Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-09
FAX ON Reer.

When ;be Tax bill was before the House Hon.
JOHS Law. of this State. sought to have the tax
on beer and other fermented liquors reduced from
81 10 50 cents a gallon, and among the many
reasons advanced therefor we give the follow
ing:
He said that when malt liquors ARE abandoned
as a beverage among the people, either from the
high duty imposed on their manufacture. or from
any other cause. spirituous liquors at once supply
their place, and dissipation, drunkenness and
poverty of The people are the inevitable cOnse
quences OF such a change
What are the unhappy results OF this excessive
taxation Of a harmless and popular beverage?
Why, the substitution of whisky and other spir-
ituous liquors.
The increase OF tax in Scotland on malt and
beer Of only about IS cents "A barrel entirely de-
sfrOyed the manufacture of ale and beer, and
spirituous liquors took their place. In my own
town, where there but few breweries in operation
two large distilleries were erected Both Of these
distilIeries have been closed. and we have now
eighs breweries in operation. some Of them very
extensive, upon whom a Tax Of 81 per barrel
will operate hardly They are perfectly willing
TO pay so cents a barrel Of 81 gallons as a tax,
though this is too large; but they are unwilling
to pay 81. believing such a tax imposed on this
class of MANUFACTURES a duty hard to be borne,
and which in some instances may lead 70 the utter
abandonment Of their business. Af
BY the act providing for internal revenue to
support the government and pay the interest on
the national debt, passed in July Of 1862, a duty
of 81 was laid on each barrel OF 81 gallons o fla.
ger beer, ale, porter, and other similar fermented
liquors This act was in force from July l.,
lS62. when il was approved, to March 3 of 1868.
By the twelfth section Of the act approved March
3, 1863. the duty OF 81 per barrel Of 81 gallons
of lager beer. ale ana porter, was reduced to GU
cents a barrel Of 81 gallons; and at that rate. the
taxation has continued up 20 the present tine,
when IL Is now proposed to tax all those who en-
gagged largely in the business Of brewing, under
the act reducing the tar on beer TO go cents, aud
who have made large investments in building
watts and other improvements, believing the tax
would remain as Congress fixed IL under the last
act. and who would not have invested their CAPT
tai in this business IL they had believed for a sin-
gle moment the tax was to be increased to 81 per
barrel. What reliance can these people have in
Jour faith as legislators. IL you thus keep contin-
ually changing your laws year after YEAR, Should
there not be in all laws affecting the great inter.
ests Of manufacturers, some stability. some 6rm
ness, some purpose, 80 that parties may know
what to expect when they commence operationsf
There were on the LIST Of June, 1860, 400
bre~eries; there were l,l13, $40 barrels of malt
liquor Srewed, amounting in value to the sum of
$6.343.07O. Wisconsin has the largest number
of breseries, I2l. making l24 $50 barrels of
malt liquors, valued at S702.Sl2 Ohio with %
breweries makes 402 .035 barrels, with a valua-
ton Of 81 ,yI2 .4l9. Illinois with IS breweries
makes 2lS,n43 barrels, valued at 81 .309 $50.
Indiana with so brsweries makes sc ,335 barrels,
valued at 1928 .ll6; while at the same time she
made $3.50. 500 gallons Of whisky. highwines,
and alcohol. at a value OF 81 .95l $50 | will
venture to assert that more revenue was collected
by the act Of March 3, 1865. on malt liquors for
the same period. than was collected under the act
Of July !. 1862. when duty was 81 per barrel.
In 1852. duty on hops was repealed, and
brewers licenses increased 20 threepence a barrel
In fc94 duty on malt was fixed at four shillings
i've pence per bushel. IL vas reduced from time
70 time ubtii 1923. when it was liked At two shil
liBgs seven pence. In 1879. al the time or the
Russian var. il was raised TO four shiitings,
when the quantity charged with duty Immediate
~ fell of 5 000. 900 bushels, and hi the following
year 5000. 900 bushels. 10 1887 Government
found i necessary 20 reduce duty, and fxed It at
two shillings seven pence per bushei. and five per
cent. on the tax. at which IL remains.
The result Of that reduction has been a large
increase in the consumption, which has averaged
5,3l4,350 quarters or AZ .5l4 800 bushels per an