The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-13
BREWERS WILL NOT PAY
SALOON KEEPERS MUST PRIMARILY
PAY THE REVENUE TAX.
Then They Collect from the COnsum-
er-State Meeting HeSterday-A
Threat to RetaIiate.

The biggest meeting ever held by the
State Brewers Association occurred at the
Bates House yesterday afternoon. The pur-
pose of the meeting was to discuss the de-
mand of saloon keepers that brewers bear
the tax of 81 barrel provided Ter in the
war revenue law 1t was decided not TO
comply with the saloon mems demand and
this afternoon the Saloon Keepers Associa-
ton will meet to decide what course to pur-
sue Some are in favor of going outside of
Indiana to get beer rather than pay the IN
creased price that is being charged and
which will continue to be charged by the
brewers 1t looks as if there might be a
fight between the manufacturers ana retail
dealers in the beverage.
AT the meeting yesterday representatives
of all the big breweries of the State, in
Guiding those of Evansville, Terre Haute,
Logansport. Fort Wayne and indianapolis,
were present There is said to be in stock
at this time $4,000 barrels of beer, of which
$4,000 is held by the breweri IS that were
represented at the meeting. The other com
paratively small quantity of $4,000 barrels
is held by the smaller brewers that manu-
facture common beer not lager beer. Those
who discussed the demand that the brew
main as before declared that it was clearly
the intention of the law that the consum-
ers should bear the tax as they do on I'M
ports, ETC. Albert Leber, of the Indianap-
oils Brewing Company. said to reporter
that if the brewers were to comply with
the ideas of the saloon men and paid the
tax themselves it would have to be at the
expense of the quality of the beer and the
Aa1 m Poic ba
price 81 a barrel in order to keep up the
quality. According to Mr.. Lieber, the price
of all materials used in the manufacture of
beer has advanced, including the cereals
used, barrels, cooperage, cork, etc. to as
great an extent as the prices have adj
vanced on other articles of common
sumption. Ii in addition to paying the adj
vanced prices for the materials used in the
manufacture of the beer, the brewers were
compelled to pay the tax of 81 a barrel 1t
would be necessary to reduce the quality
of beer made.
The indiana brewers have decided" said
Mr.. Lieber mot to make any changes that
Will compel them to sell inferior beer
The meeting was held In one of the long
parlors of the Bates House and 1t was well
filled with the brewers. 1t was said the
brewers stood as a unit on the proposition
of requiring the saloon men and ultimately
the consumers to pay the tax by putting
up the price to meet 1t. The brewers appear
to be confident of their position and do not
appear much alarmed at the prospect of the
saloon men going to other States for beer.
1t is claimed that at Cincinnati Chicago,
st. Louis, and, in fact, all the large centers
of beer consumption the brewers have de-
cided to put up the price, so that there is
not much danger of beer war
"A saloon man said that the brewers were
simply trying to throw sand in their eyes
when they talked about the price Of all ma
terial used having advanced.
THE brewers" said he anticipated long
fh0% .r%f
would be beer, and accordingly made hay
while the sun shone-that is, made beer
while prices were down. There is an i'm
mense quantity of beer in store every bar
rel of which was made long ago. or course
there is some justice in the contention that
it will cost more from now on to manufac-
ture beer, but that plea is used to back
them in their efforts to gouge us on the
beer already in storee'