Evening journal., 1898-06-30
LETTERS FROM The PEOPLE
THE WAR TAX OF 81 A BAIREgHI.
ON BEER.

To the Editor Of the Evening Journal
Sir: The Government war tax OF 81
barrel on beer has caused more or
less friction between the brewer and
the retailer. The retail liquor men, at
meeting recently held in Philadelphia
threatened, il the proposed advance in
prices by the brewers was insisted upon, |
that they would inform the authorities |
OF large number Of saloons which It
was alleged were the property of and
operated at the instance and by the di- |
rection OF brewers, contrary to law. A
more or less prominent retailer ex-
pressed himself to the effect that the
retailers intended to protect both them
selves and the public from what he
considered IAN unjust advance by the
brewers OF the price Of beer" He
further stated that It was the opinion
OF the brewers that the additional tax
was an "imposition:" and that they, |
the brewers, were miIlionaires and
were, as a consequence, the people who
should in all justice pay the tax. We
have cited almost word for word the
opinions expressed by the retailer in
question. Those opinions can be safe
ly regarded as volcing the sentiments
OF the great body Of retailers. It may
be said, however, that the liquor deal
er, whose remarks we have just
quoted, is trine "off" or illogical
when he asserts that the brewer ought
to pay the whole OF the additional tax
simply because he, the brewer, is a
millionaire. Let us inform our retail
friend that 1t is not obligatory upol.
the brewer, even II he is millionaire,
to pay more than his just share Of any
given or specific tax.
Now come the opinions of the brew
ers. A prominent brewer Of Philadel
phia has said: This 81 barrel tax,
II It could be paid by the brewers with
out a loss which would mean the clos
ing up OF their business, would be
cheerfully paid. The profit to the brew
er ls not what the retailer imagines it
is II the brewer pays the extra tax
and gives to the retailer beer at the Old
price, then it means that the beer Is
tampered with and Is not a fit beer to
drink. Brewers are generally regarded
as monopollsts and millionaires, and
every effort which has for its object
their humiliation is regarded as lauda-
tory. Brewers are in the same position
as other business men, and ask and
expect only the treatment accorded to
business men," We have quoted ver-
batim the remarks of this particular
brewer, for the last two clauses are
characterized by horse sense, a sense
which the ultra-teetotal fanatic would
do well to acquire or course the opin-
ions expressed by the prominent
brewer in question may be said to be
reflected and endorsed by brewers in
q general.
We have stated the most important
L facts bearing upon the present atti-
: tude of the brewer and the retailer. and
i the public can judge for itself, The
; public. however, has nothing to do with
Il the retaliatory measure threatened by
> the retailers in the event Of the brew
ers raising the price Of beer. Indeed
we fail to see what any such bull-doz
ing or blackmailing scheme Of retalia
R ton has to do with the question o
: whether the brewer or the retailer
ought to pay the additional tax. al
m that the public has to watch is, tha
II the consumer should not be calle'
D. upon to pay more than he now pays
AZ and that the standard Of the bee
4 should not be in the least lowered. Th
a public has a perfect right to insist upoi
as these two conditions being strictly ad
~ hered TO and enforced. From the brew
70 er's standpoint it is impossible for hin
c TO pay the additional tax Of 81 bar
rel and at the same time sell to tn
p retailer the same beer at the old price
"A We gather from this that the profits @
~ the brewer are too close, too small, I
permit him to pay the whole Of the ad
ditional tax and still keep his brewer
running on a paying basis. 1t is some
= what difficult for us to believe or aC
cept implicitly such statement AS
:, suming, however, that the brewer
I, telling the truth-and in the absenC
a. OF specific evidence to the contrary W
"A have, perhaps. no right to challene
~ the accuracy Of his assertion-the quet
ton naturally arises: who. thel
ought to pay the war tax Of 81 bai
: rel on beer?" Surely not the working
M man, the man who didn't want tf
present war and all'its attendant higl
cd falutin, canting talk Of humanitarian
as as ism. We are Of the opinion that I'll
II; most equitable course to adopt woul
IRE be for the brewer TO pay fifty cen
Ice Ice Of the 81 a barrel tax, the remainin
e. fifty cents to be paid by the retaile