The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-12
WINE AND SPIRIT TRADERS SOCIETY.

WHAT THE MEN WHO PAY F1FTY-EIGHT MILLION
DOLLARS REVENUE SAY ABOUT THE TARIFF
BILL.
meeting OF the Executive Committee OF the
Wine and Spirit Traders Society OF the United
States was held yesterday at the rooms OF the So
ciety No. IS Blocker street, to take action rea-
tive to the bill now before Congress imposing an
additional tax OF thirty cents per gallon on all
spirits hereafter distilled. and fifteen cents per
gallon on all spirits now In bonded warehouses or
elsewhere, which has already paid taxes. The bill,
which was reported by Mr.. Dawes, chairman Of
the Committee on Ways and Means also ADDS fifty
cents per gallon duties the 81 in gold per gallon
now paid. The present tax Is seventy cents on
domestic whskeys. The trade do not object so
much 10 the thirty cents increase on the spirits
hereafter to be distilled, but they claim that to
lay an additional tax OF fifteen cents upon
whiskeys that have already paid the tax will be
breach OF faith on the part OF the government That
should not be encouraged, and IN the end Will lead
to Illicit distiliing, requiring largely increased
force OF government officers 10 suppress. The
cnaIr was occupied by Wa Nj. FlelSS. The pro.
Mr.. Felss stated .nat the opinion OF counsel
should be taken as 70 ne additional tax on stock on
hand. A question presented Itself whether under
the decision vi 1864. when taxes were refunded,
they can tax twice on the same article. Mr..
Co terli, counsel Tor the society, thought that they
cannot levy cutie, twice. In the case OF distilled
SORTS in bonded warehouses, the dls,ller having
given his bond to pay the tax, can Congress me
IN and annul this c0ntractr 1t l. grave question,
he thought whether Congress Can lmpos, this ad-
dltIonal tax aud make tue dlStiller pay what lie
never agreed to pay. Wlen they make the whOle-
sale dealer pay fifteen cents ne thought Congress
mad more ground TO lealslate. AS to their right
OF levylng an additional tax on what Is TO be dis
tiled hereafter there can be no DOUBT; and 1t is q
point III the bill that meets with no opposition
Mr. Llenan stated that about year ago the
Commissioner Oh Internal Revenue stated 10 the
committee that at seventy cents per gallon he
mad collected aoouG three hths OF the duty, but he
could not collect near as much II IT was increase
over ten cents per gallon. Mr. Llenan stated that
tle internal revenue now Is about Sl10 O00 000, of
which whlskey and liquors pay over one-hali. He
was convinced tnat the result or an increase
of thirty cents would increase smuggling. He
suggested that the matter be referred TO tne Com
mltlee on Legislation Tor tnelr action. Mr.. Mackie
was IN favor o. senaing delegation to Washing
ton 10 oppose the proposed Pill.
MI Fielss stated tnat the trade had been
quietly submitting to the impostions placed upon
them, and still Congress proposed to Cypress
them more In 1873 toe trade paid SOL DOC. 900 and
last year $58 600 700, or more taan ODe-na OF tue
! entire Internal revenue coiiectcd. He wondered
| wat a dry goods man would say II ne was called
! upon to pay duty the second time on gloves or
! otner articles, or an iron man, VINO, having paid
! upon his nails, was taxed again. They would
! laugh at The government, he thought. Mr.. MacKle
offered q resolution, winch Was adopted. Tor the
ingtOu at once and appear before the cOmmi tee
in the meantime despatch, giving the ohJectlons
OF the society, 10 be telegraphed to Fernando
wood. The chair appointed Robert Mackie, f.
ScnleIler, George Dayton and Charles A. DuvivleI
as sucn committee.