The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-08
THE MTL UKEE DTsTTLLERs.
The Tax they Had TO Pnv to DcIp Eject Car
penter md Qnief l:rn nf's OnIcinIa.

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE whiskey
lightning to the westward has not ex hausted It,
self yet. There are some knowing folks at hand
from Milwaukee who are con1ding tales which
will prove very uncomfortable to many high
person ges in that thriving town. The music
began to-day In the wblskey Committee when
Worth and Rindskopf were heard. werth tes-
tiled that he was distiller in 1s73-4b, during
which time he manufactured crooked whiskey,
and that distillers In Milwaukee were generally
engaged in that sort Of business. He said that
Uni ed States officials, Conkiine and Others, were
aware that distiuers In Milwaukee were manu-
featuring whiskey in violation OF law, and
winked at II that he (werth) paid them az hush
money from s2O0 to $500, and sometimes t1,OOo
a month. lie testified that he paid Government
legitimate tax OF from forty to nfty thousand
dollars month thai Of earnings Of distillers,
officers got from nifty to sixty per cent. Onicials
were In the habit Of assessing distiiers, eaugers
storekeepers, and others for political purposes.
by their request, he himself made collections Of
other distillers. eauaers, and storckeepers for
that purpose. He was acquainted with Conk-
Ing who was Supervisor Of Internal Revenue In
January. 1915. He said Conkling told him that
Reyes had sent out for money, whereupon no
(Werth) went and collected from other distiilers
$500. This he and Conklioe took to Madison,
Nhtte .WItHesS saw tOnk1DR nand IL To Reyes,
on which occasion ConklinR introduced him TO
Reyes, saving. " This man Is the one who fur
nished money." Werth thereupun snid to Keyes
" his " the best we can do now. IL you want
any more, let us know. and we will get It for
you.' Reyes replied. VERY well: whom want
1t viii let you know After bis distillery was
seized he saw Reyes, and said to him, Now
government has bounced upon US. and It Ia time
Tor you TO do something for u.s." Keyes an
swered, Let this first furry blow over, and
then viii see what cin do for YOU"
Nerth further testified that CoDklinR and tho
other officials knew that he was Running a dis
tlery contra ry TO law, and that he was told that
" he paid this money to assist In CaTpenter's
election they (Keyes and Carpentor) would help
him In case he got into trouble. Witness said
he paid this money With the distinct under
standing hat they should stand between him
and the Government.
Rndskopf testified that he was engaged In the
manutacture OF highwiues in Milwaukee in
1919; WAS indicted py the Government and
convicted and paid his nne and was iinpris-
oned. lie said that Government ON yials were
IN the habit OF assessing him from s. to 40 a
barrel Tor highwines. This money he paid In
consideration that officers would not efrace the
STAMPS on tarreis when II was delivered, as, II
II was enaced, he could OF again use the barrel
without putting another stamp on IL. Ofhcers
would not enace the old stamp, and ca us the
barrel was returned without having to be again
stamped.
Rindskopf further testified that his profits
per barrel were So. Out OF this 90 were paid to
oncers, leaving for the manufacturer only e. as
his net profit. He said he expostulated with
omcials about this, telling them that they were
getting the Hons share, md that he could not
lNe az that rate. The reply Of the officers was
mat II they could not get what they wanted
they would at once report him an Illicit man
ufacturer Conking will testify before the COM
n lD-ll