Washington sentinel., 1898-04-30
Illinois Brewers Will Fight Beer


Tax.
The brewers OF Illinois were the
first to organize tor the purpose OF
opposing the imposition of the ad-
ditional beer tax. A meeting Of
the brewers of the State was held
April 10 at the rooms of the Chi.
cago and Milwaukee Brewers
Association, nearly all the brew
cries OF the State being represen-
ted. The meeting having been
called to order by Theodore
Oehne, President Of the Associa-
ton, Rudolf Brand was elected
chairman, and Ernest Fecker, Jr.,
secretary.
After a brief address by Mr..
Brand the following resolutions
were introduced by Otto Huber,
OF Rock Island:
Whereas, 1t Is the unanimous opinion
OF all societies and the official bodies of
all civilized countries, charged with the
investigation of the subject, that the
encouragement of the consumption of
malt beverages and the Encouragement
Of the consumption of ardent spirits is
the most efficacious method of fostering
temperance and reducing the evils of
inebriety, and
Whereas, Ever since the administra-
ton of Washington It has always been
the policy of all patriotic statesmen to
encourage the substitution of malt
liquors, as a beverage. for ardent spirits,
by making the burden of taxation upon
the former as light as possible; and
Whereas, The present tax Of 81 per
barrel of thirty-oue gallons OF malt
liquors was imposed during the rebellion
as war measure pure and simple, which
tax has been retained, however, to this
day, the abolition of almost all other
internal revenue taxes Notwithstanding;
and
Whereas, Because of the necessities
of the Government during the days Of
the rebellion the brewers of the United
States have not only submitted to such
taxation, but, IN spirit OF true patriot
Ism and unWaVeriug loyalty to the
Government. have themselves assisted
in devising the present efficient system
of collecting this tax; and
Whereas, The people of the United
States have largely adopted the use OF
malt beverages as healthy and harm
less substitute for ardent spirits, so that
the consumption of domestic beer has
increased from less than .o,o.ooo barrels
in 1860, to almost $4,000, 900 barrels in
1897. and that malt beverages have
become an article of such general use,
and particularly by the working classes
of the country, that they may Justly be
classed among the necessaries Of lie;
and
Whereas, II IS now proposed that the
present tax on beer, originated as a war
measure, but retained ever since the
close Of the rebellion and not reduced
or abolished since, like almost all other
war taxes. be again doubled for the
purpose of deiraylng the increased ex-
penses of the Government caused by
the impending hostiliies with Spain;
now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the brewers Of the State
0 Illinois, in mass meeting assembled,
That we emphatically protest against
such increase as an unjust discrimination
against one OF the largest and most bene.
icent industries OF the United States,
consuming in a marked degree the
product OF the farm and fostering true
temperance by the supply OF healthy
and nutritious stimulsntin lieu Of ardent
Intoxicating liquors;
Resolved, That while the brewers of
the United States have at all times
proved their unfal ering loyalty to the
Government Of the United States and
their readiness to bear even more than
their proper share of the burdens of
taxation, National, State and local, and
while they are always ready to respond
to every just demand which may be
made upon them in the future, they
denounce the present attempt TO double
the war tax now assessed upon them as
uni ust and unwise discrimination against
their business and entirely in conflict
with the settled policy of imposing
internal revenue taxes on malt liquors.
Copies OF these resolutions will
be sent to all Congressman from
the State of Illinois.
Several speeches in favor of the
resolutions were made.
Said F. ]. Dewes OF the Standard
Brewery:
During our great civil war the tax of
81 per oarrvl was put on beer. 1t was
done as a war measure The tax is the
same to day. Then we got SIz and SI4
per barrel; now we get & Now it is
proposed to add another 81. claiming
that it will add an additional $35, 600, 900
tosthe internal revenue without extra
cost.
Sheer nonsense to argue in that way.
Beer at 81 allows absolutely no profit,
but a certain loss, Saloons IN Chicago
pay upward of 81, 90, 900 in taxes, local,
State and Federal. Two thirds OF this
is advanced by the brewers.
Increase in taxes would only lessen
the beer production. Beer IS a necessity
to-day. 1t is the poor mans to mic. He
don't buy it by the glass. He has his
can and gets the beer at an average cost
Of cent glass.
The glass trade in beer is the smallest
part of It's CO. sumption.
II is the can trade that supports the
| business, and beer is better a I'd cheaper
in this country than any other part of
| the world
In 1873 the Government asked us to
submit to the taking off Of so cents per
barrel from the 81 war measure. But
we said mo, let the 81 stand" and it
has stood and stands to-day.
That was and is a war tax on beer.
| To raise another dollar would drive
many brewers into bankruptcy, and ruin
"a business which has made no money
since 1873 in Chicago.
P. H. Rice, oil the Star Brewery,
who was at the meeting, said:
The brewing interests all over the
country are suffering. The trade IS
demoralized, and we are already paying
a war tax assessed upon us thirty five
years ago. aud which we have been