The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-08-18
Hard Times Beats the Dispensary as n
Reform Measure.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 5.-Whiskey
drinking has fallen off during the past
year nearly 5000, 900 gallons. The inter-
nal revenue commissioner thinks this
decrease is due, not to any sudden spasm
ofyirtue, but to hard times. ~Ifprosperity
comes bringing flushed pocket books in
its wake there will be 8 corresponding In.
crease during the next fiscal year.
These figures are deduced from the re-
port of the revenue commissioner, which
is very lengthy and interesting. The in
ternal revenues Of the country are derived
chiefly from the tax IN all alcoholic IL
quors. There are other revenue derived
from minor sources such as playing cards,
oleomargarine and filled cheese, but the
bulk of the internal revenue comes from
wbiskey.
The figures show that the increase OF
the liquor output for the year was l ,703,-
1886 gallons. This at first sight would not
indicate that the consumption was de-
creaslng but the experience OF the inter-
nal revenue Office has been that there is
always an annual increase Of 5000, 600
gallons. Consequently there has been an
actual decrease Of nearly 5000, 900 gallons
and when n stops to consider how
many quarts, pints and half pints ittakes
to make up 5000, 900 gallons it car be IN
derstood that there has been an incredible
decrease In whiskey drinking during the
past year.
Another fact that goes to prove this de-
crease Is found in the figures giving the
revenues derived from the special tax
levied on rectitiers, which decreased for
the year by $4,000.
The tax from the retail liquor dealers
that is to say the acknowledgement
S246, 7O5.75 The tax on the Wholesale
liquor dealers decreased S35, 7E6. 10. The
special tax levied on the manufacturers
Of stills decreased $l99, while the tax on
manufactured stills and worms decreased
5000. In fact the report shows that many
saloons closed and that a corresponding
number of wholesale dealers went out Of
business and that much OF the distilling
machinery was not operated during the
past year.
Beer drinking also shows q marked de-
cline and tho decrease in beer brewing
shows q greater decline than that In whis-
key distilling. The tax from beer stamps
has fallen off more than one and one
than the receipts oflast year. This shows
that there wero 1,4O3, OOH fewer barrels of
fermeted liquor withdrawn for consump-
ton this year han last. This shows con
clusively that the beers nave not en-
croached on the liquor habit. There has
been some increased demand for Ameri-
can slight Wines" But not enough to
offset the decrease in beer and whiskey
drinking. These so-called light wines
are not called light by the revenue collec-
tors, for the reason that they are we'll for
tilted, and make strong intoxicants.
Besides ascribing the decrease to hard
times the commissioner says that there is
a general tendency to drink less in this
country. The decrease in the number Of
saloons is ascrlbed to the fact that many
States have almost prohibitory laws
against selling liquors.
Tho Raines law in New York has dealt
the liquor business asevere blow and this
law has wiped out Of existence a number
of saloons.
The decrease in the use OF tobacco illus
trates in O most striking way through
what q period of hard times we have
passed. The receipts from the tax on CT
gars decreased over half q million, name
", S523, 7G0.54 Or the other hand the re-
ceipts On chewing tobacco increased over
O half million.
The commissioner said that it had been
brought to the attention Of the office in 9
number of ways that pipe smoking had
incregzed very largely In this country