The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-14
WAR ON THE WHISKEY TRUST
CONGRESSMAN BURROWS FIRES THE
FIRST Gun IN THE HOUSE

p,bi,c Law, pud Calls for m InvestiEn-
neutrality-suspicious., Miller Hopes to
Make out . Stronger Case This Time.
WARRINGTON. Jan. lathe Republicans have
commenced q vigorous war on the so-called
WbIskey Trust better known as the Distillers'
and Cattle Feeding Company. Representa-
tive Burrows OF Michigan fred tho first gun OF
Tho campaign against the trust in the House
to-day. By calling for an Investigation. and
n will be followed up by Attorney-Gen-
eral Miller. who is at work making out
what he hopes will he n stronger case
than the one which failed at Boston. The
Republicans believe that this trust
is largely q Democratic institution. and that 1t
furnished a large amount OF money to the
Democratic party for use in the last campaign.
The Republicans also intend to signalize the
outgoing Of the Administration by q vigorous
war on this trust. which will put 1t In an ad-
vantageous position to fight 1t next winter.
when tho whiskey tax Is expected to be In
creased as a part OF a general scheme OF tariff
revision. There has been come talk OF an in
creased tax at this session. and Republicans
like Mr.. Dingley OF Maine and others charge
that its real purpose Is to put into the hands
OF the whiskcy Ring a large amount OF money.
by giving them ON Nhiskcy already manufac-
tured the gains to accrue from an increase OF
tho tax. Mr.. Burrows's resolution demands
N investigation OF the following points:
Fint-whether any such organization exists as the
pis,illing and Cattle Feeding Company, commonly
known as the whiskey Trust, the nature OF its organs.
ration. the names Of its officers. Its place of business.
the agreement or understanding by which such trust
vas formed and now exists and tho character OF Its
product.
second-what disposition 1t makes OF its products
and whether It has entered into any contract with rec.
timers or other persons In the United States by which q
rebate 10 allowed to the purchasers OF such articles
upon condition that such urchaserss shall connne tn enr
trade and secure their supply solely from such Distil
ling and Cattle Feeding Company or its authorized dis.
tributors or agents: and. specifically. tho terms OF such
contract. the amount Of rebate allowed such %rectiHers
or distributors. together with tho amount Of rebate
allowed the wholesalers and retailers OF the product or
its compound.
such rectinsrs or distributers. under
the ruise OF ~rectihers' licenses, aduiterate. poilute, or
otherwise drug the product so purchased OF said com-
pany and distributed or sold by them. and whe; her
such product. when 40 %drugged. Is sold and distributed
throughout the country to be used rs n beverage.
rourth-The quantity of the product produced BY the
company annually. and what proportion thereof is
used IS alcohol or spirits in the arts. or for legitimate
purposes, and what proportion Is adulte rated. sole, and
consumed BY the people as a beverage.
the product OF such company. while
In possession of the company or in tho hands OF said
distributors or %rectifers. Is adulterated or druEged be.
fere being placed upon tho market to be consumed as .
beverage: and II 80. by whom, and what oils. essences,
Or drugs arc used for such purposes, and whether such
oils, essences, or drugs. or any OF them. arc poisonous
and injurious to health.
~sixth-To make gen eral inquiry into the metho DDS Of
doing business adopted by such company and the dis
fributers Of Its product. aud whether any Of such
methods are in violation of the laws Of the United
States: and generally make such further inquiry as
may be necessary to show the full scope and character
Of the business Of such company.
Mr.. Burrows. as tho spokesman Of the Re-
publicans in the House. does not admit that
there Is any political side to his attack on the
trust. but bases 1t upon highly moral grounds.
He said to-day in regard to his resolution:
MY purposein introducing the resolution
to investigate the Whiskey Trust. Is to un-
earth what I believe to be an organization
which exists in defiance Of public law. and
which is producing and distributing a product
Injurious to the public health. 1t is my under
standing that the Whiskey Trust is engagedin
the business OF producing from corn. high
wine. alcohol. and spirits. a product which is
legimately used for medicinal and mechanical
purposes. I expect the investigation will
disclose that only about ten or fifteen per
cent. Of their annual product is used for this
legitimate purpose. and the balance. by a
system Of adulteration.. is converted into q
t SSss1 %nest sna o Daopls. The eG proda see t theSa1 pro o.
understand that i is produced rom corn
81 of' Being as'e sdul RsSassi.S and 'S Convicted saf apqi into, 9
s pppbiio as at eensin %n'f To Is ae Satmeiai Hn this his ' an
agreement has been entered, into etwee tho
s sIISat ind Com sn 0sas. and indi kPGwn Is b sh sh Ris,
inf thereISsa COMPENSATION q TIVE cents per
rsctiiieTs. under tho protection q a Govern;
Kinds Of beverages By the use Of essential oils
and essences. many Of which are poisonous.
HEALTH. Without such authorizations It Would
%bi ipe9s Tr1s, a tS palm palm thu the pe p5oIu ct be st u ses
Is a beverage. Bythis process OF adulteration
tss taste Of tSs sonsanes' 1 From the { same vat
jamaica sS.aa'' or "" any other S' a place AGE On th% s ioR%
brandy from the most celebrated d%istricts
nor ~ f d%ordisls. .n and Hm GIN t ahnafC would r'! aecei1e
the most educated tastes. cal all be pro:
dHSisd i from a few : lars , o. cfCIprinc %atteT and ID
which appear the skull. and cross-bones as a
warming to the user. When these, spirits are
the i1noeept retail dealer. who su,pposes he is
isdsaling out a poisonous adulteration;
prod dh: d 9iittt hs Wbisske C0TT Ius to ss sestio ths
cents a gallon is allowed on all purchases
St the expiration Of six months from the
the restifer shall procure his spirits
OF the Trust. or, one. Of its authorized dis
tributers And a failure to reform this
contract is attended with a forfeiture Of the
iss sHs, b aeenmIlatsd rebate g isd In this = way ! be-
lated. Not only are such contracts made and
ers OF it's. product rs n. beverage. but their
product OF alcohol Is sold to druggists under a
cents q gallon. Mt the end OF six months II the
druggist purchases his supply from no other
source, and the same kind Of contract Is en-
tered into and enforced between the trust and
with wholesale and retail liquor licenses.
manutacturing chemists. and all others who
trust ana It's distributors. The only purpose
have in this investigation Is to expose what
believe to be one Of tina most mon strous
trusts or combines that. is existing In this
country to-day. doing business in violation OF
health and lives OF our people,"
FEpMA. H.. Jan; 13.,hn important nesting
Trust was held at the headquarters In this
nature was taken. In view of the fact that