The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-07-15
LEGISLATIVE ECHOES.
How the Beer Trust was Protected
by the Quay Leaders.
WORK OF THE WANAMAKER MEN
The Bosses, Undlsmayed by the Uni
yersal Denunciations of the People,
are Already at Work Setting Up Leg
islative Candidates for Next Year.
(From Our own Corresponds

are Already at Work Setting Up Leg
islative Candidates for Next Year.
From Our own Correspondent
Harrisburg, July 13.-Now that the
legislature Is a thing of the past, we
have ample opportunity to look over
not SO much what 1t did, as what il
,sft undone. More than that, the
epportunity is presented for studying
| the fine work of the beer trust and its
allied forces. In still another direction
there is food for thought in a study OF
the superb work accomplished by that
compact, harmonious and patriotic
body of Wanamaker men known as the
"Seventy-slX."
The most remarkable feature in the
history of this Legislature was the bold
and INSCRIPTIONS manipulation of men
and measures by the beer trust Of
Pennsylvania. This beer trust Is a
combination of all the great breweries
of the state. This combination has
been effected within the past three
months by John p. Persch, the man
who gained notoriety in connection
with the celebrated Automatic Tele-
phone scandal in Philadelphia. Persch
has been working in the interest of
some of the largest politicians in the
state. As rule the big brewers and
big politicians stand together. 1t Is
TO their mutual advantage to do so.
BY consolidating all Of the great
breweries of the state this combination
Of capital, or trust, expects to freeze
out the mall fellows. and make life a
dreary burden for them. 1t will thus
be seen Why the great fight In the leg
2ature vas to keep a tax off beer. 1t
can also be seen from this statement
how, when the Wanamaker men did
force the machine and the bosses to
put tax on beer. that the political
machinists contrived to place the bulk
OF the burden upon the small brew
cries OF the commonwealth. 1t can also
be seen how it comes about that retail
liquor licenses were increased, while
the big brewers escaped almost scot
free
II 1t had not been for the Wanamaker
men the whole burden of increased tax
alton would have been thrown upon the
shoulders Of the small retail liquor
dealers and upon the smaller brewers.
The Wanamaker men do not belong to
'he lquor party. AS a rule they have
nothing In common with the liquor
frame in any way. But they are fair
men, They believe in the general prin-
elple That 1t is gross injustice to tax
'he weak industries for the benefit OF
'he strong. They contend that it is
not American justice to make a small
brewery in country town pay q biz
'aS' while big brewer in a large city
permitted, practically, to escape.
senator Quay's friends are the men
VINO sought to, and did, perpetrate this
ac' OF rank injustice on the small deal
ers and small manufacturers of Penn
syvania.
FROM the above showing, IL anyone
cares to figure it out, he will discover
.HH' whie the bosses have been COM
pvleu TO place tax on beer, they have
arranged it so that while a brewer
Nnose output is 300,0 barrels year
pays only $4,000 tax, which Is at the
'ae Vi only cents per barrel, the tax
Va 'ne small brewers is over 30 cents
barrel.
had 1t not been for the Wanamaker
A'eh every one of the attempts to get
"'Oney out OF the treasury by illegal
,..a,ls IN the shape of mileage, extra
a'''ase hire. telegraph and telephone
ss'ases' by members of the various
e'usation committees, would have
"" successful. No Legislature has
hhoWn such barefaced ATTEMPTS
~ese, sui another attempt was thar
""eh the state treasurer, auditor
ns'ai ana secretary Of internal af-
aHs are given, in addition IN tbeir
.,s w. salarles, extra salaries as men,
nn. NJ TWO state boards. The attorney
!, 'ai was heretofore included i'm this |
ou' last year when his warrant
kn1u" ',"' TO him In payment of this |
,,,o service he returned It to the |
b., treasury with the endorsement |
!, 49," "e could not accept it. as he did |
N''k he was legally entitled to the
V"sation allowed him for this SER
kal ~. ua VI course If the attorney gen.
e,,,. v" law officer of the common
arr not entitled to this extra
e ~ No., the other three state officials
The W,,o
lye h'e h"anamaker men attempted to
lnera, 'se items eliminated from the
lea !, appropriation bill, but they
starS,sse suse the Quay men insisted
BOA Nv lung Tor them. just as they
|er ~ ior every demand made by
bnev ,.sestisating committee for
Cne Cs =, IRON m the treasury.
the o,. 'he most dramatic episodes
Which, Using days Of the legislature,
m a ,.s mas received but scant no.
ssure ns ~ newspapers owing to tho
y The " other and more vital topics,
de =, ''ereiless attacks that were
Ay ~ pa senator, Matthew Stanley
Ae was ass stulted in speeches