at
which this increased consumption is
progressing is shown by comparison
of the receipts of the last fiscal year
with those for the year ending June
80. 1898, the year before the war rev.
enue taxes were imposed. This shows
an increase of SIS, $685.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
internal revenue tax on spirits is so
high as to discourage the use of al
cohol in the arts and manufactures
and to lead to the use of substitutes,
the consumption of spirits of all kinds
increased during the past year $685.
$40 gallons and the revenue from dis
titled spirits increased $40, 1915, 459. The
consumption of fermented liquors in
creased, 2,171, S9S barrels, but, as one
of the heaviest reductions made by
the repeal of the war taxes was in
the tax on unfermented liquors, the
collections from this source during the
past year amounted to but SAT ,547, =
S36, a reduction of $24, AL ,046 as COM
pared with the year before. AS COM
pared with 1898, last years consump-
ton of 46, $50, 730 barrels of fermented
liquors showed an increase of 9,175,-
427 barrels, and the collections increas-
ed. S8,032, 435 over that year.
The statistics for cigars and tobacco
show some interesting facts. The num-
Der of cigars weighing more than three
pounds per thousand smoked in the
United States during the past fiscal
year reached the enormous total of
6,IS6,3905 S9, an increase over the previ-
Gus year of $50, S23.26S The number of
cigarettes weighing not more than
three pounds per thousand smoked
during the year was 3,031, $685. 1872 an
increase of 3SS, 931. 7SS over the previous
year. While a large increase in the
consumption OIL cigarettes was SHOWN
as compared with last year, the num-
Der was smaller by more than 700,00O.-
600 than in 1898. On the other hand, the
consumption of cigars since 1898 has
increased more than 22S1, ZOO, 900. The
tax receipts from tobacco during the
past fiscal year amounted to $43,514,-
$40, a decrease of IS, 423,114 as compared
with the previous year. This decrease
was due to the reduction of the tax on
chewing and smoking tobacco. AS COM
pared with 1898, last years revenues
from tobacco showed an increase of
S.23428S.
The total consumption of distilled
spirits on which tax was paid during
the last fiscal year was 3.420. All gal
IONS. There is no means of determin-
ing under the present law how much
vi this was consumed as a bevera ge
ana how much entered into use in the
arts and manufactures. That the
amount used in the latter way would
be very considerably increased if the
tax should be reduced is not doubted
ny the officials of the Internal Revenue
bureau. The revenue from distilled
spirits during the past fiscal year
reached the unprecedented figures of
Si5l'So3.41 1t has been estimated that
aoout 40 cents per gallon would be the
maximum revenue producing tax on
ustllled spirits as it would lead to 4
lhuch larger use in the arts and manu-
Iactures and would not place so large
q premium on the Illicit dstilling of
leverage spirits as does the present
Hlgh tax of S1.10 per gallon.