New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-31
WHIsI<y AND TEgE TREASURY.
letter 10 a Member Of Congress.

NEw.N ORR, May 80 1864.
Hon. - ". q.
DEAR SIR: ] learn from the reported pro-
ccedngs Of Saturday tina, the Senate has refused to
concur with the House in their action taxing WHISKY
on hand
| admit that there are objections TO adopting the
principle involved ia such tax. But the Treasury
needs the money, and every additional million which
The people contribute TO the Government is another
prop to sustain our rapidy.snbing currency. Can We
afford 10 discard one valuable na hi.
Tic only objection 70 this tax which hear urged Is
that il must be paid TO large extent by those who have
lately purchased spirits at prices which have pech ma
tcrially enhanced by prospective taSaiion.
Whisky Is worth in this market to-day 81 20 per raj
loD The cost OF production Is 4jc per gallon adding
the present tax Gee. per gallon makes the cot Il o.
leaving oJc. per gallon 10 cover freight insurance. leak
age interest and profit the latter being about lJc per
gallon II is evident therefore that tax Of zoe per
gallon could not be paid out Of the profits of s'ock on
hand.
Now Il it can be shown hat the vane Of all the stock
on hand may easily be appreciated that holders can
afford TO pay tax Of 30 cents or 20 cents per gallon
then Il occurs t. me that all objection to it, imposition
will be removed.
Tie pending bill proposes tax Of II per gallon from
June ] to October 81 p from October TO January J.
and thereafter 81 20 per gallon Under this provision
stills will be TO their utmost capacity 70 January ].
when production viii cease until the stock previously
produced is wei nigh e1haustedi holders realizing the
additional % cents per gallon instead Of the Govern
nent.
II the 81 % per gallon wero pm; the value o
al stock on hand would be raised at once toe ccst OF
production IS cents. tax 81 J0=: - per gallon. of
40. 4 ~ l.fT a. a. rnsg Z
and he could Therefore afford TO pay ~ cents TO the
Treasury. ard then realize handsome profit.
But would 20 further and make the tax - per gal-
Ion Oh all spirits prodnced after June and ASSESS %
cents per gallon on oil stock on hand. This would
work no injustice nor hardship any individual and
am unable to see In il anything improper or mpoLtic
The tax vi spirits in England ten shilling sterling
per gallon: equal TO nearly five dollars IN currency.
The import duty under The ncH tariff win be about the
same, and ON cheap spirits viii amount almost Ia pro.
hibton. The american market therefore viii be
monopolized by distllois, and American pira.
aor paying tax Of G. per gallon In currency vii still
be cheap enough 10 Keep the luxury Of getting half
over" within the reach OF persons OF very limited
means.
Aiy proposition would put into tie Treasury nearly
or quite hundred millions DUNG The coming fiscal
year which consumer. would pay sud not lie loideIs
producers.
lie fact should not be overlooked ihai tho Increase
in the rates Of tax incomes and nccn.c ihc addition
Of pianos watchos &c. imposed b. the Pcaiiug bill.
cannot under its 'ions Boz assessed until May
Is6l and very little roycnu,< ID be realized thcreirom
during the fiscal year ending June 81 lsd. The pub
hcd statements to the effect that this bin VIII yield
e;v0OO0OOO the coming year / conceive TO be e1ces.
siyely erroneous. II should yield 500 oco0 provided
lis provisions are inteigenty and vigorously eniorced
and that Is, in NY Judgment, the maximum. The
changes which suggest would make It yield nearly
slOoO 900 more.
Ale and beor ara worth g. to & per bbl according
10 quality paying tax Of 81 per Dbl At cents per
eisss, barrel ieialis for more than :2j. Why viii
they not bear tax Of g. or 81 1per bb In order 10
mako the quantity 90 further" brewers would.
in the event Of this increase probably add mole yea'
the tendency Of which would be TO make less quantity
produce higher " elevation"
submit, very respectfully. that this il not time
when the clalnors Of ndi, dual local interests he
pc Knitted to sHe the urgent calls Of the Government
We are not called upon 10 settle questions with
reference 10 ordinary Governmental policy. but 10 pTo
vide whatever arg sustain and nyigoraie the
nation IN ills struggle for it, life Permit me
you that the determination Of the people To suppress.
the Rebellion and their willingness to submit 10 what
ever burlens necessarily imposed to at end.
not be- oycrcstmaicd. Congress no; having been in.
5tuted as a Moral Reform Society is not expected 70
pass sumptuary laws but II ia surely good policy e. a1
lea, y those products like whisky beer and tobacco
which may be dispensed with without personal pub
lie dcriment and lightly such esteemed necessities
salt sugar, soap. candles, colhing etc.
Very respectfully. -.