New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-13

tent Of steam then sorrkcfpers agents and inspectors
might be consigned to the honest walks Of life. .
The tax sh0uldbe reduced so cents per gallon The
history or all nations shows that tax greatly IN excess
frauds and violations Smuggling never 30 generally
practiced remuneratiye ms wien duties are hgn
10 manufacture whisky costs irom 50 20 ~ cents son
by the reduction, double the am0nntOt revenue would
ment would not be furnishing fund demoralize rev
enue officers and all engaged in the whisky traffic from
which fortunes are suddenly to rival the won
deyful tales of Aaddn's lamp DtatiOn from grain re-
qures cumbrOus machinery and the place cannot easily
he kept secret so that most Illicit production IL from mo
asse costing from eighty cents to ono dollar per gaen
cereals TO drive rum from the market AT all events the
margin would DO 50 small rOgues wosld not hazard tho
Consuners now pay the two dollars tax, about one
tenth Of which goes to the Government. The people
would willingly pay tho two dollars II 1t went INTO tho
The theory and figures look well paper OO0OO00O gal
Ions at 81 making 100000 II collected would enable us
toabo taxation many OF the nocesares OF fe There
Is wisdom IN that philosophy which directs that we shall
look upon things they are, and not they should be-
the truth IS this has never been collected and never
will be; better by far that whisky free than the
mockery now existing. Honest men in the trade and
those who have been forced out men Of large and intel
hgent experience, and desiring the tax 20 he collected
concur that should be reduced, while the jews the
ring the robbng officials the Illicit di;ter' are agreed
that the present rate should be retained
How IS it proposed to collect 1t better 10 the future
than the past What assurance have you from Andrew
johnson And II the Administration. by Impeachment
or the voice OF the people be changed what guarantee
have you that human nature under any other admins
Iaon, will not be easily seduced Professional pol
lcians Will control of the appointments ana
renee shows untortately mat ~ IS nov always IN tno
power of party to eXat Itself above those influences
which destroy honesty when personal gain and advance
ment are the rewards for crime. -
We ought not to ignore the experiences Of the world
certainly not OF our own In 1894 when the tax was ~
and co cents, nearly as much revenue was reauied q"
in 1866.
our tax Is really higher than IN England. They nse
the imperial gallon which is ODefth more tan the VINE
gallon IN In this country and their stannat 81 ao
be prevented aud the revenues are not uch
in Of those under more moderate tax 1heIe
gallons that the business has been forced into few
hands England has s. Ireland %; Scotland, NJ total
l4S. NewYOrk City alone, Philadelphia alone has moro
than the United Kingdom. so that in country OF limited
dense population, with most carefully prepared
enced corps Of revenue officers. with few disleres IT
has been impossible to prevent Illicit dstlaton and
In Great Britain whisky for manufacturing purposesis
free 1t Is rendered impossible Ior drnEng ~
mts that il is scarcely TOO much to say that II tns mix
ture had not devised for the relief manufactures
II would have been almost impossible TO retain the pres
ent high rate of duty" NOnaOn has been aOe 70 retain
high taxes except England no others have them TO-
McCunoch, an English writer, says: "The imposition
OF duties does not lessen tho appetite for sprs and as
vigilance OF the officers severity or The laws nas
been found sufficient 10 secure monopoly OF the market
to the legal distillCTs, tho real erect OF the g ~
has been 10 throw the supply of large proportion OF the
demand into the hands ~ the Illicit Dis Her, and to SUI
perdd the atrocities u the snUgsor 70 the dnees ana
dissipation II the drunksid."
\ duty OF four cents gallon was levod under Chares
III. From his point II was increased, until incorporate
zeal and fiscal rapacity nearly eXngushed all receipts
from distilled spirits. . -
In 1880 SAYS NcC uoch IN act was passed the history
effect Of which deserves to be studied by all VINO ore
clanurous FOR an increase I'm the duties spirits The
effect this directly the opposite what was con
teinpated by the Ministry Respectable people Withdrew
from the trade the business fell into the hands OF the
lowest and profigate characters. Tho people e.
poused the Of the smugger and unlicensed dealers
the officers OF the revenue were openly assaulted IN the
streets; infOrmCrs were hunted down like Wild beasts
while drunkenness disorder and crime increased with
frighfu rapdlty In 1742 tho high duties were repealed
The tax should he collected at the dlstery and. after
leaving there the whisky should be free no spies 10 i9
low 1t the reCti6ers the druggists or dealers 70
seize stores break open safes and examine the private
papers OF the citizen Such espionage 10 not compatDe
with the habits Of our people or the spirit Of our ins
buttons. al,
The great temperance and moral sentiment OF tho
country should favor reduction Of the tax With n
crease OF taxation Drunkenness has increased Dsti-
leries have wonderfully multiplied from l,l3 IN ltdO 70
over 5000 Small stills not before in use were INTRODUCED
so that at time, the coppersmhs OF st. Louis Ch-
cago Cincinnati and other cities engaged on no
other work Private and public integrity, morality ana
temperance VIII be promoted by return TO small taxes
Every has tho evdnnoe Of his senses that sObety
has not promoted under the present legislation.
II this law therefore, has not only increased drunke
but the pecuniary profits on vice. Why should MOI OIL
favOY 4