Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1898-06-16
THE REVENUE BILL

~ ~ oA(OaO1 OoCo LII hdAQs
factures for export comes too late
to get it into the war revenue bill.
This is to be regretted, because
one strong point in its favor was
that it would be in the nature of
an offset to the war tax put upon
many articles which the drawback
would benefit. And this point
was emphasized by the fact that
the drawback provision would not
detract from the revenue. At pres
ent all, or virtually all, the alco-
hol used in exported American
goods, is first imported under a
stiff duty Of 1923 a gallon, and
this duty is rebated, when the
goods are exported, which leaves
the government no revenue. Ii
this imported and re-exported al
cohol could be supplanted by
American alcohol, on which the
internal tax is $2.O7 a gallon,
and that tax could be related,
there would be no difference in the
revenue, since there would be no
revenue in either case. Butthe differ
ence wouldbe thatAmerican alcohol
would be used instead of foreign,
and the advantages to manufac.
turers would be sufficient to ena-
BILE them to compete with foreign
manufactures in the foreign mar
kets. This would be due to two
facts:
~ That the domestic alcohol,
with the tax rebated, would be
considerably cheaper to the x
porter than the foreign alcohol
would be, and of better quality:
and ~ that the using of it would
require less capital, and would be
attended with less expense and
inconvenience.
Senator Allison, of the finance
committee, who thoroughly be-
lieves in the justice Of the draws
back, suggests that the provision
may be put into House Bill Nc.
10, 1858, which is now before the
Senate, it's title being ga Bill to
amend the internal revenue laws
relating to distilled spirits, and
for other purposes" This ought
to be done without fail and the
bill should be passed at once. II
anything Can be done which Will
relieve the burdens of Wal tax
alton without reducing revenue.
and will help increase our ex~
ports, and give a larger market
for our cereals, it ought TO be
done. And if this Congress will
not do it, a different Congress
will stand a chance to be elected
next fall.
To the casual reader this may
seem a trivial matter. But the
fact is this bill IS far-reaching in
it's character, for if it should be-
come a law it will impose a tax
on wellsnigh every home 10
It is we'll known that alcohol
forms an important part Of many
of the medicines most largely
used by suffering humanity. The
enactment of a law proposed in
the above bill would increase tie
price of medicine. This would
work serious damage to the af-
ficted among the poor, for the
increased cost would preclude
many from buying the remedies
needed to relieve pain. This is
not mere theory. The light of
past experience makes clear to
every one the truth of the argu-
ment. When the duty was taken
off quinine and the price reduced,
Immediately the sales largely in
creased. Hundreds of thousands
hitherto unable to secure the
needed remedy were restored to
health, and returned to the ar
my of workers-the producers
of wealth. There is a number of
other medicines used in almost
every family in the land. The
of the tax on alcohol
would increase the cost of these
medicines. This provision Of the
bill ought not to pass.
The CarOlines.