New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-01
DEFIANCE or THE BONDED WHISKEY BILL

A TRIBUNE reporter had a conversation yesterday
with l.. Bradley, jr., of the firm OF Paris, Alien ~
Co.. dealers in and importers and dlstilerS OF WINS
key. He stated that TUE TRIBUNE ana othcr news
papers had taken wrong view OF the object OF inc
bill now before the Finance Committee oil the sen
ate, which makes the time unlimited IN whch as
titled whiskey may remain in United States bonded
warehouses before the tax Is required 10 Oc PAID -
Mr.. Bradley's statement of the elect or the blll
aud the object OF those who are pushing IL was
briefly as follows: presume that lIIE RibUNE
and other newspapers have taken Their facts anu
figures from Secretary FolgerS letter which Is ms
leaCing For instance, the fact that the amount OF
whisNey in bond was swelled from II OOO. 900 gal
Ions on June 50, ISIS. to 75,OOO,oOO gallons IN
less than four years after the passage OF the Car
Isle bill extending the bonded period from one To
three years, Is taken as evidence OF IN enormous IN
crease III production. The fact is that before the
passage of the Carlisle bill large bulk OF the
whiskey was held by dealers IN private warehouses.
crease in production is shown by the
fact that in 1870 there were GOoo0,OO0 gallons
of whiskey in bonded and free warehouses.
II is also erroneous to suppose that wlth any posi-
bic increase production the Government would
not be able to sell the whiskey IN bono for more
than the tax-nmcty cents gallon. To be sure. 1T
only Ists ABOUT twenty-five cents gallon 10 make
the whIskcy, but the lax OF ninety cents additional
must be paid by the consumer on low grade Splits
and alcohol used chiefly for mechanical purposes
as well as the fine brands of whskey, which TINS
bill affects. The on low spirits is collected in-
medIately after manufacture. Now, 1t IS unreason-
ordered sale of the whiskey i'll bond,
that the dealers in alcohol and low spirits
would not be ready to pay over 80 cents a gallon,
the amount of the tax, Tor an article winch thcy
could use, instead OF gong to the cost OF manu-
facturc and paying the tax additional Inc dis
titled whiskey affected by the bIli Is only about
20 per cent of the whole amount OF spirits man
ufactuled and the Government sure of its tax i'll
any event the amount of the bonds being OF no
consequence. The whlskey cannot evade the tax.
1t is paid Oy the consumer. We aud liquor dealers
in general do MT care 10 nave the tax abolished.
The laws OF supply and d mand VIII regulate tue
production of wnIskey, as OF all other commodities
~ have nOthlng 10 gam III pIllng up an unSalaDle
amount of whskcy, and so locking up our capital.
We seek by tnis bill the same privilege the
tobacco deaie.s nave to hold our goods III bond
until we sell them. We own the warehouses, and
tine storage costs the Government nothing the
present law enbarasses jODJers III that 1t compeis
them 10 pay an enormous anount of tax at cram
periods II they have been unable 70 sell their
Whlskcy. hrm might have S0OO,OO0 invested III
wnlskcy, aud account OF poor market be un-
abe 70 sell the stock before the expiration OF the
bonded period. As the tax would lar exceed their
capItaI, they would he maze bankrupt. Inc present
law also lOrceS tine sale Oh large share OF the
wniskey before II Is properly rlpened, III 0rder 10
avoid holding II ana paying the tax IL Is tnere-
fore tnOse VINO Will drink whskcy
tat they should drink wel-nadc altlcle, and not
the unrIpened iOtgut stun mpounueu OF cheap
spirljs Iierc is no whlsKey ring pushing the
bIll, and there no money 1t. we have not ex-
penued dollar at Washington, much to the disgust
of the lobby Isis who denOuncc the bill. ConInlS
sOncr hauni, VINO mas found the OH 10 his satls-
facuOn, knows the justice and need OF 1t. We
wOul be satisfied Win hVe-yedr lllnit, as that
gives Time Tor the whIskey 20 mature and allows Il
tar period Iii wnlCh to sell IT,"