Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-09
THE COST OF WHISKY.
1t Msy Be Reduced by the Trust-A Japan
ESQ Process of Distilling- the
Decision on Gibson's Case-Carpenters |
Sf,Jles in the West.

Decision on Gibson's Carpenters
Strikes in the West.
tooRREsPoNDENcE OF THE DISPATCH.
CHICAGO, June 6-The Whisky Trust hay
ing overcome all opposition by buy
ing up the last of its competitors
will be still further strengthened in
its monopoly of the whisky markets
by its possession of the exclusive right to
use the Japanese process Of distilling, which
is known to the trade, from the name of its
inventor, as the Tokomine process. By this
means the cost of producing spirits is less
ened about Is cents per bushel of mash and
the finished product can be sold at from 4 to
5 cents per gallon less. The right to use this
process was acquired in February last by
the trust, and it has been tried on small
scale and found successful, but the time for
putting it in full operation was deferred
should be closed. 1t will now be put in
operation in all the plants operated by the
trust.
By the use of this process the spirits may
malt or small grain, and then the great ex-
pense of malt and small grains Is done away
with. The Japanese process is said to be
more thorough than that in present use, @
tanned from the same quantity of material.
Speaking of the change referred to, Presi-
dent ]. B. Gruenhirt of the trust, said to-
day that the saving might not be as great as
considerable. Asked If spirits would sell
for less than at present, he said that he
could not say that they would. 'There are
so many other things that enter into the
possible to make a prediction as to future
prices. The price of grain may advance and
cause an increase in the prices to wholesale
dealers notwithstanding cheapening Of
a Co. -<~l.
ject to reduce the price of whisky, but
cannot say anything definite about prices.
The Tokomlne process will be in operation
in all our distilleries within q few weeks
We shall control It, until the patents ex-
pire."
Awaiting the Gibson Decision.
The lawyers of the trust are anxiously
looking forward to the decision of Judge
Blodgett on their motion to quasi the in
dictments in the United States Court against
ex-Secretary Gibson, of the trust, for at
tempting to bribe Gauger Thomas C. Dewar
to blow up the Shufeldt Distillery. The in
dictment is based on the United States
statute. which makes it felony to attempt
to bribe United States officer to do any act
inconsistent with his duties The argument
of the trust is that the statute in question
was meant to cover only the offenses of per
sons who attempt. to bribe revenue officers
not to do their duties prescribed by law II
the gauger in this instance had been briDed
to gauge whisky frauduiently, they said,
then an offense would have been committed
against the statute; but, having been bribed
to blow up distillery, his offense is not in
cluded in the terms Of the statute. It was
also urged that the Indictment could not
stand because this act which the gauger was
asked to perform was not accomplished.
Judge Blodgett's decision will probably be
forthcoming next week. His queries to
counsel during the argument would seem to
indicate that he thought the Indictment
should not be quashed.
Money for Milwaukee Carpenters.
The carpenters of Pittsburg have not yet
made any requisition on their brothers here
for funds to assist in carrying on the pend
ing strike. In this respect they are not as
as those of Milwaukee, where
q lockout has been in progress for several
weeks on account of obnoxious shop rules,
which require the men not to converse dur
ing working hours, and impose other ~ex-
atious restrictions upon them. Within the
past two weeks requisition from Mil
waukee for funds was honored to the ex-
tent of about "a, 900 and more funds will be
as fast as they are needed.
"The Pittsburg men have not made any
call upon us" said an officer at the head
quarters of the Carpenters Council to-day,
''but if they should they will get all the help
we can give them. 1 suppose they have
money enough in their local treasures.
When that Is the case, the help of other
unions is not asked for"
The Strikes In Other Cities.
just now strikes of carpenters are in
progress at Erie Hamilton, o.; Davenport,
Ia; Seattle, Ogden, Utah; San Francisco,
Port Chester, N. Y; Staten Island, N. Y, and
from all Of which places, as
well as Pittsburg, Monongahela City and
the members of the union here
ire warned to keep away. The reports from
these points which are received here are of
The most encouraging nature.
In this city the great strike of 1880 has re-
suited in the establishment IS cents per hour
Tor an eight-hour day as the minimum rate
IF wages, and many men of exceptional
ability are paid in excess of that figure.
Overtime is paid for as time and q half, and
sunday and holiday work is paid as double
time.