The Evening critic., 1882-05-16
Him Beck. King of the Lobby.

The Hon. James b. Beck, of Scotland,
Senator from Kentucky and counsel for the
Distillers' Observation-Disclosures known as
"the Western Exporters Ring"-yesterday
delivered long argument in favor of his
clients. Though this argument was of the
sort usually made before committees by the
attorneys of persons seeking beneficiary
legislation, Mr.. Beck succeeded iu in
ficting it upon the Senate itself and,
through the Congressional Record, on the
country-all at the public expense. 1t is
not necessary to recapitulate the de-
tails of this case. The main facts are that
the principal distillers and dealers of the
country have formed ring to procure
legislation which will enable them to "age"
their whisky at the expense of the Gov
ernment, instead of at their own expense
as they must do now. In order to show
the public how it would work we will cite
practical instance:
A. makes lot of whisky, on which he
has to pay, say 100000 tax. The cost of
making is, say $35o,oOo. Total investment,
Ss5000O
He lays this whisky up to season and
keeps it two years, which costs him, say
six per cent interest on $S5O,OOo, or Slo2,-
600, plus shrinkage because under the
present law he has to stamp his whisky
when packaged.
Now the law that the distillers want,
and which the Hon. Beck advocates,
would enable the distiller to bond his
whisky without stamp during 96 months,
which is the maximum period of bonded
storage allowed by the bill. That is to say,
if Beck succeeds in passing his clients
bill, the distiller would be able to hold his
whisky eight years, without tax, thereby
pocketlng the interest for that time
on the 100000 that his stamps would
have cost him under the present
law, besides the increased value of his
liquor with age.
In short, Beck wants the Govern
ment to stand the principal expense Of
manufacturing merchantable whisky.
No wonder large fund was raised Nc
job of equal magnitude has been thrust
upon Congress during this generation. NJ
similar attempt to despoil the Govern
ment has been made since the interna
revenue system was framed. If it succeed
it will enrich the ring of distillers, ant
probably their counsel, Beck, beyond al
calculation. 1t beats Shepherds Peruvian
scheme out of sight.
1t would not do for any public man wh'
was not Reformer to champion such
job. Beck is great Reformer. He spend
most of his time accusing other people o
robbing the Government. Thus he is en-
ab1od Of oEI rpa1lc IN a oi naar schamas lill
this whisky job, without exciting the sus
picions of the public--which is easil.
gulled.
In the course Of his argument Becl
vouches for the "bonesty" of his client:
He declares that no money was used
influence legislation, except "legitimately.
OF course not. Everything is Legitimate
that comes Beck's way. Only those thing
are "illegitimate'' which elude his thrift
If Window or any other Senator points ou
the fraud and theft which are cunningl
concealed in Beck's fog of special pleadin
Beck retorts that the protectionists held
meeting in Chicago, and that there is Il
much revenue for the needs of the Govern
ment. Talk about the lobby There h
never been lobbyist in Washington, fro
Oakes Ames to Colonel Sherrell, who cou
hold a candle to Jim Beck. AS for Sa
Ward, Beck could teach him the rudimeni
And if Beck succeeds in jamming th
whisky job through the senate-aft
smuggling it through the House with t
help of that other Reformer, Joe Blacl
burn-he will have accomplished the bi
gest steal ever perpetrated in an age
steals.
We HOPE that the bill introduced