For some time the particulars were furnished to certain parties in Chicago and New York, by a clerk in the Internal Revenue Department at Washington. In this there was probably an injustice, for what is demanded by the law cannot be withheld by the brewer, and both analogy and general reasoning indicate that this forced information should be considered as confidential, and not exposed to the comment of indifferent persons or business rivals. This view of the case is the one now held by the Department, as appears from the following correspondence: _Official._ FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE. (Copy.) TREASURY DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., September 15, 1879. HENRY H. RUETER, ESQ., _President United States Brewers’ Association_. SIR: Your attention is called to an article in the _Brewers’ Gazette_ of August 15, ultimo, headed, “Thrown Together; A Comparative View of the so-called Brewers’ Returns,” in which are embraced copies of letters from this office in relation to lists of reports of sales of fermented liquors for the years 1878 and 1879, as published by the _Western Brewer_ and A. E. Tovey. Please inform me whether the brewers of the United States desire that such tabulated statements be prepared by this Bureau as therein stated for publication. Very respectfully, (Signed) GREEN B. RAUM, _Commissioner_. REPLY OF THE PRESIDENT OF BREWERS’ ASSOCIATION. (Copy.) UNITED STATES BREWERS’ ASSOCIATION, BOSTON, September 25, 1879. GEN. GREEN B. RAUM, _Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Washington, D. C._ SIR: In reply to your esteemed letter of the 15th inst., referring to the preparation and publication of tabulated statements of brewers’ sales, and asking if, in my opinion, the brewers of the United States desire that such tabulated statements be prepared by the Internal Revenue Bureau—I beg to state, that I have no data which would enable me to answer your question definitely. Many brewers, undoubtedly, feel indifferent in the matter; some may favor the publication, and others are opposed to it. They argue that there is no parallel case in any other branch of trade; that individual business affairs should not be thus made public; that the publication of individual sales leads to undue competition; and that these lists are a bone of bitter contention between the publishers. If the inquiry has been addressed to me with reference to the future action of the Department, I beg leave to suggest that the brewers’ wishes can be best ascertained at their next yearly meeting, in June, and I would respectfully ask you to delay action in the matter till then. I am, sir, most respectfully yours,