Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-11-02
Mr.. Mills or Specinl Taxes,

The fact that the Mills bill provides for the
repeal OF the special taxes now paid by the
ealoon-keepers OF the country has been de-
MED BY many democratic papers. Their ex-
cuse for so doing is that the b II as published
by authority OF the democratic managers
does not contain any provision of that kind.
The answer to this is that the copy Of the
bill sent out for campaign purposes Is not a
true one, that part of 1t relating to this mat
ter having been entirely ana purposely omit
ted, with view to deceivins the temperance
folks, aud concealing the peculiarly favor
able tendency Of the Cleveland-M Mills tariff
reform scheme towards the liquor interest
At last Mr.. Mills himself has found it expe-
dent to admit, In shufil ng and pettifog-
ging way, that the measure does contemplate
the removal of such taxes. In his speech at
Richmond Ind, on Thursday, he sad:
1--WE are asked this question: why did
you repeal the tax on special liceusesP We
had TO reduce this taxation in some way, and
they wouldn't let US reduce the tax on food
aud clothing and implements OF labor as
much as was necessary TO prevent the con
traction Of circulation in this country into
the Golfers Of the government"
If he had been candid enough, he would
have explained To- his audience that these
special taxes are imposed at the rate or : -
per year upon each retail liquor dealer, and
that tn, amount Of revenue thus annually
obtained Is in round numbers 81, GOO, 0O0
That is tosay, the saloon keepers now pay til at
sum into the federal treasury every year Tor the
privilege of carrying on their business, and
that Ia all that they do contribute Tor the sup
port OF the government. The NILS bill pro-
poses TO make an exception OF this class OF
taxpayers. and relieve them entirely from the
necessity of helping to defray the expenses of
the government which protects their property
and permits them TO reap the profits OF a
traffic that directly antagonizes the best in
terests OF society Mr.. Mills talk about
cheap food and clothing and implements OF
labor Is reduced to absurdity when taken in
consideration with this plain profession to
exempt the liqnor- sellers OF the country from
all federal taxation, and make their business
free, at cost Of 81 COO. 900 of revenue.
But this Is not all. The bill provides fur
thermore that the secretary OF the treasury
NAV exempt nll dlstlleries which mash less
than twenty five bushels OF grain per day from
the expense OF storekeepers aud gaugers,
which implies immunity from all federal con-
troll aud supervision. And II still further
provides for the repeal of the law which now
authorizes the destruction of distilling appar-
atus In the event OF seizure on account or IL
llcit operations. This is intended, of course,
to benefit the moon sinners OF the south, and
protect them against the reNenue officers
who are now so distasteful to them. In the
face of such liberal concessl ons to the liquor
maker end liquor-sellers, Mr. Mills has the
effrontery to 20 on charging that the repub-
lican party Ia in favor OF free whisky and de
clarIng that his bill Is designed to tax the
liauor business in the interests OF tariff re-
form. Fortunately, the American people are
too intelligent TO be misled by his bold and
prersevering demagoguery. -SL LOUIS COB
Democrat.