The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1883-01-13
TIE NlllSkEY RING.

materially in its organization from
that which tlourished under Gen.
Grant; but its purposes and aims are
essentially the same. John Sherman
stands forward in the Senate as tho
peculiar champion of this Ring, his
brother-in-law being one Of its princi-
pal attorneys, and his friends in Cincin.
natl being among the large holders of
its paper.
The original law allowed whiskey to
be bonded for single year before pay
ment of the tax. This act was simple
and effective in its operation, and there
was no large accumulation under it.
The manufacturers of whiskey them
selves induced Congress to extend the
time Of Warehousing to three years, by
the act of March IS, 1878. They knew
the amount of annual consumption to
be about fifteen millions of gallons, but
ii was wholly disregarded after this
stimulating legislation. Bourbon and
rye whis1eys derive their value from
age, and three years in wood enhance
it very considerably.
After the passage of this law the
manufacturers hastened to increase the
productions, and the consequence is, as
hash often illustrated by high pro-
tective duties on imports, the business
has been overdone. The stock of
whiskey now on hand represents near
ly six years of average consumption,
and between seventy-fve and eighty
millions of dollars in taves due to the
Treasury.
Let it be borne in mind that the
Government has practically given
these manufacturers the privilege of
warehousing without interest for three
years, which amounts to bestowing
which under the former law of one
year Of bending they would have been
obliged to pay.
The banks of Cincinnati, Of Louis
vile, and Of other cities have aided in
bringing about the present condition Of
the whiskey interest by loaniEg money
at heavy rates on the certificates of the
bonded warehouses. Now, when the
holders of these great stocks cannot
sell them, because the supply is vastly
in excess of the demand, the manufac-
turers or owners of the Whiskey, and
the banks that speculated in the certiti-
Gates, find themselves driven into
corner, and not few are confronted
with bankruptcy.
In this dilemma, brought about by
their own agency, because they got the
period of bonding extended from one
to three years, they appeal to Congress
for relief, just Us other monopolists are
doing under the tariff. They believe
in paternal government, which will
foot the bills of its children.
\ bill was rushed through the
House at the last session Of Congress to
give the Whiskey men five years of ad-
ditioual time for bonding. 1t was
blocked in the Senate. They virtually
wanted the Treasury to loan them the
taxes for half decade, aggregating
addition to the favors already received
Public opinion condemned that job,
and it was abandoned Oy necessity.
Now Mr.. Sherman brings in bill to
give two years more of free warehous-
ing, and accompanies it with piteous
appeal that if this relief be not grant
ed, there will be widespread ruin
among the holders of tbs whiskey, that
is TO say, the spectators that bonded
it for rise.
An amendment proposing five per
cent. interest on the extension was
voted down. Another amendment
proposing to return to the one-year sys-
tenn after July, 1888, which gave fair
notice to holders, was also voted down,
John Sherman pretending to be in
favor of on another bill, but not on
the pending one.
These and other votes prove that the
Whiskey Ring has been REINFORCED
since the last session, and that some of
the Senators, who profess to be very
anXious.for amendments, are wearing
masks to deceive their people at home.
The whiskcy men of Minnesota have
compelled Mr.. Window to come to
terms, and there arc others in a siml-
larcategory.
At the end of the proposed two
years, this interest will again knock at
the doors ofCongrcss for moro legisla-
ton. The present experience will bc
repeated, and John Sherman vii! bein
the Senate to rccitc the woes of the
Whiskey Ring, with perhaps its hun
drcd millions OF unpaid taxes. But
this is the day Of civil service reform,
and these things are'to be expected.
Watch the votes of the reformcrs