, 1862-04-02
The Board of Trnde and the Proposed
Tax on HinhXiueS.


1t the regular meeting Of the Board this morn
ing, n. 4. Fairbanks, Esq, offered the following
preamble and resolutions in regard to proposed
tax on 1tighwines. On motion it was decided to
publish them in the city papers ard act npon then,
at the meeting tomorrow:
WHEREAS. This Beard learn that Congress has
entered upon the work Of leyyinr taxes TO meet
~ part, The expenses Of the war and provide foi
therefore.
Resaged, 1st. That We believe the first duties Of
congress are to provide for crushing tic rebellion
and to prevent. by tax bill. all chance Of depreci
alton Of the national securities.
"a, That every branch Of industry should bear 4
1a1r Y. and q lust proportion Of their burden.
id That in graduating these taxes, while arti-
c1es not Of necessity and articles Of IuxuSy, may
iaarly pc maIe to contribute toa greater extent
than industrial interests, and while we haze no
objection to the taxation Of tobacco In all it's
forms. and Intoxicating liquors used as beverage
TO any extent, yet the maximum Of revcnuc iu q
ax OH is the primary idea and should not be over
4th- That VIC look with concern and alarm on
1me nrrofposasl9n TO Impose tag Of fifteen cents
hehwiness s7,oco,oeo gallons Of which have tie
The use Of 9,3,oe0 bushels Of mixed grains. wortf
lust year, N average Of thirty.three@ @ cents pef E
bushel, or over $4,000, COO, and 3,W0 opera.
tiyes: supporting population OF 5000 PERSONS
over s. t0 C0o-at tile low average price OF about
1155 cents per gallon which proposed tax on What
Is raw material, the Product Of our flrms and
operatives. is over ILL per cent at eaorena for tic
last yc1E- ..
9Th. That We cannot but think that in the minds
ct many Of our intelligent citizens, and perhaps
even Of our legislators, the whisky Of the bar room
and saloon Is confounded with highwincs, the
whisky Of commerce, ito which it bears scarcely
more resemblance except in color, than nlolasses
to New England rum, which is only produced
from the attsE by distinct process Of 1edistilla
9Th. That the highWines Of commerce, a small
portion {aot perhaps more than onc-qHarter) Of
which eyer finds its way into Intoxicating drinks,
Is to oe deemed raw material, the product Of the
Illinois farmcr and Illinois operative in its crude
state wholly unit for any. use without re-manu-
facture, and should be subjected to reasonable
uI f0lo7e7n tax.
eth. That the proposed tax Of fifteen cents pei
gallon, say ITO per cent On last years product
amounts to prohibition OF the Manufacture h
hlghNlnes. and would close thrccfourths Of the
dlss1lleries Of this State deprive the farmer Of
drive camphenc, chemical oils and burning fluid
from the market, and throw 10000 Of our people
out OF the means Of present subsistence.
our opinion, justice to the farmer and the npera
tire. as well as those who have invested their cap
lta1 in this branch Of industry, demands that the
pIohsbito1y duty be not at once imposed: but that
1t mag be made gradual upon an increasing scale
say cents the first year. 10 cents the second and
IS cents the third year and thus the capital and
lahor be gradually withdrawn, so that absolute
ruin to thie interest may be ayertcd
9th. That the proposed tax Of &C per gallon on
1ect1iied whisky for drinking purposes, and 25e
per gallon on liquors compounded Of alclohol fol
brandy, gin, &C., with small 0I galorera duty of
say per cent. upon alcohol used therein and in
the arts and chemical oils, will furnish the ma ri
mum OF revenue, without driving out three ourth=
Ct the capital invested in this manufacture in this
State, and thus depriying three,fonzths Of those
present means Of likelihood