The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-01-20
A Whiskey Proposition Worth Look.
IN ~ ing Into.

!
# ing Into.
MIR. White, of Kentucky, wants TO
oconomiac in tho collection of tax on
spirits distilled in out of the way
places. In tho mountains of tho
Southern States, he says, there is
drcot deal of Illicit distilling IN out of
the way localities; that the disabling
apparatus used is of II simple and in,
expensive nature, easily removed and
of littlo value; that tho legal distill-
ing of spirits in such remote localities
costs tho government for hire of off,
GERS moro than tho revenue collected
amounts to; that The law makes no
distinction betweon hand mash COP
per distllerlas and steam distillorics
which no claims is unjust, and tompts
The reckless TO mako "moonshino
whiskey." In order TO remedy this,
he proposes that tho commissioner Of
lntcrnal revenue be authorized and
directed to discharge all store keepers
Tor distllerios having an average daily
capacity of less than ten vino gallons;
and that he. require the guagcrs at,
tondant upon all hand mash copper
distiIlcres having an average, daily
capacity of less than ten vino gallons
to collect special tax of not less
than &25 nor more than 500, accord
ing to the capacity of the distillcrv.
for each six months, or parts thereof,
said hand mash copper distilorics may
operate.
This position of Mr.. White is highly
oommendablo, and ovinccs high do
groo of practical common sense. The
revonuo law with regard to distilled
whiskios docs not operate equally and
Justly in all parts of tho government.
In the South, owing TO her impovcr-
'shcd condition, the operation of the
law is tantamount to prohibition; in
the Moth and Northwestern States,
or The contrary, the individual wealth
enables them TO distill according TO
law, and consequently to furnish bad
whskcy for Southern consumption;
whereas, according to tho suggestion
Of Mr.. White, a bcttcr article could
be manufactured in tho mountain re-
gions of North and South Carolina,
Georgia and Virginia, with manifest
advantage to the government, and at
the samo timo be source of great
profit to tho people Of those regions.
Tho law as it now operates, creates a
legolizcd whiskoy monopoly for the
North and Northwest to tho great
disadvantage Of tho South. The South
demands, and, il justice bo done her,
will receive romc1y against this
wholesale monopoly in the whskoy
business. Let both North and South
be placed upon equal ground in this
business. If The South bc not able to
go into tho big distillation business
like the Northwest, let the Congress
modify the law in such a way as to
give the South place in tho profits
accrning from distilled spirits II
whlskcy has to DO made, the South is
fairly entitled to her share in the
productions it is q manifest oppression
which the present law visits upon
her. With modified law on this
subject, according to the suggestion
OF Mr. White, the whole mountain
region of Pickcns could legally on !
gago in distillation, and it would be |
greater source Of rovonue to the govs
crnmcnt than it now is, and ut the !
Same time a great omolumont to this !
pcoplo--aII would be mutually bones |
fttod-monoy in Pickons would be |
more plentiful! ~snch would be tie !
case all along tho Icdmont Belt.
Hon. Glczandcv Il, Stephens.