Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-06
WHISKY INTERESTS.
President Sehufeldt, of the National
Distillers' and Liquor Dealers AssO-
citation, Before the
Window Investigating Committee
Fund Raised by the Kentucky DistiI-
lers, and What 1t Was For.


Chicago, president of the National DIstlilers
and Liquor Dealers Association, was exam
ined by the Window Committee this morn
ing, and testified that he had raised S4OyOOO
from the Kentucky distillers for the purpose
of securing the passage OF a bIl! to reduce
the tax to fifty cents per gallon. To accom-
plish this they intended to employ counsel
and send a delegation to Washington to pre-
sent the matter to Congress. As, however,
the Republican caucus had decided that
there should be no reduction, this feature
had been stricken from the original bIi,
which now includes only an extension OF the
Bonded period. This proposition does not
so much interest the Northwestern dlstAers
as it does
THE KENTUCKY DIsTILLERs.
The latter desire more particularly an extern
sion of the bonded period, and it was with
view Of securing their cooperation in obtain
ing by asubsequen measure reductiono OF the
tax that the National Association called on
them for a contribution OF 100000. That
fund is still intact subj 20 the orders OF as
ISOLATION, to be used for the purpose Tor which
it was raised. In addition to this amount,
Schufeldt said that ne had raised S3oOO IRON
outside parties, $500 in Cincinnati, 500 IN
Lexington and $1,000 in Pennsylvania; OF
this amount about $500 had been used in
defending their customers from prohibition
suits In Kansas and Ohio, and perhaps
$1,000 in defraying the personal expenses
of himself and members OF the ex-
ecutive committee in Washington, leaving
about $500 still on hand, and not one dol
lar has ever been expended by the Assocla-
ton in Washington for any other purpose
than to defray the personal expenses OF the
officers of the Association. Witness has
never been approached by any one with Of
fers of assistance or applicationsfore employ
ment.
The witness was asked why the Western
distillers were more directly interested in
securing a reduction of the tax, and replied
that being largely interested in the export
trade a reduction of thirty GEMS per gallon,
which would leave the tax on gallon OF
proof spirits at ninety-four cents, would en-
able them to export, and also TO sell their
alcohol spirits for use at home in the arts
and manufactures, which they cannot do now
and compete with foreign spirits, Instanclng
varnishes, which now can be imported
cheaper than they can be made in this coun-
try, owing to the present high rate OF tax on
spirits.
Mr.. Hswley asked if the loss of fifty cents
per gallon on custom duty would not more
Than Offset the advances derived from the ex-
port trade. The witness replied that it
would not, as ten or twenty gallons would be
exported for every gallon imported from
France. Witness was asked why mis- associa-
ton favored an extension OF the bonded pc
riod, and replied thai it would be absolutely
necessary for their salvation, as aa over
production Of Kentucky Whistles would
flood the market in 1884 when 100000 or
5000 900 gallons would ordinarily be with
drawn by the dealers in the Northwest.
Thirty four million gallons would be I'M
loaded upon their customers in 1884 II the
bonded period was not extended, so that the
only thing in that event which could save
the Northwestern distillers from destruction
would be a reduction of the tax to fifty cents
per gallon, which would enable them to ex-
port their products. Another feature Of the
original bill stricken out by the committee
which the witness thought just and right was
that under which vines sr-bitters manufac-
tured were prohibited from distilllDg spirits
to be used in the manufacture Of vinegar.
The distilers of the country, witness claimed,
hid always co-operated with the government
in securing faithful collection OF the taxes,
and had often discovered and reported leaks
and evasions.
The examination of Schufeldt concluded
the investigation, so far as the present list oil
witnesses is concerned.
Colonel Wharton, attorney for the Ken
lucky distillers, stated that they had been
summoned here at no uncomfortable loss
aud inconvenience, and under the serious
charges they deemed it but just to them 70
charges should summoned before the COM
mittee while they 1.-THE distillers) are here.
Mr.. Hawley asked if he referred to Buell.,
of the Washington Critic, and Colonel Whar-
ton replied that he did.
The chairman announced that the commit
tee would confer and announce the future
programme later in the day.
Ldtr.-The committee decided to summon
William NJ. Hobart, of Cincinnati, treasurer
of the Western Export Association; Will
liam II. Jacobs, of Louisville, secretary and
treasurer of the Kentucky Dstillerb' Asso-
citation, and Hawthorne Hill, Of the Louis
Vile Commercial, author of the alleged inter
view with Mr.. Anterior.