The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-02-24
THEFREE ALCOHOL QUESTION.

The question of modifying the exist
ing laws applicable to the expectation of
alcohol from distillery warehouse free of
tax, including the question of freeing
all alcohol which is not used as a bev-
erage from tax, ana the relation of that
question to the surplus corn crop of the
country, has been discussed in a letter
recently written by the Hon. John
McNulta, 1.-THE receiver for the Distilling
and Cattle Feeding Co., to MIR. S. NJ.
Ri"t, the President Of the American Dis
tilling Co.
MIR. McNulta argues in favor of the
policy of free alcohol to our manufacture
ing industries. He advances the novel
proposition that tne present method Of
transporting alcohol to the seabOaTd
should be done in tank cars, and thence
by tank steamers to the foreign ports.
1t is also suggested that the present
method of placing spirits in barrels Of
moderate capacity, which are t6b stored
in distillery bonded warehouses, should
be discontinued, and instead the distiller
should be permitted by a change in the
law, to store his spirits in sealed tanks.
It is claimed that this system would re-
lieve the United States stOrekeepers from
watching 10000 or more barrels OF
spirits, and concentrate their custody
over four or five concealed tanks approx.
ed by the government.
The statement is made that American
alcohol is now debarred from many for
eign markets by prOhibitory tariffs ant
that little wholesale retaliation, In tht
way of keeping out the various bottled
alcohol products of these countries
would soon result in a cOnciliatOry pol
lev by means of which we would gain
Very large share of the foreign trade.
1t is asserted that the more alcOhO
exported and consumed in our manufact
uring industries, the greater the beneh
to the farmer, who cannot under presen
present conditions find a sale for hi
surplus corn i'll either domestic 0
foreign markets or and for that reaso
alone, when it is pointed out tina
the surplus stock of corn would find
ready market, Congress should not re
fuse to enact favorable legislation. Il
concluding Mr.. McNulta makes the fo
lowing recommendation:
1st-An internal revenue tax to tn
highest revenue producing point on a
alcohol used as a beverage in whatevt
form produced, whether it be whiske
wine or beer. The tax on each shOul
be so much per proof gallon.
2d-The privilege to store spirits
tanks, and to ship spirits for export
tank cars.
3d-The rebate of the tax on alcOh,
used for all purposes except for use as
beverage. (The government providin
such regulations as will safeguard al
insure the collection OF the tax on a
, alcohol used as a beverage as efficient
as it is now dOne).
4th-A dissemination against the pr
= duets of every government that discrir
= mates against our products, whether
bounty, tax or other burden.
y 1t is estimated that 30,0O0,0O0 bushe
. would represent the minimum co
= sumption of corn for distillatiOn Of col
= mercial alcohol, if the free alcohol
the arts policy is into execution, al
although it is cOntended on the o.
hand that that quantity is only a sm'
percentage of the total corn crop, yet
- - the other hand it is pointed out in a Il
-, = ter that the desired legislation woU
tend to consume the surplus, and that
. cannot be denied that "the surplus OF
y ' product makes the price of the produ
70 -(FrOm the New York Journal Of Coz
- merce, Feb. 5, 1S97.)