Evening star., 1895-10-17
THE TAX ON BEER
Retail Liquor Dealers E Opposed to
Making It Higher.
WHAT SECRETARYas HALL SAYS OF IT
A Fight to Be MADE on Any At
tempt to ,h,csease It.
THE POOR MANS BEVERAGE

THE POOR MANS BEVERAGE
That a proposition to increase the tax on
beer would naturally meet with more or
less opposition from the retail liquor deal
ers goes without saying. But that 1t will
be actively opposed by them as a body is
quite as clearly Indicated by the expression
of leading members Of their organization,
which has been in session here during the
past day or two.
"Of course, there is no use Of our crossing
bridge before we come to it, said Secre-
tary Robert ]. Halle of Chicago, who was
asked by Star reporter about the prospect
of action on the subject. I'VE have no
knowledge that there is to be any such ac-
ton by Congress- and until we see some
definite Indications on this subject we shall
probably take no definite action. But it
may be set down as certain that, il Con-
gress attempts to add this burden to what
We are already carrying, We shall fight it
by the term we you mean the retail
liquor dealers of the country?'
Yes. We are already paying enormous
sums, both to the local and national gov
ernments. All retail liquor dealers pay
their license, very high ones in many cases;
they pay their tobacco tax. the tax on the
sell, the tariff on the imported stuff they
sell. Where do you find class of business
men who are so much taxed?"
Who Bears the Burden.
"But the answer to that, Mr.. Halle, is
that the dealers charge up all these things
to the consumers"
Eyes; know that is the answer, but it
doesn't cover it ALL We pay our proportion.
very large proportion, too. in relation to
my ,hnrc Of fhnen riN of
ton. And if there is an attempt to add to
the war tax on beer, there will be some
sharp and vigorous opposition to 1T, I can
tell you. People don't seem to realize that
the war tax on beer has never been re-
duced. The rate of taxation ON this par
ticular article has remained the same ever
since the, war. The tax on tobacco, whisky
and other articles has been reduced, and
on bank checks, deeds, mortgages, matches,
IerfumerieS and many other things was
removed long ago. But the tax on beer re-
mains the same as 1t was in war times.
And now 1t Is proposed to double 1t. 1t is
Unjust, not only to US as dealers, but to the
poor man, from whom it would be, in part
at least, collected. The rich man has long
ago been relieved of war rates of taxation,
ard yet it is now proposed to double the
rate upon the poor man and upon those
who sell to him..
Then you assume that an increase of the
tax on beer would het) be borne by the
manufacturers of besr?",
crease of the price of the beer which we
buy, by just the amount that might be add
ed in the matter of tax. The result would
be that we should either have to carry 1t
ourselves or reduce the amount of beer
that the POOR man gets for his nickel. Per-
haps it would be both. for 1t seems prob
able that the dealers. would have to shoul-
der pretty large shares of this. as they do
already of the other lines of taxation to
which they are subjected by municipal,
state and national laws; Beer Is the poor
mans beverage. Ofcourse, it is consumed.
to some extent by Others but it is espe-
cially the beverage of the poor man. The
saloon is the poor mans club. He meets
Others his friends and aoquaintances, there,
and, If the saloons are properly conducted,
he Is benefited rather than injured by the
contact, and the conversation and the
things he learns in the discussion of the
affairs of the day."
To BE Unanimously Opposed.
Recurring to the question of prospective
Increase in the tax on beer, will the men,
bers Of the Association of Retail Liquor
Dealers be generally opposed to it?''
Undoubtedly; unanimously
"But you don't look for any action at
the present timer
GAS 1 have already said, there seems to
be no occasion to attempt to cross the
bridge until we know what is to be in our
road. But am not sure that there will be
no expression in regard to 1t. At each Of
on the subject, and resolutions passed in
opposition to it. should not be surprised
to sec something of this sort This time.
But, whether there Is or not, 1t may be
set down as fact that the members of
the association everywhere will be opposed
to it, and will throw their best influence
against it whenever the proper time comes,
and in such ways as are likely to be most
effective"
'Is your organization a strong one, in
numbers and inf!uence?'
1--WE are organized in twenty-eight states
already, and will be in others soon: The
organization includes the best men In the
business, and will naturally have very
considerable influence"
WAS the association organized with this
purpose in mind, the control Of rational
legislation on these subjects"
mo; not with relation to national mat
ters especially. The object is to consult
conditions generally, and to get the benefit
of mutual counsel and advice. The men,
bers from New York, for instance, can tell
of their experiences with certain laws and
certain conditions, and those from Illinois
have other laws and experiences to dis
lations or evasions of the law, but to OBJ
tain the repeal or modification of Unjust
laws. For instance, we think 1t proper
that druggists shall be subjected to the
same requirements that saloonists are in
regard to the sale of liquor as beverage.
If saloons must close at midnight or on
Sunday, the druggists and the speak
easies and the other places where liquor
is sold should be required to cease the sale
Of liquors at the same hour, and should be
compelled to pay retail liquor license, IS
the saloons do. We are not law breakers,
nor do we want other people to be-.