Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-23
Tax on Alcohol.

1t is gratifying to note that the
House has voted to continue the con-
gressional commission to investigate
the matter Of free alcohol in the arts
and manufactures. 1t would have
been unwise to have done less for the
demand for free alcohol in those lines
would accrue must be considerable.
The existing law provided for free al
cohol but Secretary Carlisle declared it
to be impossible to carry out the pro-
vision without gross frauds upon the
revenue 1t is reasonable to suspect
that this decision was actuated to
quite an extent by the depleted condi-
ton of the treasury. Nor does this
opinion seem unjust in view Of the
manner in which the administration
juggled with the sugar bounty, and
fought against the payment SO as to
ensure delay. Other countries have
been able to provide for free alcohol in
the arts and manufactures without in
terfering with the excise levied upon
alcohol used for beverages. If they
can do this successfully there is no
good reason apparent for supposinS
that this government would be unable
to do so. AS to the great advantages
to be gained from free alcohol, as de-
sired, there can be little if any ques-
ton. To quote from the New Yori,
Shipping and Commercial List: Few
people comprehend the diversified use
of alcohol as a raw material for our
manufacturers, independent of its use
as a beverage. 1t will perhaps surprise
many to learn that the materials COM
posing the enamel on bath tubs are dis
solved with alcohol before being ap-
piled as a coating to the iron. Alcohol
is. in fact, the material most generally
employed as solvent for organic sub
stances. In medicine it is invaluable
as solvent of the active principles of
many substances that are insoluble in
water, and would soon decompose ir
aqueous solution. A few of the many
articles which require alcohol in their
production are artificial lubricants.
furniture polish. varnish. lacquers. cell
luloid, smokeless powder, illuminate of
mercury, aniline colors and yes.photo-
graphic paper, goldbeater's skin, spirit
levels, vegetable s>alkaloids and ex-
tracts, quick drying paints, sulphuric
ether, choral hydrate, chloroform.
medicinal extracts, hats and lead pen
ellis. In fact, there is hardly a large
manufacturing industry in the United
States which does not use alcohol in
greater or less quantities. CONNER
cial alcohol can be purchased at the
present time at the distillery in car
load lots for about IA cents per gallon.
Commercial alcohol is that form of
spirits which has been subjected to
successive Installations or notifications.
and is generally "a per cent. pure. On
this form of alcohol the tax amounts to
s2.O6 per gallon. It costs the manufac-
turer IA cents in bond per gallon for
large quantities, but before he can gain
possession of it he must pay the gov
eminent $2.06 per gallon" 1t is esti-
mated that thousands of articles would
be greatly cheapened in value, that
new manufactures would be under
taken affording increased employment
and that all this would call for enough
| foreign materials used in such manu-
| features and on which there would be
| a duty to more than make good the de-
| felt of eight or ten millions in the
revenue caused by this exemption
| from tax. On the other hand is the
existing need of revenue and the I'M
certainty whether with free alcohol in
the arts and manufactures there would
be any rec0mpense such as is pre-
dicted., The question should be investi-
gated. OF that there can be no doubt.
And if it shall be found that such law
can be made operative and the revenue
will admit of such a discrimination it
seems to us the demand should be
granted.
| One evening about three weeks ago.
as Bert Merrill son Of u g Marril1