The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-09-18
Isneeestion From Norwich.

David A. Wells LII. D., comes prompt
ly to the assistance of his young friends
in the Ways and Means committee room
with few suggestions These are con-
tanned in a letter-a very long letter-to
his old friend the Secretary of the
Treasury.
He suggests that, while it would be in
expedient to increase the present high
tax on distilled spirits, there is no good
reason why the tax on domestic beer
should not be doubled. At 81 a barrel,
beer yields an annual revenue of $32, 900,
600. At 50 barrel, DIR. Wells figures out
an annual revenue from this source of
1854, 900, 900. Since 1868, we are remind
ed, the per capita consumption of domes-
tic beer. in this country has increased
from ;1.S6 to 1903 gallons, although
the population has not quite doubled
Twenty-eight years ago the internal reve..
nue. from beer at 1.-THE dollar-a- barrel rate)
was So, 657, ISL; last year it was $31, 962,
743 Yet the available statistics do not
bear out the favorite theory OF some
philanthropists that beer is crowding out
whisky. On this interesting point the
COuIudl VI SOIlltClSO ac'ha OOiAAi1Sl VIA
Bulletin remarks:
"The per capita consumption of spirits,
which includes the spirits used IN the
arts, was 10y gallons in 1878, and ]. ~
gallons in 1888 Between these dates
there were some fluctuations. part OF
this increase may be due to freer use OF
alcohol in the arts, as to which our in
formation is very indefinite; but there
has certainly been no decrease and prob
ably there has been some increase in the
use of distilled spirits as beverages the
same time that the use of beer was in
creaSing nearly three times as fast as the
population"
Another remark. that will interest beer
drinkers is that American ale or lager,
sold over the bar at "a cents a glass
would yield profit to the saloon keeper.
Dr.. Wells further suggests an increase
of the internal taxes on tobacco to the
| figures of ten years ago-which he thinks
would mean S2S, ZOO, 900 of additional
| yearly revenue nd (of course}Ta lower
| ing of the customs duties on foreign
| spirits, wines, beers and tobacco; the
DOCTORS mission in life. IT, all his sug-
gestion are acted on, he feels confident
| confidence is the DOCTORS strong point
| that these taxables, distilled spirits,
| fermented liquors and tobacco, will yield
the government $245, 900, 900 year; "suf-
| ficient," he says, to defray all OF its or
| binary expenditures, including interest
on ali it's debts and have in addition an
annual surplus of near $50, 900, 600, leav-
| ing its total revenue from other sources
i. e. import duties, less those collected
from spirits, beer and tobacco-and re-
ceipts from permanent miscellaneous
sources (aggregating, about 5000, 0oo),
| available for payment of pensions and
for other purposes" 49,,
These Suggestions will be received with
| considerably more enthusiasm we
| should say, in Professor Wilson's COM
mittee room than by the domestic beer
makers, or by the tobacco manufacturers
of North Carolina and other (nearerl
States. In those quarters they seem
likely to throw GOODNESS" over the
Democratic meeting Even the New York
commercial newspaper already quoted a
= newspaper in entire sympathy with
DR.. Weiss theories and purposes-fecls
constrained to remark that there was a
good political reason" for the removal
of the internal tax on leaf tobacco. -
Hartford Courant.