Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-11
A WHISKY BILL
That Representatives Will Work
Hard 10 Pass this
Sc ssiOn.
sp.clal 10 commerclnl aarolln.

/ Special to Commercial Gazette.
! WASHINGTON, December 9-The
lirst step 10 the Movement 10 secure
the extention Of the bonded period on
distilled spirits for two years will be
the presentation In tho House to
morrow Of petitions from the leading
dstillers, bankers and business men Of
the principal cities OF the oountry.
LOUSY ille Cincinnati piltsbure.
Philadelphia, New York, Boston,
Chicago Indianapolis, Detroit, omaha
and Denver Congressman will offer in
this form, for their constituents inter.
estod, a comprehensive argument on
the subject, copies OF which will be
placed on each members desk.
The petitions, twenty-five In num-
Der, are numerously signed, aud eau
not fail TO produce a favorable i'm
prt ssion On the minds of those who
have heretofore believed that this
movement was confined TO a few oar.
ties, who hoped 10 reap benefits at the
expense Of the general public. The
reasons given for granting an exten-
sion are, that with the resumption Of
specie payments In 1879, and the coin
cident revival Of prosperity in all
branches Of trade, great impetus was
given TO the production OF distilled
spirits during the years 1880, 1881 and
1882. The demand for sour mash
WHISTLES, for aging purposes. was so
great that more Of these spirits were
produced and wsrehoused than can Be
marketed for consumption as the tax
natures thereon. As a natural result
the prices have declined, and distillers
and holders have been seriously EN-
barrassed in raising money to pay the
taxes on spirits for which they could
find no immediate market. In the
majority Of cases il became necessary
TO borrow money TO pay taxes as they
accrued, aud q number Of prominent
aud wealthy houses suoCumbed to the
strain.
The overproduclion ceased, how.
ever, when this state OF things Became
apparent, as the figures for 1881 and
1888 show. In the former year there
were in Illinois, Indiana, lowo. Mis-,
souri,, Nebraska, New York, Ohio aud
Wisconsin eighty-tWo distilleries. with
a daily producing capacity OF 26l 200
gallons, which has been reduced in
the present year 10 forty distilleries
with a daily capacity Of 1917 1871 cal.
ione.
10 the Stitcs Of Kentucky, MARI.
land and Pennsylvania, in which The
production Of whiskies usually Kent
in lond for purposes Of aging ia
chiefly carried on, the decrease 10 prcs
duction his been still moro marked.
There we're IN 1881 total Of lii ais
tilleries, with a daily producing ca,
pacity Of 2Si,5il gallons. In 1888
this number was reduced 20 ninety.
eight, with daily producing capacity
Of 22O, 2l2 gallons.
From December, 1893, TO August
1884, taxes will fall due on nearly
S3,0M,O00 gallons, now 10 distillery
warehouses, and up 10 November
1885, 70,0O0,OO0 GALLONS will be tax
able. This large quantity Of spirits,
thrown upon market already over
loaded, will necessarily cause 4 still
greater depression, and tho holders OF
these goods will be unable. upon any
reasonable terms. 10 raise the money
20 pay the taxes thereon.
unlesa the rolioi asked for Be
granted At an early day, many viii be
subjected 70 tuinoua loss.
IL Y aubnitted that the true primo
pie Of customs and internal revenu q