Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-10-01

Nnutful fNNNtfNNtNVr~ " W Afo~
Hfs ~ d Y
Tho reading public has not forgot.
ten The length oi time devoted BY
Congress 10 The subject Of the tax on
whiskcyi and those who watched
carefully thapfacocdings OF the House,
from day 20 day, will readily recall
the fact that tho leader Of that body
on this eucject was Con Sohcnck, Of
Ohio The course Of this gentleman
was so peculiar and erratic that the
public was often puzzled 10 know
what IL meant. That there was a
"niggcr IN the wood.pilo' was gener-
ally conceded but just the peculiar
tinge Of the hidden Gumbo was hard
to discover. Now, however, the whole
thing Is made plain, and all this leg's-
lation turns out to have been one of
the most gigantic speculations ever
perpetrated.
Among the boldest and most sue
cessful Of spectators is Mr.. 5 n Pike,
now Of New York, but formerly OF
Cincinnati This gentleman has for
many years been dealer in liquors,
and for the last three or four, has
been the leader of the largest "whis-
key ring ever formed IN the Oh''ed
States. His transactions have Deen
Of the most magnificent kind, and,
strangely enough, have always sue
decided. If his bonds were questioned
or his vbialrav caized nreSfO an or
der came from Washington setting
everything right. Thus he sailed
along, as prosperously and smoothly
as clipper before the trade-winds,
and his wealth steadily Increased, un-
til now Gotham counts him among
her millionaires.
To those who observed closely the leg,
lslation attempted andcon summated
by Congress on the subject oi WHISKY
the forecast OF this Mr.. PIKE became
matter OF wonder. lie ana ms
ring always knew what was coming
next, and, as consequence, always
controlled the market.
Space viii not permit a detail Oh
all those wonderful mus, ana lne
last will sufficiently Illustrate the
case under consideration
1t will be remembered tnat' curing
the summer oi looi' the business oi
whisky distiiling began 10 decline,
and that, early IN loos, II ceased al
most entirely. In 1919 ana 90, the
business had been carried TO s9ch an
extent that the country was Hooded
with whlsk y, ana the price rapidly
declined. Here IN fhiiaueiphia' and
IN New York, u could not command
half the cost OF production exclusive
OF tax. AT TINS time the nrm oil ..
n. Pike a 20. commenced purchasing
all the could an BONA, I. e. subject 10
the Government tax oi two dollars
per gallon. Inc prices lney Paid were
merely nominal not averaging, proo-
ably, twenty-five cents per gaIion;
WINE they were doihg th's, tne ways
and Means committee OF Congress
were most industriously INTRODUCING
resolutions, framing ollls, ana estao,
fishing regulations, on the SUBJECT OF
whisky.
The distllleres were all closed !
the shipment from point to point was
stopped and the business came 10 q
stand, with four hundred thousand
barrels locked up. Ihe country de
manded a reduction oi TAX because
experience had demonstrated lhat TWO
dollars per gallon could not oe coffee
ted. But the ways ana means Comi
mlttee said no. lney desired tne
nigh tax retained. Congress- AT lastl
got tired OF the action Oh the Commit
tee, which no one seemed 70 iuiiy
comprehend' ana Determined tnat Tue
tax should De reduced
The Committee was ordered 70 pre-
pare Dill LOT this purpose ana after
a deai oi grumohng comphed' mat