New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-01

URGED BY THE DEMOCRATS.
TbY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSE1
Washington Feb 28.-The Committee the Ju-
dietary today reported to the House the results OF its
Investigation Of the Whiskcy Trust. The report con
! tans number Of interesting facts relating to the
operations OF the trust and. ntmated In these
dis patches a week ago, submits as the opinion OF the
Judiciary Committee the statement that effective
legislation by Congress the subject OF trusts ana
like combinations IS impacticable. After citing the
decision OF the United States courts for the Northern
District Of Ohio and that Of Circuit Judge NOW Asso-
oiate Jusice Jackson IN the southern District Of Ohio
in cases brought against the whlskey Trust the com
| mittee says:
at is therefore evident that none Of the methods
employed by the Distlllng and Cattle Feeding com
pany either In the methods employed in controlling
the production disposition Of their products. are In
violation OF the laws OF the United states. The Ques
ton as to whether Congress provide any remedy
against the combinations OF those engaged In the same
business SO prevent competition With each oher
| in the open market is very doubtful
"The Only authority conferred npon Congress whoh
can possibly be invoked is regulate commerce with
foreign nations and among the States IL Is clearly
settled that the production or manufacture OF 'ha'
| which NAV become a subject Of interstate commerce
and ultimately pass into protected traoe II no. co
merce nor can manufactures OF any sort ne ihsru
| mcnts of commerce within the meaning OF inc on
stitution It is only when an article Is s'artcu upon
| interstate commerce. Whenever II Is accepted ny
~, corv.r or is starred on It's to another state
does the character interstate commerce attach I" IT,
| II matters not what means have been empos"a 10
| limit its production, whether II was proo"Veu '" Nv
TRANSPORTED or not. the Federal Government can nav
power or control over II TIL tho transportation heehS
IL ceases 10 have the qualities of Interstate commerce
whenever II Is delivered to thu purchaser or eo"s's
q, tho a+hor end Of the line and has become mcorPo
70 tad ond mixed up with the mass OF property IN I've
country. ,.,,,a
"a nerson therefore, who Is engaged in Transporting
| articles or selling them TO be transported ''""o'
con sisentlv be charged being guilty OF crime IA
| III. restriction of trade or commerce Ihe ao' vi
| July O. 1890. applies only to contracts or cum
hnat;ons I'm restraint OF trade or commerce among nv
several states and with foreign nations In" ''ure
Of this measure to accomplish the results lot Wh"
| II Is framed is not because 1t was ho' S"Ai'.il,
| drawn to cover the authority delegated 10 'he
Feder Government. but because the evils are chicnF
beyond the, reach OF National authority ana III
| measure beyond The control of the states
The Democratic majority OF the COMMITTEE 'N
presses the opinion than the only remedy "i'n oan
successfully be applied Is reduction OF the anS on
imported alcohol to 81 gallon. and says that upon
! the mere report that the internal revenue 'aN
might be Increased by Congress tho whiskey Trust
WAS able to raise the price % cents gallon
| and that such an increase on the yearly output
| OF the company would give II an increased prom
OF Slo.5OOOOO." In addition TO the reduction OF me
| dutv the Committee earnestly approves the recon-
| mendaton OF the Deputy Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue that the Government should supply labels
| mon which shall be marked the number Of the
| package date OF manufacture, etc. In the opinion
! Of the Committee, his would enable consumers 10
tnow exactly the character Of the goods they were
purchasing and would be especially cficacions In en-
| abng druggists 10 keep Oh hand The best aruci'~
| for medicinal purposes"
| According TO the report, tho Disng and Cattl"
| Feeding Company. which Is commonly known rs The
whlskey Trust incorporated under the laws OF
Illinois IN 1890. with capital stock OF szI5OOOo"
| since the corporation organized larg" number
OF the plants purchased by 1t have been diSmantlcd
In order our,ai the output which chiefly consists
OF alcohol and cologne and neutral spirits. III
annual production is about 100000 gallons. Of
which 10 per cent Is alcohol and IS per cent spirits
The liquor reaches retailers through the hands Of Ger
tain dealers dcnominated distributors. who receive
| q rebate of = cents gallon on TIE amount "diS
, tributed, at the end Of every six months. tn"
actual purchasers also receive rebate Of cents n
gallon. provided they give their entire patronage t.
the "distrjbuters." and this rebate Is allowed not
| only on the goods produced by the company, but
| upon all compounds thereof in the year 1890. be
| ginning with tho month Of May the rebates amounted
to ST o73, 645; in 1sd 1t amounted TO S228590o ana
| In 1892 to T3o9o.2o9. After rcmarking that con
siderable portion OF the product Is used in the arts
and sciences well medicines the committee says
"But unques tionaby the largest part OF the spirits
finds its way into the open markets In the form OF
| COMPOUNDS denominated as imitation bourbon AMI
rye whiskies brandics. runs, gins etc. These com
pounds are now being extensively made by mixing
With the spirits certain oils, others and colOrng fluids
now extensively manufactured in the United states.
| The manipulation and composition OF these gods Is
done by dealers under the authority and protection OF
a license granted to them as recGcrs. The lcgl'i
mate business Of recufyng by Redistribution all being
done In the distillercs. the license for that PURPOSE
Is now used by wholesalers to enable them TO 'blend
| and compound goods"
The committee then explains the difference between
| "sraightr and offended goods. and describes the
process by which the latter AT" manufactured, ana
submits testimony 10 show that some OF the adulcran
I'm common use are poisonous. The committee remarks
that on account OF the limited time AT its disposal II
was found impraccable TO undertake the inves'iga'
| zion of other alleged combinations or trusts.
| The Republican members Of the committee dissent
from so much OF the report recommends the redc-
ton of du.cs effective means OF breaking down
! The Whisky Trust and preventing the adilieraton
| ~ Uuuors and they will submit their views on inc
| snhie.t IN ACCOMPANY the report OF the majority.