The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-03
MOTHER WHIskEY DISCLoSURE.
Tho Dealings Of the Di-iillers with the Au-
thorities In Washington.

CHICAGO, Jan. "A gentleman OF high
business, prints a defence OF the distiers, in
which he makes some very important revcla-
tlons. lie says that prior to the change 10 the
revenue law In 1868 there was very little Illicit
dlstlllation going on. Early in 1871
plan was formed In st. Louis to run
crooked whiskey. The fret offer was made
to David Gibson Of Cincinnati to run q distlllery
in the former city, and he declined. The propo-
sition was to allow the distiler to choose his
own officers, and they would not be interfered
with, but a division of the spoil was insisted
on. Tue plan found willing listeners in others.
and the production Of the crooked whlskey was
coon felt on the market.
Among other acts taken TO crush out the H.
lIcit production. was the formation Of dstil-
lersi association. The nrst meeting was held
In Chicago, In April, 1871. by the fall Of that
year the bulk of the distilling interest In the
United states was enrolled in the association.
At this time the direct tax was only nfty cents
teen cents more. The distiilers were
the latter tax ani frequently they were allowed
three and four months, and then many distillers
who were bankrupted continued to run to the
great detriment % those who paid, and loss OF
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars to the Gov
ernment.
In February. 1872, a committee OF distillers
went to Washington and persuaded the Ways
and Means Committee to consolidate all the
taxes on spirits In one general tax. The distil-
lcrs particularly urged the enactment OF strin-
gent provisions IN regard to rertters. rs II was
Impossible for the distillers TO concoct fraud
without the aid OF the rectihers. An interview
was also had with Mr. Douglass, Commissioner OF
Internal revenue, who agreed TO furnish the
Disillers Association with list of all high wine
distlllercs IN operation In the United states. the
number Of bushels mashed daily by each one.
and the production In gallons. This was making
things hot Tor the illicit men, and after furnishing
tue ~ Tor TWO months the department refused
to give the Information any longer. All this
time hve distilleries were running wide open in
New Orleans, while IL was known to every body
except the Government Onlcials that Illicit
whisAev was largely produced IN -. Louis, tue
First District OF Indiana, and more than sus-
pected In other places
The association next requested Mr Douglaas
to place two detectives under their control,
promising to break up Illicit dstling every
where. MIR DOugl - replied tina: all his detec-
tion was then cent to Washington TO
request the Commissioners to empower
TO enter uistilleries and examine books. This
request was also refused. Not to be barled
Orleans at an expense OF $500, VINO returned In
snort time and reported that the diStilleIs
there were flooding the country with whiskey.
ana paying the TAX on about one-fOurth of the
This fact was reported to Washington and in
addition, II was shown that while the New Or
leans distillcrs bought their grain In the Upper
Mississippi Valley. and produced less than ten
quarts 20 the hushel. yet they were selling
wuiskey In New York At less than Western dis
tllers could make it, with grain at their doors
and making fifteen q arts to the bushel.
AfcI long delay the department finally sent
special agent 10 New Orleans. VINO soon re-
turned, and at the Burnett House. in Cincinnati,
tOil the Officers Of the association that every
thing was lovely In New Orleans that all grain
came in gunny bags, and that the bags brought
d fair price, and that while they made spirits
at loss. they made profit on the
slop, which they sold for 81 per barrel.
\ bushel OF grain produces from forty-two TO
forty-nve gallons Of slop so II would have been
better to have run ON slop alone. All this time
Illicit distillation was on the increase and with
the full knowledge Of the Revenue Department,
as the members Of the assOcat ion firmly believe,
for every obstacle was thrown in their way, and
every effort of theirs to break 1t up was defeated
al Washington.
Finding themselves thwarted at every point
the members Of the association lost All interest
| In protecting the Government. and they broke
/ W and divided the money In the treasury.
J he distilier concludes 10y saving. That from
thorough knowledge Of the Revenue
law, better one could not be devised
Tor the protection Of the Government, and every
cent. can be collected. unless the dep irtm ent
| at Washington Is dishonest or criminaly care
less. There has not been day during the last
three years when u boy jpst out OF school could
not have discovered fraud. and broken IL up
with the means provided by law"