The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-02-07
LEGISLATION FOR VINE GROWERS.
Brief Resume Of the Demands OF Vine trcwers
Respecting Legislation by Congress.


President Cleveland.
In the meanwhile, for the informationof those at
tending the vlticntural meetings now blng held in
Washington, brief summary OF the mist immedi-
ately important propositions Is presensd In this
circular.
list. The legitimate wine aud brandy inlistry ask
against dishonest trade the foundation OF
which trade is the rapid development of tie manu-
facture OF spurious, sophisticated, and aduterated
wines and brandies, which are invariablyused TO
defraud consumers, under the pretense OF putty and
genuine character, and TO rob legitimate prducers
OF trade that rightfuly belongs to them. TIE spu
rious goods ind markets with retailers andcom-
Founders because they are prepared and soldmors
cheaply than pure articles, and with consumer be-
cause they are sold under false representations The
result OF this competition Is loss and encouragement
to the honest producer, injury and dssatisfaconto to
the consumer, decentralization In trade by reason o.
the levellng influence OF unfair competition In price;
and labels, and positive decrease In the permanent
wealth of the country. Many remedies have beer
proposed, but none have yet seemed practical ext
cept that has been adopted by our commission
and approved, so far, by all leading producers e
whom 1t has been presented for consideration. Our
remedy is based upon the following principles, viz
(d.) We do not fear the dreaded competition
consumers are fully informed as to the nature Of tn,
products that are offered for sale; hence we lool
power of retailers to suppress.
o. We recognize that the General Government 4
this country, like that OF all other civilized nations
positively intends to encourage the production q
pure ana wholesome wines, aud will not during tfh
INFANCY OF our development oppress us by unwie
laws or unnecessary taxation This intention on tie
part OF the Government cannot, however, be col
structed into an equal desire to encourage the pD-
ducton OF spurious wines and liquors; hence thee
fa na yxhv
goods should not be taxed.
tc) The internal revenue service is thoroughly
organized and most efictent for the discovery of al
methods of manufacture, and can easily be utilizd
for the purpose OF placing on the spuriously MAN.
factured wines and liquors true stamps indicating
their character, the stamps serving as means bf
Identification to all innocent purchasers. To pl&e
such stamps on all packages and to enforce the lSw
requires only the passage of bill taxing spurids
wines aud brandies as distinct products, exemptlg
pure wines from its provisions, with legal dedii-
ton of what constitutes the same. The stamp vii
serve to Identify the goods, and, II any PURCHASES
object to stamped articles because they know what
they are, the producers Of the same can makeho
honest complaint.
(d.) To determine doubtful questions as to adultr.
ation5 Injurious to the public health We propose
that there shall be an appeal to the decision OF a
board composed ofthe Surgeon-General of the Army,
president Of the National Board of Health. In c,se
their decision should be that any given practc, is
Injurious to the public health, while admitting he
legitimacy Of pure wines, the Government shallbe
bound by its decisions, aud the goods can neither
pass as pure wines nor as compounds subject to tx
alton, but be subject to such destruction by dista-
ton or otherwise as Shall remove them as danger
to the public.
cd. Sweet wines require to be fortified by the ad-
and change. Such addition should be free of tax
alton, provided that nothing but brandy is used in
fertilization. Brandy should be legally defined as
the distiae Of fermented fruit juice unmixed with
spirits derived from other sources. In exporition
our producers are obliged to compete against sweet
wines which are fortified In other countries without
taxaton and imported sweet wines are not taxed
for the alcohol that has been added.
3d. It requires not less than dve years to perfect
good brandy; many producers would prefer to wait
longer. After brandy is perfect 1t reqnires some
time according to the conditions Of trade, to seek
market. Our people should demand that unlimited
bonding is a Just principle, as the government has
no right to condscate the goods that p,oducer is
unable TO sell. But II any limit is placel on the
term for holding in bond we demand that eight
years be recognized the least period to be fixed
by law.
4th. In bonding brandles the governmentsnould
require only security for the payment of taxes Am
nile privileues shond he granted for nrodnrera ,r
oon To divide their nocea1es into convenIe,s otto,
IN sn the demands NJ trade and m On car. for
as is done with wine, that we may compete fairly
with the carefu,,y nursed nroanct, NJ aner conn
,ries. The nrod, Ger should he enah,ed n tase ou
NJ hopd with the a,amn oy tho oovernmey, ind,a,
nc the nature of h,s goods as well as ther acc an,
sIzed narces rcnn,red for trade yhe,her uood n,
class and M comnornds ~ brandy m, o,no,
r,ritc ~
fsred N hear Government s,amn wh,l, hrandod
fa,re,v
eth In additio, IN the necess,t,es tor ,or,,fv,n,
sweet y,nos ue noed for cer,o,n ,rahe i, ,ron,oa
conniriss IN fori,v IN s,oIr doaroa ova, Iara,s ~
sthc nnIver.si nractice in Enrona ,two ssnd a ~,
4 snau .on, -, - po.a,.n. T. .s,,.a.,., .,,
| ,hoao ~ Snatn ,h.u ,.us, ha ,or,,oan y, =, ~,
lii, o,,o,,aa,, np' ~ ,hn ,,,a,o,,,. s.,,,aa 49,,
~ or,narr , nraSaa ,n,anSoS tr n,aps'n ,,, ''ns
,y;nes For mis- reason We neod law nrm,,,,.o
| FREQ nj tax anch for,,ocation
| ..o.i.,a -, 80 80. ,.o-
our pfoposuohs nave peeh discussed Ddole man
| nra on hie do nf tha Rnrr nnta ipu