, 1879-07-13
THE LEAKAGE BILL.
n1srTf5ERs' arEMnR1AT.

| &pec1dl Dispatch to Ine 1IdbtaG
| WASHINGTON, D. e., July 12.-Dr. Rush, o
Chicago, and Mr.. Woolner, OF Peoria, represent
ing the expert distilers Of the West, arrived
| here yesterday, and presented to the Secretary
| Of the Treasury the annexed memorial relating
to the hardships they are compelled to undergo
in connection with the expectation Of alcohol
| There is no doubt but what the mcmorfalist=
| state an absolutely plain case, and absolutely
entitled to the relief for which they pray:
CHICAGO, July 8, 1879.-The Hon. John 8h<r-
C.-DEAn SIN: The UNDERSIGNED, roprescntin:
fully 50 per cent Of all the distilled spirits exported
from the United States, met in consu ation In this
CITY, and resolved to again appeal to tue honorable
Secretsry OF the Treasury, with view OF obtaining
his consent 10 the postponenaent OF the collection
of the assessments made On alcohol removed from
distillery warehouse for export, lost in transit
from the far West to tho sea6oard. whether by
leakage, evaporation or casualty. resulting from
purely unavoidable causes Tree from fr4nd or con-
nlvance on the part Of the exporter.
Your petitioners are deslrous OF calling your at
tenlion to the following facts relating to the ex
portation of alcohol:
The trade vas destroyed BY legislation, and was
only resumed after 1879.
The trade at first was small as compared with the
export during last year.
As our trade increased It soon became apparent
thai our Laws were upjuet and restrictive.
It was found impossible to deliver ~ the alcohol
at the port OF export that was delivered to tue
shipment; and that the Government demanded 4
tax on spirits simply because they were unayoid-
Demanding revenue from unavoidable misfor-
tune, ta q method Of raising revenue Unknown ex-
cept in the United States. and its continuance can
result only in the destruction Of our trade in
American alcohol.
At first, when the trade was small, th4 alcohol
was PROMPTLY handled and placed on board OF for
ign-bouud vessels BY Custom House officers, and
losses were comparatively snall and these tridlng
assessments, although unjnst, we're paid.
sessments had threatened to destroy IT. tia matter
was brought to the attention Of the Commissioner
Of Internal Revenue about one year ago. The
Commissioner recognized Then. as now. 'sthe
great hardship on the exporter OF alcohol, to- be
required to pay 30 cents per gallon tax upon spirits
which have leaked or been lost BY unavoidable ac-
ciuent while the same were being transported from
the place Of manufacture to the port OF export
The Commissioner was then Of the opinion that
it was within the discretion Of the Com mnigsioucr
not to mako or to remit assessments arising from
such unavoidable losses. And, in fact, no ASSESS
mcnts On account of leakage In transit were made
for nearly one year prior to the close OF the Forty
fifth Congress.
Your petitioners, therefore, submit that they
had good reason to suppose that assessments would
no longer be made on this class OF cases. Rad
every effort with the Forty-hfth Congress TO have
the law modified. And now, after having been
ment to urge the collection Of these unjust taxes,
without first afordins ~ an opportunity fairly to
apply to Congress for relief.
a 0llf Is now penG{H6 IN IOuRZGG5 9E1RINETelleI.
1t has been considered BY Two important COM
mttteea In the Senate and House OF Represents
tves, and received the unanimous indo1eemcut OF
both committees. That Il. R. bill l, 055 has not
passed. cannot fairly be attributed TO negligence
or want Of proper diligence on our part.
It is well known thnt the F0rty-sl1th Congress
did not enter into general legislation. except In
few special instances. Believing that On assem-
bling Congress Can and will speedily pass this bill,
we therefore most respectfully submit, that we
should regard II a. hardship and view 1t rs great
injustice being Tins taken by surprise, after the
law had been practically suspended for nearly 3
year, to now euforce the collection Of so unjust
lax, and be denied reasonable opportunity to
get relief from Congress.
Our demands for relief will be recognized DJ
every one when it shall be generally Understood
that By the greatest amount Of loss BY leakage
arises from the careessness and disregard to rcgn
lake charge OF aud have possession OF our alcohol 1
from the lime it leaves the dstilery warehouse till
it gets on board foreign bouud vessel.
The regulations contemplate that all alcohol for
export, on arrival at the port, oe Immediately
placed On board vessel, and provided that, II
from any Cause vessel is not ready to take the
alcohol IN board. then the alcohol shall oe prop
instance has this been done, but the alcohol, on
arrival 1t New York, has oeen piled up on exposed
docks for weeks and months in mABy instances;
aud from this causc aloDc this disregard to need
fu1 regulations to protect property has arisen
nine-Ienths OF all the deficiency assessment
against the exporters OF aicono. The law CON-
pes rs to put alcohol In the care and posses-
sion Of Government officers IN transit and until
loaded on boxro OF vessel IT, therefore, 1t can
be shown successfully that the loss was the result
OF gross negligence the part Of the Government
lt4eH, through its officers, W0 venture The BELIEF