The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-07
BONDED SPIRITS.
The Wiadom Committee Grinding Away
on the Alleged Bonded Spirits Crooked

The hiGdOm committee Orl1UiDS away
on the Alleged Bonded Spirits Crooked
ness.
WASHINGTON, June 5.-Shufeldt, OF Chi
cago. President of the National DistiIlers'
and Liquor Dealers Association, was exam
ined by the Window Committee this morn
ing, and testified that he he'd raised $1,000
from Kentucky dis,illers for the purpose Of
securing the passage of the bill to reduce the
taxto fifty cents per gallon. To accom- plish this
they intended to employ counsel and send q
delegate to Washington to present the mat
ter to Congress. As, however, the Repub
lican caucus had decided there should be no
reduction, this feature has been stricken
from the original bill, which now includes
only the extension of the bonded period.
This proposition does not affect the interests
of the Northwestern distillers as it does the
Kentucky distilIers. The latter decree more
especially the extension OF the bonded
period, and it was with a view of Sc
curing their cooperation in obtain
ing by a subsequent measure reduction
of the tax that National Association
called on them for this contribution of
S4 coo. The fund is still intact, subject to
the orders of Shufeldt, to be used for the
purpose for which il was raised In additio II
TO this amount Shufeldt said he had raised
So 900 from outside parties-S1, 800 in Gin
cinnati, 81 600 in Lexington, and 81 900 in
Pennsy lvania. OF this amount about 81 500
has been used in defending their customers
from prohibition suits in Kansas and Ohio
and perhaps 81, 500 in defraying personal ex-
penses of himself (Shufeldt) and members
Of the Executive Committee in Washington,
leaving about 81 800 still on hand, and not
one dollar had ever been expanded by the
Association in Washington for any other
purpose than to defray legitimate personal
expenses of officers OF the Association
The witness had never been approached by
any one with offers of assistance or applica-
tions for employment.
The witness was asked why the Northwest
ern distillers were more directly interes' ed
| in securing q reduction of the tax and re
piled that being largely interested in export
trade, the reduction to soc per gallon, which
would leave tax on the gallon of proof
spirits 94 cents would belp them to export
and also to sell their alcohol spirits for II e
at home, in arts and manufactures, which
they can not do now and compete with
foreign spirits, instancing varDishes, which
| now can be imported cheaper than they cen
be made in this country owing to the present
high rate of tax on spirits.
Mr.. Hawley asked if the fifty cents per
gallon on the custom duty would not more
than Offset advances derived from expOr;
| trade.
! Witness replied it would not. as ten or
twenty gallons would be exported for eveiy
gallon imported from France. The witness
was asked why his Association favored au
extension of the bonded period, and re-
piled it would be absolutely necessary for
their salvation, as the Oyer-production oi
/ Kentucky whiskies would flood the markei
in 1884. Where 6000, 600 or S,000 600 gal
Ions would ordinarily be withdrawn by
| dealers IN the Northwest, 81, GOO 600 would
be unloaded upon their customers in 1884,
if the bonded period was extended, so that
| the only tning in that event which could
save the Northwestern oistillers from dis
aser would be the reduction of tax 10 fifty
cents per gallon, which would enable them
to export their products.
Another feature ofthe original bill stricken
out by the Committee which the witness
thought just aud right was that under
which the vinegar bitters manufacturer:
were prohibited from distilling spirits to bt
used in manufacture of vinegar. The dis
ullers of the country, the witness claimed
had always c0-operated with the Govern
ment in securing faithful collection of take:
and often had discovered and reported losses
and evasiOns.
The examination OF Shufeldt con
cluded the investigation SO far a
is concerned. Colonel Wharton, atlOrne,
for the Kentucky distillers, stated they haC
been summoned here at no inconsiderabl
loss and inconvenience, and under seriou
charges, and they deemed it but just to then
to demand that the person who made thos'
charges should be summoned before tn
Committee when they (the distillers) ar
here. Mr. Hawley asked if he referred {,
Buell., of the Washington Critic and Mr.
wharton replied he did.
The Chairman announced that the Com
mittee would confer and announce tn
future programme later in the day.
The Window Investigation COMMITTEE