The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-15
wh,skey-rnteraal Revenue.

Whlskey-Internal Revenue.
II seemed not long ago to be an unac-
countable fact that the Kentucky Demo-
Gratis should be opposed to the abolition OF
Al, interna! taxes. II was known that Ken
lucky paid large amount OF taxes on
whiskey, to say nothing Of those she paid
on tobacco. To lind, therefore, both the
great parties In that State united in their
opposition 10 the abolition Of the internal
revenue department was, we repeat, a
strange thing.
But light has been she'd upon the mystery,
and II Il mystery no longer. The whis-
key-distillers owe the Government, or viii
xoon owe It. s;xty-dve millions OF dollars.
They are suffering from over-production.
And OF all the men in the world. Mr.. WAT
rERsox Is advocating their cause and ask
Ing Congress TO allow them further time
to let them keep their whiskey in bono,
aud the tax unpaid, for two or three years
longer.
"Oyer.production Recollect that 1t
Is the same Mr.. wATTERsoS who denounces
q high tariff because IL causes "over-pro-
duction.o lie is the same man who Is so
eloquent when the sSlicct OF steel rails is
preached: and he it is who tells the
world that the greed OF monopolists has
oyer.reached itself. and brought about low
prices when II was working for high prices.
But here Is an immense over-production in
the article OF whiskey, and Mr.. WATTERsoN
does not hesitate to ask Congress to "pro-
tect- the distillers against their own unwise
and injudicious act OF over-production. lie
would have UNCLE SAM do without sixty
five millions OF dollars for two years
longer In the case OF the whiskey-distillers,
but he has nothing but words of con-
timely and reproach for the makers OF
steel rails, who have also been guilty OF
oycr-production. II would seem TO be
trustworthy to make 700 much whiskey
but censurable to make too much steel! Is
that the teaching OF the politico-ecoromic;l
doctors OF the West?
Isn't the proposition we are considering
. proposition that the Government shall
for two years lend siXty-three millions OF
dollars to the whiskey.distillers Why
not, then, lend few millions to the manu-
facturers OF steel rails? Such loan would
no doubt enable these poor rail-makers to
tide over their present embarrassments,
and might result In immense benefit to the
whole country. We cannot but think that
the one class has rs much claim upon the
Government as the other; or if not. that
the whiskey-distillers are least entitled to
the favor.
Suppose the manufacturers OF tobacco in
Virginia had already manufactured tobac-
co enough to supply all their customers for
the next two years. They might in that |
case be as independent as the Kentucky |
and might be opposed to the
repeal OF all internal taxes. This is the
case OF the men whose cause Mr. WAITER
SON champions at the expense OF all the
men who are engaged in manufacturing |
and to the disgust Of the Demo-
Gratis who demand that all spies. inform
crs, detectives, and other internal-reyenue |
officials, be forever done away with.
We understand now the cry against the
policy which is labelled by the whiskey-
men, Free Whiskey and Dear Blankets"
1t Is the whiskey-men themselves who are |
raising this cry against free whiskey"-
that is, against abolishing all internal
taxes-because they wish to free their own |
wbiskey for two years longer from a tax of
siyty-fve millions of dollars, and fear that |
they cannot accomplish their object if all |
other articles are left untaXed! There's |
where the phrase " free whiskey" comes in.
The Atlanta Constitution tells the men,
bers Of Congress who have found one good
reason for granting the petition Of the whis-
key-distiIers that they would better find
at least one more.
BY the way, we hear that one at least OF
our Virginia congressman intends TO pour
hot shot into this wonderful scheme when
it comes up in the House of Representa-
tives. Let the matter be thoroughly venti-
lated. Let no guilty man escape.