Smyrna times., 1882-05-03
The Distillers' Bill.

The Distillers' Bill.
y matter Of Importance to The busiue
interests of the country as well as 10 d
Government is brought before the Sen.
Finance Committee in ~truu. letter
Secretary Folger In our Wa-hinrto
dispatches public attention was called
the extraordinary measure against whid
Mr. F"lgrr earnestly protests. 1t i-a 0
long away with all restriction a, 10 II
time that spirits may be- KEEP, in bonos
Warehouses withOu; Paymen, oi tax. sd
Greatly reducing if net entirely dcstrol
Ia. the security cow soush, by bono
gwen Tor rs ultimate pIym-st Yea
i9" WhiskCy dstilers were allowed
leave their product in warehouses ii
scar without pIyin- the tax Thi,
some protection against ovcs-rruluCti
because the quantity in store and the stl
If the market could be known. and
listiler was not likely 10 produce Ne
much more than he expected to bc able
ind market for within 4 year. i.aSmu
4 he would then be obliged to lie ou
t lie cost of the whisley and three or fs
Imes as much more in the amount or (.
hen to be paid For ultimate PAYNE
security was given no; Only IN the prodd
| leld by the Government in huudrd w.
house, but by bond running for one ~.
This security was found adequate L
| production did not exceed the dem.
hat collection of the tax could not b.,
lny time effected by sale of he whisl
IN failure of the diatiller 10 pay
The whiskey manufacturers wal
reater privileges, and Obtained tn
The law was changed 20 that the GOV,
nent should be obliged, if they chose.
store and carry their whiakey for Il
hree years without payment of Ia.
Bat the bond was made renewable yea &
it was claimed that this would preven |
reproduction. be equally safe sor Il
ioverAmeht. and encourage an import
manufacture. But the fact is that Il
surplus of whsksy in bond has suddt 4
mounted from 14,OOO,0OO gallons,
10Th, 1878, to 100000 gallons, in
han four years. The market is so gluttl
hat if many large distillers should uni
in refusing to pay, the whiskey could /
Ie sold for the amount OF the tax g 4
where near it. There is enormous Ovl
production, and Government bears all Il
isk, having already owing 10 II N
;67 100000 in revenue which will he "A
lble within three years
Now the distillers, true 10 the drur
,rd's maxim of takink Il hair of the dol
propose to go great deal further in
very policy which Mas worked so Ia,
rhe bill passed by the House PROVE
hat whiskey shall be carried with
limit as to time or quantity at GOv'
nent cost and risk. that no time shai
liked for payment of the tax now conil
lue or for the vastly larger amount i
| will soon he owed, and that the bod
siven shall be utterly inadequate fOr
protection of Government. Under bOT
of only 100000, it provides that 500
barrels may be stored, ON which the t. !
Sl.OSO,O00 but under bonds OF S2O1.t
: my quantity whatever eau be stor
!, With no greater security, $20OooJ
n night be owing to the Government vi
a Jut limit as TO time. True, GoverAm
y would hold the whiskey, but it would
= Utterly impossible to sell great quaint
Ipon a market SO glutted. even for
he tax due Fl her the United STA
must become a Wholesale liquor dealer
I t must lose many times the amount
the bond, which the distillers wOulO
cover by buying in their whiskey 70
: song.
+ This bill is really nothing but an
Il tempt to defeat and destroy the whi>l
AK, which, to the great disgust Of
National Distillers' Association, Rep
l. .ican caucus decided not TO reduce. +
4 since the extension of time for paymen
q | axes, lHG ulSllllClS ldNG oNCu lANANaie
II production far beyond the public dema
Il and crowding the warehouses "
o whiskey, in the expectation of enOrn
e profits when they could get Congress
repeal or reduce the tax. The l.
method, embodied in the pending
g has spice of vengeance in it. If G
?, ernment will not stop the tax" the
= tilIers virtually say, i've will fill it ful
IS whiskey, and make the stuff 50 pier
= that, when forced to sell, Governm
IS canHoL realize the first cost of the unta,
article. Then, by concert of action,
can fail to renew bonds, force the &
e ernment to take the stuff and sell il,
81 then can buy it in ourselves free of IA
le If this is not the deliberate intention, i
d certainly the practical results TOW
% which this extraordinary measure ten
~ The marvel is that the COMMISSIONS
internal Revenue and the COMMITTEES
le Ways and Means were ever brought
give it their approyal.-N Y. Tribune.