The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-07
THE WEIGHING SYSTEM.
Its Adoption by the Iuternal Revenue
Bureau Considered.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.-The internal
revenue bureau has been considering for
some time the advisability and practica-
bility Of adopting what is known as the
weighing system for the official determine
tion of the quantity of spirits placed in
casks and packages. This System, if adopted,
will take the place of the present one. by
which the contents of O cask are deter
mined by the use of gauging instruments,
as now practiced.
The law makes it the duty of the commits
sioner to prescribe rules and regulations for
uniform system of weighing, marking,
gauging and inspection of spirits.
THE COMMISSIONERS AIM.
The commissioner desires to adopt the
best means ettainabie to secure that system
which is the most correct. Il seems to be
universally conceded by all conyersant with
the two systems that that Of Weighing is
much more accurate.
The internal revenue office has prerared
table showing the weight Of gallon of
spirits at any given strength. Alcohol being
lighter than water, of course the stronger
spirits are the less they weigh. The present
system is regarded as undesirable, for the
reason that it only approaches accuracy
when the casks are made in the regular
form and the inside surfaces are completely
smooth.
DIFFICULTIES OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM
A very slight change in the curvature of
the slaves will very materially affect the
holding capacity of cask, as indicated by
the gauge rod. A slight difference in the
thickness Of the slaves or heads
OF package viii produce
the same effect. All these difficulties
will be overcome by the use of the weighing
sorption of spirits by the various classes of
barrels during the various periods is one of
the questions which is at present engaging
the attention of the office.
THE QUESTION OF ABSORPTION.
1t is known that ordinary charred bdrrels
will absorb three to twelve pounds Of spirits,
according to the period Of time the spirits
have remaiEed in the eask. This is also
affected by the nature of the wood com
posing the barrel and the temperature at
which the spirits have been kept.
Under the present system Of gauging the
| spirits absorbed by the wood are not meas
| ured. The government loses the tax and
| the distiller the spirits. Under the weigh
| ing system the spirits absorbed into the
wood ould add to the weight Of the pack
age.
The commissioner has requested distillers
| throughout the country to assist his office
| in arriving at some conclusion as to the
average amount Of spirits that will be abs
sorbed, aud IL is probable that a deduction
will be made from the gross weight Of pack
ages on this account.
MANY SCALES NECESSARY.
With the adoption of the weighing sys-
tenn it will benecessary 70 have scales at
| every disTiliery and rectifYing house for
the purpose of weighing the spirits, but il
IS not intended that the di5tillers shall be
| put TO th5 expense Of procuring these
| Should the system be put into operation the
| government will procure the scales.
1t is beloved that this system is perfectly
| practicable at all places and under all con
! dltions, except in the case OF spirits that
| nave been rectified or compounded by the
addition of saccharine matter, aud
here the present system Of gauging
| will have to be continued. II
| is necessary TO know the strength
Of spirits as we'll as their weight, under the
weighing system, so that it will be imprac-
| ticable to ascertain the quantity Of spirti
| In package by this method where any
cons derable quantity ofssacolarlne matter
has been ADDED, for the reason that Lhe
strength of the spirits canuot be deter.
| mined after such addition.
This change is regarded as a matter OF
very considerable importance, aud the com.
missioner has been going over the subject
slowly and carefully for several months.