The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-06-21
THE wHIsKEY POWER.


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THE WHISKEY POWER.
The insolent pretensions of the whiskey
power, which are constantly becoming
more aggressive and alarming, received
wholesome check in the Senate on Thurs
day. The measure known as "the
whiskey bill,'' which has been the subject
of so much discussion during the present
session of Congress, was indefinitely post
poned, and so killed, by vote OF 80 to
90. The bill was bad one, and would
have given additional power to the gi-
gantic whiskey rings that already exist,
aud fostered the growth Of others. The
bill was a modification of the one origin
ally passed in the House under suspen-
sion of the rules upon the motion of Mr..
Dunnell, who represented in that matter
the Ways and Means Committee. The
House bill, which was passed by more
than a two-third vote, provided for the
indefinite extension of the time in which
ment of tax. The period is now three
years. When the bill reached the Senate,
charges were made BY Mr.. Window,
which caused the creation of committee
Of investigation. In committee the bill
was greatly modified, aud now the Senate
has indefinitely postponed it, In the
House it was passed without one word of
debate. 1t is said that its enactment as a
law would have postponed for several
years any reduction of the tax on wills
key, while its defeat may leave a chance
for such reduction within year or two.
In his able speech against the measure on
Thursday, Senator Window exposed the
monstrous rapacity embodied in the mea-
sure. 1t would wantonly surrender
bonds already given for the full amount
of SIG, 900, 000 and substitute graduated
bonds which amount to $1,000, 900 on the
entire So, 600, 600 of gallons now in bond
This was the third time that Congress
had been besieged by the distillers, who
had been successful twice before. Their
own law had so stimulated speculation
and production that the quantity in bond
ed warehouses had increased nearly 100
per cent since 1880. Continuing, Mr..
Window said there were now in the
bonded warehouses about S5, 900, 900 gal
Ions, on which the tax amounts to about
$40 800, 600 The cost of manufacturing
is from 22 to as cents per gallon. The
owners, therefore, would have an invested
capital of about $50, 200, 600, while the
Government would have about $40, 000,-
900. The interest on SIC, 500, 900 for six
years at % per cent. amounts to $15, 000,-
900 the leakage allowed for by the bill
as against the Government would be $12,-
600, 600, SO that the total probable loss to
the Government, from both causes, for
the next six years upon the amount now
in bond would be ser, 900. This
would be swollen by the salaries and ex-
penses of Government agents in guarding
the whiskey for the benefit of the owners
and the probable loss from collision OF
dishonest officials, fire and other casual
ties. Summarizing the advantages ac-
cruing to the owners Of whiskey, he
claimed that with the privilege of an in.
definite period for the ripening Of their
stocks at the expense of the Government,
their net profits upon the enhanced value
of the whiskey after deducting expenses
would be $9S, 50O,O
1t is said that the powerful whiskey
lobby at Washington was astounded by
the sudden and fatal disaster which befel
their measure. They thought they had
labored and laid their pipes to better ad.
vantage, and supposed that fear of their
arrogant power would have deferred the
Senators from striking their bill such a
bold and deadly blow. 1t was very
wholesome rehuke to their impudent pre-
tensions. The whiskcy power is repre-
sented by tho Washington correspondents
as becoming dangerously and Extensively
active in politics. 1t aspires to become a
potent influence in politics, through
which It hopes to control the National
Congress itself. The testimony before
the Window investigating committee also
disclosed their purposes. The Whiskey
Ring testified that one OF the objects in
raising large fund was to help with
money 10 elections where the question of
license or prohibition was at issue. The
purpose of the Ring is to dominate
wherever the whiskey interest is liable to
be affected.
Heretofore the Ring has dipped into
practical politics on comparatively small
scale. Witnesses before Mr.. Window 8
committee have testified to the sums sent
to Kansas, used in Ohio, forwarded to
Maine and spent elsewhere, whenever the
Prohibisionists crowded free liquor hard.
On much larger scale these operations
are to be conducted, as the managers
freely declare. The country will have to
keep an eye on the operations of this
power.
Edey's Carbolic Troches cures Coughs,
Colds, Sore Throat, and Is a preventive oil
Scarlet Fever and Dintherfa 4