New-York tribune., 1875-08-06
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
WHISKY DIsTuJING METHODS.
COMPLAINTS or RECIIFIERs THAT Disr'LLbhs EN

COMPLAINTS or RECIIrIERs THAT Disr'LLEhs EN-
CRoACH ON THEIR BUSINESS.
Certain rcctfers Of spirits in this city COM
plain that many Of the large dstilers have uned hs
business OF reefyng with that OF dsiling anu lha Ny
this means the Government has been deraudcd ana e
business of the reeters has been damaged materially
In 1906 and 1867 the payment II the Internal Revenue
evaded to the extent of several millions OF dob
lars This was accomplished Ia stated by establishing
communications by means Of concealed pipes between
the grain stcres and the rectfyng houses In 1868,
the Ways md Means Committee OF Congress inserted
q clause in the act passed shortly aferward'
by which the distance between . grain distii-
lery and reetifyng house could not be
ess than 600 feet This clanse produced admirable re-
suits for some time nnd the previous evasions OF the
revenue were prevented. At length, however, under
pressure brought by the Western disers the
called continuous distillation allowed This cQntnu.
ous process intended simply 10 provide for the run
Ming OF highwnes into alcohol for purposes Of expOrta
ton only.
The Internal Revenue laws recognize and tax two dis'
tinct branches of trade In connection with the WHISKY
business dster who rays certain special taxes Tor
the privilege OF producing spirits from grain by
process OF fermentation aud dstlaon; and the recher
who licensed such and pays certain special taxes for
the privilege Of taking the spirits from the dister
and by process OF rcctlhcatiOn and Redistribution pro-
ducing refined and purified spirits. a member OF
prominent rcctfying house in this city said yea
icrday that by permitting continuous disthlatlon
the disticr pays tax only ON the reetned
product and the Government has 80 assume the loss s
famed by the process Thus the dstllcr has great al-
vantage over the rectier who buys the raw spirits tax
paid, aud tbn has to tine tax On the loss ny iecuy
ing In two large distillercs in Brooklyn. he suu u
rectying house is also The dstcrs can h0elseli
a rccfyng house by fonr cents gallon ana yet make
handsome profit BY storing their WHISKY III bona ,ney
can also save " per cent tho 80 cents tax callo
The actual cost Of making whisky, said this gentleman,
is not over % 80 cents gallon. These disteis mhAc
French spirits from h:hwincs at Bin cents giiion
guarantccng per cent proof and liberal ganee Dc
sides Rectiies also claim that the dlsiers nave an,
other meas aiding the tax IL is said that III one OF
the large dstillere, i'll Brooklyn there 90 tubs, IN
each OF which H. used 80 bushels OF charcoal.
This becomes saturated with the spirits The law re-
Oures that this charcoal shall be burned Where tnt ch-
coal is burned Is first carefully washed to separate ar
much of the spirits possible II Is said, however tna
instead Of bir1ing the charcoal at this Br"ohlFh ds
tlcry II is sold to persons who separate anu roctF
spjrjis that have been absorbed. Ii 10 estimated fl
each buscl va Ids about three gallons Of splits cit
fcrs declare that they will be obliged to CIV NJ their
business unless the dsticrs are prevented iroIn doing
both distling and rectyinc business under only ns
tlleIs license. or unless the Government Will pcrIht
drawbaek that will place the two branches OF business
utnu euu