The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-14
THE SALOON KEEPERS STAND.
Brewers Must Split the Tax or Take
the Consequences.

The local saloon keepers league held a
meeting yesterday afternoon and discussed
the merits of the new war tax on beer and
the action Of the brewers in refusing to
stand part of the burden. There was an
unusually large turnout of saloon men at
the meeting and the session was prolonged.
Tt was said last night that there was an
attempt on tb part of the brewers to con-
troll the meeting by sending number of
representatives there.
indianapolis saloon keepers are now pay
ing IS a barrel for beer. They paid 81
barrel for the beverage before the govern
ment began collecting its war tax which
amounts to 81 on each barrel. The brewers
have declined to pay any part of the tax
and the saloon keepers declare they cannot
afford to pay it ALL At the meeting yester-
day speeches were made on the question
and and it was the opinion Of all those who
had anything to say that the brewers should
stand at least half the tax. committee
was appointed TO. meet the brewers and pre-
sent this kind of a proposition to them.
The committee is composed of Joseph
Schallb. Fred Ilg, John Weber, Henry Vic
tor, William Iron, Harry Walker, D. j.
OBTien and Charles Polster.
This committee is instructed to visit the
brewers and demand that they pay one-
half of the tax. In the event of a refusal
keepers say they will probably quit selling
local beer. II was said i'm the meeting yes
terday that an Illinois brewing company is
ready to send beer to Indianapolis at Sc a
barrel. Il is claimed this heer is equal in
quality TO the article turned out by the syn
dicate. in the event of an emergency il is
claimed the retailers can fall back on the
beer made by one of the local companies
which sells at a much less price than beer
made by the other home breweries. The re-
tailers say it Is impossible to reduce the size
of the glass now sold for nickel, and as
they are not doing flourishing business at
best IL is out OF the question to think of
paying S. a barrel for beer. 1t is pointed out
that the drug stores and the barrel houses
are injGring the trade of the regular saloons
and to this competition is largely due the
poor business complained of. Barrel houses,
II Is claimed. buy an inferior quality of
beer and can afford to sell almost twice as
much for nickel can the better class
of retailers. indianapolis saloon men say
that in Chicago the highest price paid for
beer is 81 "A barrel and this includes the war
tax of Il dollar barrel This question as
10 who shah stand the tax is to be one of
the important topics for discussion at the
state convention of the Liquor League. which.
convenes in Muncie July 90 Delegates
were selected for the convention yesterday
in the election of delegates, il is claimed
the agents OF the brewing companies again
attempted 10 take "A prominent part.
The following executive board was Sc
Iected 10 represent the Indianapolis league
at the convention George Deluse Harry
A. Moran. Harry Walker. John Weilacher
Philip Zanf. Henry Gruenert and Fred Mon
Ringer. The regular delegates selected were
Joseph Schaub. Fred Ilg, Joseph Baldus and
Frank O'Brien