St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-01

AuA lCNulASY OllC lItlC vi
woes, which must follow in the wake
of this traffic in Intoxicating drinks !;
and still these men, these makers and
vendors, "have the cheek to ask that
the members of this House, who are
supposed to be honest and honorable
men, to assist them in the prosecution
of this wicked traffic.
Sir, do not believe that men enough
can be obtained on the floor of this
House to carry through ii measure
fraught with so much misfortune to
our nation generally, and bringing
crime, pauperism, and distress to in
dividuals, families, and neighborhoods,
and which levies upon our people an
annual tax of over S5.000,00 Can
there be any excuse for passing this
bill 7 1t is said the distillers pay $50
600, 900 into the treasury annually and
the dealers as much more there is left
S400, 100000 yet to be paid by direct
tax on the people.
We are told, Mr.. Chairman, if we re
fuse to extend the time for these men
to pay the tax now due on their bonded
liquors, and which it is the obvious
duty of the United States to collect, we
shall cripple this great industry which
pays its millions into the treasury an
nually. If this is Il fact, sir, and if by
the enforcement of this tax we can
thereby prevent or in any manner linn
it the manufacture of spirituous liq
uOrs, let us by all meeans do it; and
peradventure we may cut off in some
slight degree this prolific source Of
crime, wretchedness and disease.
There is now in store liable to tax
about 70,000,000 gallons of distilled
spirits, on which is due the United
States about S66,000,000. The friends
of this bill ask the government to ex-
tend the time of payment of this tax.
and for this forbcarance they generous
ly propose to pay the government ~
per cent annually. 1t is now carried by
bankers, capitalists, and ether money
ed Institutions We are told if we do
not give the sOught-fOr relief that
widespread ruin and disaster must
come, not only on the distillers, but
bring financial embarrassment to the
individuals and institutions which have
thus far supplied their wants, and now
refuse to extend their line of discount.
Now, submit, is this good argument
to put forth, when they ask for ii gov
ernment loan, for it is nothing but Il
loan? Should the government he asked
to take risk for two years at ~ per
cent which banks and bankers refuse
at from q to 10 per cent? What secur-
ity can these men give the United
States which they cannot give the
banks And if the business men who
control our money i'll commercial cir
cleS will not take this risk, shall we as
sume it | trust not, sir. The fact is,
the shrewd. sharp business men of our
nation are weakening on whisky, and
are quite sOlicitous to stand from under
and are strenuOusly assisting the ring
to transfer these obligations from their
own shoulders to the treasury of the
nation. | have too much confidence in
the members of Congress to anticipate
such result.
Let us see how this vast acCumula-
ton of bonded spirits occurred. The
law requires that all distilled liquors
or spirits shall pay a tax of 80 cents
per gallon that us raw spirits are not
marketable or ready for consumption,
and as it giows better and increases in
value with age it may remain in bond
GU "diVhodScn io' 'iiC0 y0"iS an"
then the tax must be paid, or whenever
it is withdrawn for consumption then
also the tax must be paid. In March,
1878, the manufacturers found them
selves with over $4,000, 900 gallons on
hand and asked an extension of time
in which to pay the tax. One year
was given. Did they diminish the
amount? No; that year they increased
the amount to II ,O0O.OO0 gallons. In
1879 another appeal was made to Con-
gress and Il three years extension was
given: did these men learn wisdom by
experience and the fOrbearance of the
Government Far from it: the next
wear the surplus rose to 90. .OOO, 900 gal
Ions. and the next wear to 100 .O0O. 600
gallons. and the next wear TO III .OOO.-
600. Then as the tax-paying time
drew near it fell off to los, DOC, 600. and
to 74,000,0 900 during the last year
Now, shall we give them another ex-
tension and encourage the further in
creased production, or shall we say,
"Pav your taxes, as other honest and
prudent business men do ~ Then we
shall see diminished output of whisky
till the supply and consumption come
nearer topather.
This will he the result: the govern
ment will receive the S66, 900. 900 which
is its due the manufacture of distilled
spirits will be diminished the distiller
will keep his business within proper
bounds, be able to pay his taxes when
due. and not call upon the government
to do what it has no constitutional
right TO do. So palpable a violation
of the spirit us well as the letter of
the Constitution would most assuredly
call down upon us the lust Indignation
of all right-minded and intelligent cit
izeps. and it would he well TO remem-
bar if we extend the aid now asked for
W.. are. Indirectly aidiup and abetting