Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-07
THE TAX ON WHISKY.

The law allows whisky-owners
three years, under bond, to pay the
tax of ninety cents gallon. One
year ago there were in this country
ninety million gallons in bond, on
which the three years had nearly ex-
PRED. SS1, 100000 must then be
paid the government unless the tax
could be previously repealed. A strong
move to abolish it was made very
early last winter, but met with such
grave resistance that the whiskyites
sought temporary relief another way.
They introduced bill in congress to
extend the bonded term two years,
hoping thus to defer payment until
they could effect the repeal of the
law. To save so many millions they
could afford to spend money freely at
Washington and the ablest men
there became their attorneys. Thro'
pressure of business in both houses,
the bill failed to pass. To further
evade the tax, the owners of the whis-
ky shipped it abroad for storage until
the excise should be removed, when
the goods will be returned to this
country free Of duty as ''goods of
American manufacture.
There are still in the country sixty
million gallons on which the bonded
period is nearly up, when S54, OO,OOO
more will be due the treasury.
Will the removal of the tax be a
benefit to the government! Of course
not. Every intelligent man knows
that it is the heaviest blow at the rev.
enue of the country that could posi-
bly, be struck.
1t is the most reliable and uniform
tax that is paid into the treasury.
There was collected last year from
the excise on whisky and tobacco
$120,000, 600, at cost of only four
per cent. Every dollar paid went
into the national pocket. No article
of import brought to the government
one-half the amount. The production
of whisky and tobacco from year to
year is so nearly uniform that the
secretary of the treasury can compute
the revenue from this tax far more
definitely than from that of any other
articles. 1t is levied on luxury,
and not on a necessity, and is col
lected largely from haunts of crime
and their patrons. 1t clogs the wheels
of no useful industry. 1t is bur-
| den upon vice alone. 1t is in accord
with every principle of political econ
omy, and hence has been made.
among the most enlightened nations.
the staple of revenue.
But how is it about the tax payer
True, it doubles the price of the com
modify to the consumer but that il
benefit to his wife and children
If man will spend money for these
articles, the less of them he gets TO
his money the better. The price o.
whisky sin bond'' is about S1.10 pc
gallon. Add ninety cents tax ant
the price becomes 81. The Kentuck,
pool has just ordered that the distil
leries shall run but two-thirds thei
capacity the present year. Throw OF
the tax and the liquor leagues can NJ
longer control the market by limiting
the amount manufactured. Sinai
distilleries will spring up everywher
and the good old days" when rur
sold at fifty cents gallon or tire
cents glass, will return to man
villages. Is this what the laborin
classes are clamoring for; the Chris
tian Church praying for; the respect
able people waiting for; the temper
ance people working for? Will it h
easier to secure prohibition or hig
license when rum flows like watt
everywhere and the poorest of us ca
get ''as drunk as lord?" Shall v
{ strike this terrible blow at the ten
perance cause and block the whee
of every noble reform?
= Then must the good people of Il
= land take up the word and let the
y voice ring out so loud and clear th
, it shall be heard even in congre
10 above the din of parties and the clan
II or of the lobby, saying, in the nar
u of economy, temperance and industr
in the name of employers and ell
le ployes, in the name of the drunkarC
i wife and children, in the name of b
L. mainly ''Let it alone 1t is a go
~ tax; q very good tax; an eXcelle
d. tax; the only tax we have that bles
II es him that gives and him that take
at and it shall stand so long as our &C
III eminent needs revenue and rum
Vi drunk in the land. "-JdnaeS r. Gu
: lin, IN Independent.
IS. The whiskytes made a terri
ed fight in congress, but they were re
n ly very badly beaten in the hou
ed and are again compelled to pay til
en- tax or ship their whisky.
nj
THE RIOT.
The riot at Cincinnati was a strar