National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-28
Tho WhisIrY IlilI.

against the whisky bill which recently
passed the House, and in which il was
very clearly shown that the operation of
the bill would be to destroy the security
which the Government now has for the
payment of $67000,O00 of internal reve-
nue. taxes on spirits in bonded ware
houses, and further, that 1t would tend
to facilitate combinations of great distill-
ing interests, particularly in Kentucky, to
break down the general distilling busi-
ness of the country, and to increase their
power TO dictate to the Government as to
what the tax on whisky should be, or any
other matter relating to the whisky in
terests
Ever since the bill passed the House
the Senate Finance Committee has been
besieged by the advocates of the measure,
demanding that immediate action should
be had or the result would be disastrous
to the interests of distillers and dangerous
to the Government, because of the great
accumulation of whisky in warehouse,
We have had all along a strong suspicion
that this terrible anxiety was based not
so much on the amount of whisky which
must be shortly withdrawn from ware
houses and the tax paid thereon as upon
the absolute necessity-which the distil-
lers have realized fully-that if the bill
was to pass at all it must go through the
Senate, as IL did through the House,
without debate and before any one could
find out what it contained. The facts
now confirm this suspicion. IL is true
that about 75,00O,000 gallons of whisky
is now in bonded warehouses, the tax
on which falls due within three years
from the date of its entry but the amount
of this whisky now in warehouse pro-
duced in 1879, and the tax upon which
will fall due up 10 the close Of 1882, is l,76l, !,
647 gallons, scattered along through the
remaining months of the year-about
250,000 gallons in May, 33S000 in June
242,000 in July, 100000 in August, 6S00O
gallons in September, and so on. There
is plenty of time for the Senate to care.
fully consider this whole matter, and the
fact that such bill as the one now before
them has been passed through the House
without discussion, and with few, if any
members understanding its danger, is
strong proof that the Senate cannot move
too carefully in any legislation sought by
the whisky interests. The $67 100000 OF
tax now owing to the Government, but
not yet due, is good landmark to keep
in sight as guide to legislation.
Secretary Folgers letter has called at
tention to the immediate danger, but it
is well to look out for other dangers.
This vast treasure, piled up in sight Of
the men who control the bonded whisky
is an object of exceeding great desire,
and the next move made by them will be
an assault in force to effect a reduction Of
the tax. 1t is Just as we'll to take oui
bearings on this last proposition, for it is
certain Congress will have to deal with it
A short time since Republican caucus
of the House decided against the reduc
ton of the tax on whisky. 1t was wis,
resolve, and the country will stand by il
and hold to account those who do not
The cash on hand in the Treasury is
very large sum. All sorts of scheme!
will come up to get it out. The expenses
of the Government, the increased pay
ment of pensions, improvements along
the Mississippi, and other necessary ex
penses will take good deal of money.
There are now in warehouses 100000,
gallons of whisky, 100000 or more o
which are in the State of Kentucky
mainly in the hands of few great dis
tillers. Now to reduce the tax on thi
from ninety to fifty cents gallon i
simply to take from what is now owin
to the United States, and will fall due il
the next three years, SS0,000,000; to Civ,
over $50, 100000 of it to Kentucky distil
lers, and the remainder to a small NUN
der of individuals in restricted localitie
in few other States. The people of tn
country generally will not derive a cen
of benefit from such reduction.
What is needed is not these continue
changes in the laws relating to whisk
and in the tax on it, but fixed polio
that will enable this large manufacturn
interest to work along safely, feeling tha
their calculations will not be upset b
legislation which rings can suddenly rus
through Congress. And beyond this tn
pressing need is of an honest, efficien
and thorough administration of the law o
the part of the Internal Revenue Burea
to make secure the payment of the take
as they fall due.
IT is scarcely competent for the d.
30 tsY.n ln ntthl linn