Dover, Del., court-house and post-office. Grand Rapids, Mich., court-house and post-office. Helena, Mont., assay office. Little Rock, Ark., court-house and post-office. Port Huron, Mich., custom-house, &c. Portland, Oreg., custom-house, &c. Saint Louis, Mo., custom-house, &c. Saint Paul, Minn., custom house, &c. Springfield, Ill., court-house and post-office. Trenton, N. J., court-house and post-office. Washington, D. C., new State, War, and Navy Departments. MISCELLANEOUS. One plaster model of the United States custom-house at Nashville, Tenn. Three tracings, three negatives, and three photographs, showing method of reproducing plans by photography. SUPERVISING ARCHITECT'S OFFICE, Treasury Department, January 3, 1877. INTERNAL REVENUE. The system of internal revenue now in force was inaugurated a little over one year after the outbreak of the rebellion, under the act ap proved July 1, 1862, entitled "An act to provide internal revenue to support the Government and to pay interest on the public debt." The following table shows the names, &c., of the several Commissioners of Internal Revenue from 1862 to 1876: At first the taxes it imposed were comparatively light. As the demands of the Government for increased revenues, however, became more urgent, in consequence of the magnitude and long continuance of the war, it was gradually enlarged by successive enactments, in 1863, 1864, and 1865, until it levied heavy taxes upon raw products; upon every branch of manufacturing industry; upon nearly all professions, trades, and occupations; upon the entire receipts of transportation and other companies, of lotteries and places of amusement; upon articles of luxury kept for use; upon legal instruments of nearly every kind; upon incomes, sales, proprietary medicines, &c.; upon legacies and successions; and upon the capital, circulation, and deposits of banks. In a word, every available source of revenue was laid under contribution to furnish means to support the Government in its struggle for existence. This system was probably more far-reaching and comprehensive than any ever before devised. About the middle of the year 1866 the work of reducing internal taxation commenced, and went on more or less rapidly every year until 1872, when, according to carefully prepared estimates, taxes amounting to over two hundred and sixty-two millions of dollars per annum had been repealed, and the system relieved of its most burdensome provisions. The articles now on the tax-list are few in number, and are mostly limited to what are usually denominated articles of luxury. They include spirituous and fermented liquors; manufactured tobacco of every description, domestic and imported; occupations relating to the manufacture and sale of the aforesaid articles; proprietary medicines, perfumery, cosmetics, friction-matches, and bank checks, and the capital, circulation, and deposits of all banks and bankers not national. The total amount of internal revenue collected and deposited in the Treasury of the United States under this system prior to June 30, 1876, exclusive of drawbacks ($6,673,845) and of sums refunded ($6,467,27.210), as illegally collected, was $2,169,890,833.81. INVENTORY OF ARTICLES ON EXHIBITION BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE OFFICE, TREASURY DEPARTMENT. No. 1. One very large frame containing specimens of documentary, general proprietary, and private die proprietary stamps of all denomi nations from one cent to five thousand dollars each. Printed by J. R. Carpenter, Philadelphia. No. 2. One large frame in three sections; the first containing specimens of documentary stamps, of the denomination of two cents only; also general proprietary, private die proprietary, tobacco, snuff, and fermented liquor stamps, and exportation stamps for distilled spirits, tobacco and snuff, and cigars. Printed by the National Bank Note Company of New York. The second section contains specimens of stamps for distilled spirits, cigars and cigarettes. Printed by the American Bank Note Company of New York. And the third section contains specimens of stamps for tobacco, snuff, and cigars, also exportation tobacco stamps. Printed by the Continental Bank Note Company of New York. No. 3. One large frame containing specimen stamps for distilled spirits, fermented liquors, tobacco, snuff and cigars; also special tax stamps, brewers' permits, hydrometer certificates, and lock seals. Printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Treasury Department. No. 4. One large frame containing specimens of stamps for distilled spirits, tobacco, snuff, and cigars, and special tax stamps. This also was printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Treasury Department. One large glass show-case containing four complete gaug ing rods, used for ascertaining the capacity of whisky packages; two full and complete sets of hydrometers, used for ascertaining the temperature and strength of distilled spirits; two Slaight seal locks, one brass and the other nickel plated, together with paper seals, used upon the doors of distillery warehouses and cistern rooms; two D. K. Miller |