Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-03-09
The Tax en- Distilled LIQUOR.

aShlnHtOD correspondents an.
nounce that an effort will be made 10
increase the tax ON distilled spirits.
We hope this scheme will find no
favor. II has the appearance OF -
job" 10 increase the value Of stock
now on hand, and involves a bad
principal. The people demand the
abolition OF the system Of internal
taxation and no addition should be
made to any internal tax.
1t the iree.traders were really
anxious to reform our revenue sys-
tenn and stimulate our trade and
commerce, they would long since
have pointed out the burdens which
this tax imposes on our manI fac.
lures, and particularly upon our
farmers. OF the spirits produced in
this country, but about one-fitih, il
so much, goes into consumption As a
beverage, the BALANCE enters into the
arts. Few Of our people know how
largely ami widely alcohol is used in
manufacturing and how much the
tax on it adds to the cost of the COM
modities consumed by the farmer
and the laboring man. There is
scarcely q branch of manufactures
that dues not require . greater or
less percentage Of alcohol. Without
it we could not produce quinine. 1t
Is. the solvent OF all the gums and
medicinal barks used in the country.
Il is the chief ingredient Of collod,.
um aud in chloroform. Without it
the Photographic art would d,sap
pear. 10 the cost Of all these aud
an indefinite number OF other arti.
Giles, q material addition is made by
the sixty five per cent. per gallon
now collected from distilled spirits.
This additional cost is felt by the
gram grower, though he may be ig-
norant of the cause Ut the increased
price OF particular article. But
the farmer feels it again aud more
severely III the curtailment 1T his
market aud the commercial results OF
his crop. The cost Of transporta.
ton is = primary question with the
grain-grower OF the West. 1t takes
half the crop-one bushel OF wheat
out OF every two-to pay tor bring.
ing the other halt ~ the seaboard
market, aud when the grain is con.
verified into cash that il the last Of
the operation tor the grain grower.
But II the farmer can convert his
wheat into alcohol, four bushels will
carry twenty to market. 10 the
grower OF Indian corn the case is
still worse; two bushels OF this grain
will scarcely deiray the cost OF trans.
porting one bushel to market from
the tar Western States.
Thus an enlarged market tor al.
cohol would lessen the Western
farmers bill for transportation, and
give him larger share OF the pro-
ducts Of his labor and land. But
farther, the price he would receive
Tor his alcohol would he bu, one part
OF these results. He row feeds his
fresh grain to swine and other cattle,
but with an enlarged market tor al
cohol to be attained by reducing its
cost aud enabling us /" export it as
we formerly did, he would be able
to substitute the refuse of his Gill as
food tor swine, and add to his own
pr offs and the exports of the coun-
try by its results in pork, lard, oil,
aud prepared brist!es,
This is an important question for
the West, and while We refer to II
not for the purpose OF demanding
the immediate repeal OF this tax, but
to enter our protest against the
scheme to increase it, We arc conf.
dent that the, day is not far distant
when the SoAth and the West will
unite in a demand that the grain and
tobacco fields Of tho country shall
not be compelled to pay SO large a
OF the entire expenses OF
the Government.-[Phi . d c p ia
Press.