The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-28

BREWERS DETERMINED.
They Resolve That Saloon
keepers Must Pay the
War Tax.
CAN MAKE IT UP FROM PUBLIC
Profess to Have No Fear of
the Liquor Dealers Threat
to Brew Beer.
CAN MAKE IT UP FROM PUBLIC

NEWARK. July 28, 1S9s.-The saloon
keeper will have to pay the war tax of
81 on each barrel of beer. This was the
conclusion reached by the Brewers Assoc
citation Of New Jersey, at a meeting held
yesterday afternoon in Kruger's Auditor
ium, on Belmont avenue. The subject
was discussed in all its phases, ard the
brewers determined they would rather
sacrifice some of their trade than com
cede their liability for the revenue. The
general option was expressed that the sa-
loon keeper would finally acknowledge
he a the wrong side of the much-moot-
ed argument and would give in.
The session was presided over by Gott-
fried Kruger, representing his company.
Julius Stapff was secretary, and the at
tendance of members was considered sat
isfactorily large. Brewers from Paterson,
Elizabeth, Jersey City and Trenton were
there. Brewers from other cities had been
invited, but were not present. 1t was con-
sidered significant that Union Hill was
not represented and that Greenville stay
ed away. These places had previously
shaker hands with the Liquor Dealers
Protective Association, so the absence of
the makers Of beer Of those localities was
construed to mean thai they had become
welded to Newark saloon keepers ard had
determined to stand by their proposition
to furnish beer at from 1875 to $5.75 a
barrel net. and free of all war tax.
Figuratively speaking. the brewers
laughed at the reputed presumption OF
the saloon-keepers in asking them to bur-
den themselves with the extra dollar Of
Government levy. When the cost of pro-
duction is increased, they argued. then the
producers must raise the price. They
declared that tax was q part Of this cost,
and that. as the saloen-keeper paid not 4
cent Of wages for the making of beer, he
was not in a position to stipulate the rate
at which it should be sold.
LET the s~aloon-keeper lock out for his
own interests after he has paid us a fair
sum for our goods said one brewer.
'sThe old principle. that the consumer is
the one who eventually bears the brult
Of the taxes, holds good yet. The dealer
should take the tax out of the drinker.
Smaller 'pints' and smaller glasses should
be his w~atchword. If a consumer asks a
grocer for a pint of vinegar, does he get
two or three pints? No, he gets a care
fully measured quantity. The grocer
does not turn the faucet into the pail
while the buyer makes him forget how
much he is giving by eajoling him about
politics or the weather. This has been
the habit of the saloon keeper. and It
means his ruination if he keeps it UP Il
he would give a pint when asked for a
pint. he would make money We have no
desire to beggar the saloon-keeper."
The offer made by brewers from Union
Hill and G~reenville, to sell beer to New
ark dealers free Of the extra tax was
discussed. and, although the statement
was made that some of the local saloon
ISIS had actually made contracts with
these concerns, it apparently did not
weigh heavily with those at the meeting.
One member said he did not believe if the
entire force of brewers outside of the
Eastern combination was to put the pro
duct into Newark. the demand could be
nearly supplied. He ventured TO remark
that the outsiders were little fish, the
capacity of the greatest of which was not
more than 5000 barrels in a year. 9Th
is like a drop of water in a sea- was the
remark of a brewer.
1t was agreed the pool should remain in
tact, and that the low-priced outsiders
should be made subjects of silent con-
tempt. rather than be taken seriously. Il
was the sense of the assembly tina it was
not necessary to pass any resolutions.
and entirely futile to appoint any comnlit-
tees for any purposes. The brewers said
they met just to tell each other they
would not bear any more tax, and that
ended it.
1t was denied after the meeting that
members of the pool were selling beer
to saloon keepers in other cities free OF
| tax; 1t was denied that beer barrels were
| from three to five gallons short of meas
| ure when delivered 10 dealers; it was de-
| MED that brewers made any profit from
the Tz per cent. allowed by the Govern
| ment for leakage and other losses, and Il
was denied that purer beer was offered
at a reduced rate by brewers outside of
the city.
tsThe combination includes all the cities
in the East of any importance" was the
| contention of a prominent brewer. I've
have all agreed on this matter OF tax,
and is it not possible that.any undersell-
| ing can be done. The saloon-keeper who
does not know how to keep. his beer thinks
he is being cheated out of a few gallons
in each barrel. 1t is unnecessary to ex-
plain tina If beer is submitted to too high
a temperature it loses in quantity. The
percentage allowed US by the Government
for losses is just. We lose, not only in
/ leakage, but the revenue stamps on bar
rels often fall off in transit, and must be
! replaced. Newark beer cannot be beaten
in quality, so it is foolish for the saloon
| keepers to assert they can get better
| cent or two for "pints" the saloon Keeper
could easily make up the war tax. 1t was
his belief, he said. that the dealer was
asking the brewer too much. and that a
call a halt or go to the poorhouse.
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