New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-10
FOR IN INCREASED TAX on BEER.
SENATOR JONES BELIEVES THAT s@ooo"o a
YEAR MORE REVENrE MIGHT Pc RAISED
Upon TIE BEVERAGE.

Washington Feb. Q (SpeciaD-Senator Jones. the
chairman OF the subcommittee Of the Senate Com
mittee on Finance. Is an earnest advocate OF 'he
sensible proposition to raise additional revenue by an
increa sed tax on beer Speaking Of the advantages
of such an increase. Mr.. Jones said to-day: 4
cannot see why this plan should not be accepted
Thcre seems 10 be other commodity so easily,
profitaby and successfully taxed. The present tax
IL 81 barrel Each barrel of beer contains thirty
one gallons. and so the tax Is little more than d"
cents a gallon. This means only a small traction
of a cent glass An increase would not cause
raise in the retail price OF beer to the consumer
The additional tax Will be divided between the
brewer and the retailer. and guess that they are
both well able to pay H. This increase would pro-
duce s3oOoGOO OF revenue without the Increase OF
a dollar In the expense OF collection do not be-
lleye that there would be any attempt on the par'
Of the brewers to .ecoup this slight loss by an
adul,eraton OF their product. Under the present
,au,s they must file with the Commissioner Of In
,ernal Revenue periodical statements OF their brew.
with ANALYTICAL tables showing the ingredients uSeh
nv them The maker OF bad beer Is thus liable al
any time TO exposure. To be sure. there ere no
punitive provisions IN the law now. nor are they
needed for there seems to be no complain as to
the quality Of the beer generally put on the market
Eut II there should be increase in the tax and II
should appear that there IL a disposition on the
part OF the brewers and dealers to adlterdte or
dilute It would lie very easy to provide some sys-
tom of inspection and punishment. That, however,
is n matter that properly belongs 10 the pufe-iooi
movement, and have my doubts az 10 the WISDOM
of much Federal supervision on TINS SUBJECT
THE present tax whiskey continued Inc
Senator lis cents per gallon. and this Is raised
10 81 In the Wilson bill do not consider NE pro
norton between the whiskey ana beer axes 10 be
al all tust or equitable when the relative amount
of alcohol is considered. There IL disposition on
the part of to advance even TINS lncT 'as" IN
the whiskey tax to 81 10 or 81 D. ana TO even more
a gallon but nothing can be foretold now as 10 the
result | have spoken TO number OF senators on
this subject OF an increased beer tax. ana th"y
seem to be generally in favor Of II. so far haVe
not had a chance to bring the matter 10 Inc ht'ei-
ton OF the committee. but j hope TO De ap!e 10
bring up the subject and secure the adoption OF an
amendment before the bill Is reported 10 th- sen
ate .-.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Joness cogent arguments
there Is really little probability OF ms succeeding
In increasing the on beer a similar PROPOSE
ton was advanced In the Ways and Means Com
rnittee but defeated, II was SAID. through thc
efforts of Mr.. Wall. of Milwaukee. a promineht
member of the Democratic National Commute lice ana
a close personal friend Of Mr.. Cleveland. me Two
Wisconsin Senators. II Is understood, VIII meyer
consent TO vote for any measure wnch VIII Durueh
the Milwaukee brewing interest with greater IN
tcrnal taxation, ana Senators nm anu
Murphy are also counted on to oppose most Vigor-
ousy Mr.. Joness project. Mr.. Jones is qnoted 10
day as saving that the substitute bill VIII be re-
ported 10 the full committee before the end OF next
week This prophecy IL. however. apparently as
sanguine as the Arkansas Senator's pan 10 ger
needed additional revenue out OF the wholesale
I.nr al