Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-22
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH!

in Congress is particularly Questionable.
rsrEcrAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsrATcH.I
WASHINGTON, May 2l.-The United
States Brewers Association began here
to-day its thirtieth annual convention.
There were present about 200 delegates from
all parts OF the United States, representing
approximately sl95, 900, 900 in invested cap
ital. Thomas j. Lefens, OF Chicago, Chair
man Of the Association, presided, and in his
opening address said:
lam glad to be able to state that our trade
and our interests as brewers are in q more
hopeful state than they were q year ago. At
the time OF our last meeting our minds were
burdened, not alone with the reports OF the
great calamity which had Just then befallen
the people of Pennsylvania in the Johnstown
disaster but We were also affected by the un-
certainty Of the outcome OF our election. then
shortly to be held in that State which offered
one OF the most important opportunities to
confirm or reject legislation affecting the per-
sonal rights Of tho people. am glad TO state,
what Is known TO you already. that the people
OF Pennsylvania have refused to mako 81 out Of
100, the dictatOrs for the remaining 10, M to
what they should eat and drink.
VIGILANCE NECESSARY.
You will learn. however from the reports to
be read to you, that by no means has the time
come, when we can delay our vigilance, for
what our opponents have lost in influence with
the people direct, shown by all recent elec.
tions where prohibitory laws were submitted
20 the people, they are trying TO regain in
Washington by the introduction Of bills which
are intended TO accomplish, through national
channels, what the people Of the States have
refused 10 indorse.
am unwilling, however. 20 believe that the
special attention our business has of late re-
ceived at the hands OF Congress is partly due to
the action OF selfinterested people in lines OF
trade closely connected with ours, who are
short-sighted enough TO seek legislation unjust
and detrimental TO our business. Before clos
ing would enlist your attention to the subject
Of representation of our trade at the Worlds
Fair TO be held in 1892 II has seemed desira-
BILE that our trade should be fully represented
by collective exhibit, embracing a complete
brewery and showing the whole process of max
ing beer. This would necessitate the erection
Of special building, etc. hope you would be
agreeable to the suggestion, and appoint CON-
mIttee with liberal powers to take action at the
earliest opportunity.
AN IMPORTANT REPORT.
One Of the most important reports read
was that of the Board of Trustees. In its
report the board says:
There never was a time in the whole history
Of the association when so many attempts have
been made to injure the brewing industry by
means which do not require the sanction of the
people and would not obtain it If they could be
submitted to a vote. The bill for the appoint.
ment of commission for the investigation OF
the liquor traffic which has been adversely re-
ported upon so often, was again introduced in
Congress and urged with extraordinary per-
sistoncy on the part of our opponents.
The present board would have opposed the
pending measure outright had they not been
assured by competent judges that the chances
of passing the said bill were very great. and
that II would be unwise not to do all that was
possible in order 20 render tho bill less obnox.
ious, by having Il amended in n manner promis-
Ing fair, impartial and competent investiga-
tion With this object IN view, your trustees
caused 20 be submitted TO the Committee on
Alcoholic Liquor Traffic protest against that
part OF tho bill which provides that there shall
be appointed n commission of fivc persons. not
all OF whom shall be advocates of prohibitory
liquor laws; and suggesting that
A COMMISSION OF NINE
be appointed, SO constituted as to represent
both political parties, the prohibitory party.
he high license party the United States |
Brewers Association, the United States Dis |
illers' Associations and those branches of |
icionce and statistics which deal with the |
question Of alcoholism, paupersm and crime. |
We have some hopes that the bill now before |
lie House will be amended in such a spirit of |
airness. Your trustees endeavored to con-
'ince the Committee on Ways and Means that
lnucr existing circumstances and in view of
he protecting import duties already enforced.
my increase Of the tariff on hops, barley, malt.
ice, corks, etc, would be uniustifiable from
IN economic point of view. hut we failed to ac-
'omplish more than the cuTtailing of the rates
II increase originally proposed.
Your trustees have heard various rumors
the causes of this failure,
tut prefer to persevere in their conviction that
70 august body as the Congress of the United
states would not exercise the law-making
'ower for purposes other than those which are
tr1ctly IN accordance with the requirements of
he public welfare. We may regret that the
aw makers sometimes act under erroneous
oneepiions of what the public welfare de-
hands; but we will not believe that the partisan
can actuate them to ieopardlze
asst industrial interests
AGAINST ADULTERATIoN,
In respect 10 the adulterations OF beer. and
he bill against theI1, now pending in Con-
ress, the report says:
This is the proper time and opportunity to |
epeat that individually, and as the representa-
ives of this ASSOCIATION. we condemn adultera-
ion and fully approve ana support any law de- |
lgned to suppress and punish it. That the !
rewers of this country do not adulterate
heir products, is fact which has been |
emonstrated by official ANALYSIS, like the
ne for example, made few years ago
y the Health Board OF the State of |
lew York. which included samples of beer
rom nearly every brewery in the State. Not a
~ nffSFa Of aar .Ofi in1n nrIn crh
tances was discovered in this case, and the
anne is true Of every impartial and competent
nalysis ever made anywhere in our country.
The report says that the use of any grain
ther than barley in the manufacture of beer
aunot be styled an adulteration, and con-
nues:
1t is our opinion that the proper course to
ursue would be 10 have a competent authority
say, lor instance the revenue department. IN
ohyuhcuon with the agricultural. the medical
epTtulent ana the Board of Health, deter
llne whether the use of rice wheat corn or
le starch derived from these materials is
holesome or not; whether beer made of either
these is OF is not less healthy and nutritIve
ian marley beer, and lastly. whether the use of
ereals other than barley in the brewing Of
eer. is Justly and properly to be considered an
aulteration. If it is forbid it,
NOT A POLITICAL MACHINE.
Whatever could lcgtImatelybc done to prevent
ie passage Of the bill under consideration was :
ronipuy uone oy your officers and representa-
YES. Here, IS In all our efforts. we were
realty hampered by the totally uufounded i'm.
ressIon that this association is a part Of a DO
tical machine-an impression which ia
rengthened, unfortunately, by persons con- I
Dcted with the trade in q loose wav. but
Sither authorized to speak for us nor repre- {
,nting our views correctly in any respect. I
70 have 30 often emphasized the fact