Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-06-01
WASHINGTON WORK.
WINDOWS Committee Still Pogging Away
on the Whisky Questionable Senate
Committee Report In Favor of Reinstat-
Ing Fltz John Porter.
The Whisky Investigation.

WASHINGTON, May 3l.-The senate CON-
mittee investigating the bonded spirits bill,
this morning examined s. B. Miller, president
of the Western Export association, and Ed
win Stevens, of Cincinnati, and relieved them
from further attendance The examination
resulted in placing before the committee much
Information relative to the distilling interests,
but failed to show that any money had been
raised by the distillery men to influence the
legislature.
President Miller of the Western Export
association explained the purpose of that Or
gauization to be simply to protect the West
ern distiliers from the disastrous consequences
OF reproduction in connection with the
falling off in the export trade Of some
100000 gallons the past year; that they
had formed a pool and had raised by assess
ment S721 900, which was again distributed
among those in business, who had made
losses; that every dollar was raised from
dlstlllers and was distributed among
them; that it was purely business arrange
ment to sustain the prices In the home market
and protect the entire association from ruin
aud losses by adjusting losses of few.
He produced figures showing the amount
of each assessment, the amount each firm
had paid and the amount each firm had re.
ceived. He thought the present trouble came
from over production; when the bonded period
was extended under the Carlisle
bill the distillers sent agents
all through the country, who
sold whisky in bond, with the specious argu,
ment to dealers; eff you buy whisky in bond
now you will not have to pay the tax for
three years; you can buy it now for 50 per gall
Ion; let it be in bond and in three years it will
be worth So, So or &c." aud the result was
that men that had never before bought more
than few gallons had now all the way from
five barrels upwards lying in bond; that every
body in Kentucky went to making whisky
and continued to make 1t so long as they
could sell it in bond. He believed more than
three ourths of the whisky took in bond was
owned by outside parties other than distillers,
and that if congress should compel the pay
ment of this tax without extending the bond
ed period, 5,0W, 900 gallons would be thrown
upon the market and sold for the payment of
the tax; that this would compel the makers
of high wines all over the country to close
their distileries. The effect of this he be-
lieved would be disastrous in maDyjways. 1t
would at once destroy the market for 1000, goo
bushels of grain per month used by the Illinois
distilleries. The present overproduction Of
Kentucky whisky, he thought, would amount
to 5,0O0,U00 gallons. He thought congress
would make q great mistake if it should now
refuse to extend the bonded period, and did
not believe the same trouble would arise again,
because the people would not again be fooled
into buying whisky in bond in excess of the
Legitimate demands for co sumption.
Mr.. Miller was asked, "What are the views
of your association on the question of reduc-
ing the tax on whiskyto so cents per gallon?"
and replied that of course there was differ
ence of opinion. He was eugagedentirely in
the export trade and it never made but little
difference, but jobbers, who were compelled
to trust their whisky all over the country
would, of course, prefer to trust to the extent
of so cents per gallon, rather than 80 cents,
Miller stated that not one dollar had ever
been paid by his association to influence legis-
lation and that they had never been approached
by any lobbyist or any one pretending he
could influence legislation.
Edwin w. Stevens, a Cincinnati commits
sion merchant, and treasurer of the Nationa-
Distillers' and Spirit Dealers association
was examined. The association was formed !,
in October, 1879. Its purpose mainly was to
watch legislation, with the view of protecting
the interests Of the trade. The total income
of the association Is derived from its annual
dues of members, which range from $40 to
$50, and for the past two years this income
has aggregated about $4,000, out of which
dent, 5000; secretary, 1880, and treasurer,
$500. Stevens fully corrOborated Miller's
statements that no money had ever been ex-
pended by their association to influence legis-
latiOn.