The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-05-19
BUILDS NO WAREHOUSES.

An Alliance Argument That is Slightly OFF.
WASHINGTON, May 9Some of the
Farmers Alliance men in the south
and west who are advocating the ware
house system for adoption by the GOV
eminent have been met with the argu-
ment that it is not the province Of
the government to build warehouses
for any class of producers, to which
| the advocates of the warehouse system
have replied that if the government
can build warehouses in which to store
whisky there ought to be no reasonable
objection to the construction of ware
houses for grain and other products of
the farmers. Senator Cockrell, who
believed this notion was an erroneous
one, sent an inquiry to Internal Rev
enue Commissioner Mason, and has re-
ceived the following reply:
Hon. r. FL CoekfeH, United States
Senate-Sir: am in receipt of your
letter asking whether the United
States government, out of government
funds, has built any warehouses for the
storage OF liquor or distilled spirits,
and if so, the number of such ware
houses, when built, the cost thereof
and under what authority of law they
were constructed. If not, to explain
who builds bonded warehouses for dis
tillers, how they are bonded and upon
what terms the spirits are stored
therein and the revenue collected
thereon.
In reply, would say that the United
States does not now, and never has
built any warehouses for distillers for
the Storage of their liquors and dis
titled spirits. There is no law author
izing the expenditure of the public
money for this purpose. All distilled
spirits, with the exception of brandy
distilled from apples, peaches and
grapes, are deposited in a warehouse
provided by the distiller himself. Sec
oAoA1 o3Ad L VI OllC ICF1SSu StCtbuUtS pEO-
vides that ''every distiller shall pro-
vide at his expense a warehouse, to be
situated on and to constitute a part of
his distillery premises, and to be used
only for the storage of distilled spirits
of his own manufacture until the tax
thereon shall have been paid"
Distillers of brandy from apples,
peaches and grapes. exclusively, are
exempt from the provisions of the
statute. These distillers either pay
the tax upon the spirits as soon as pro-
duced, or the spirits are deposited in a
bonded warehouse erected by private
Individual and stored there until the
tax becomes due, but in no case is the
government liable for any expenses
incurred in the storing of distilled
spirits of any kind. Before a distiller
commences to operate his distillery he
executes a bond, the conditions of
which, among other things, is for the
payment of the tax upon the spirits
produced by him. When the spirits
are placed in the warehouse, which he
is required to provide, an additional
bond, known as the warehouse bond.
is executed for the payment of the tax
upon said spirits. In addition to this,
the distillery premises and apparatus
are liable for the tax, and the govern
ment has first lien upon the spirits
themselves for the tax due thereon.
Until the tax is paid, the govern
ment has the custody of the spirits by
it's officers in these bonded warehouses.
At the expiration of three years, or
sooner, if the owner desires the possess
sion and use of the spirits, the internal
revenue tax OF 80 cents {; gallon must
be paid. Very Respectfully,
JOHN w. MASON.