The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-25
VII NOT LOWER THE PRICE.
@NNAH BREWERS DECLINE TO
PAY WAR TAI ON BEER.

III 3.oiIers Claim That the GOrrie lee
81 ompauy Controls the Policy o.
: 10th BreVveries-They Appoint a
Committee TO Negotiate With
brewers Elsewhere - Some Retail
Have Contracts for Cheap beer
Tor Long Periods.
me- Savannah breweries having deciiu-
n nav the extra war tax on beer by
sebucing the price from 50 to S1.75 per key,
%k Ill local retailers will begin negotiations
ID b various breweries throughout the
'e .& ,ntrv. requesting them to name prices
which they will deliver beer at Savan-
n h. provided a large number of the re-
nj hers contract to take the beer, paying
ash therefor.
\ committee of five was appointed for
lis purpose at the meeting of the retail
IA yesterday afternoon and letters will
Ia sent out at once. The committee will
81 30 wait on the Savannah agent for the
4nheuser- Busch brewery. although the
"A atement is made that that company Is
III combination with the local breWeries
Ill see what can be done in that direc-
hon The matter of an ice supply is also
al trusted to this committee, of which Mr..
herman Winter is chairman.
8,There was not a large gathering of the
Mtailers at Tivoli hall yesterday after
4 Non. but they had the signatures of near
III all the retailers of the city on the petit
ton presented to the breweries, and the
neeting probably represented the senti-
1 nent of nearly all local handlers of Sa-
/ hannah made beer The reply of the
Il breweres to the petition for restoration
Ri old prices was first read
In the reply which is signed by the gem
raj managers of both breweries, it is sta
1 fed that were the breweries to grant
n our request it would mean the complete
\ &iping out Of the reasonable profits of
& Ahese companies that justly belong to the
ktockholders, as one dollar per barrel now
\ 4epresents a full average margin of profits
4 hi small brewerieS.
"The statement that brewing materials
n have not increased in price over last year
4 As wholly incorrect; malt Is from u to 16
Il &ents higher per bushel hops nearly
4 Nouble while stock feed has risen from 80
h 10 40 per cent. Prior to the establishment
4 Cf the oldest brewery here the price of
Il beer to the retailer was from $3.50 to So
n Der keg, while ice was from 80 to 70 cents
\ per hundred pounds. Comparing these
n 4fgures with the prices that have since
n obtained and that now obtain in this city
i will be seen that the local breweres,
4 &frOm their inception, have always consult
ed and endeavored to secure the best In
erests of the retail dealers, and often at
b loss to the breweries. Could we now see
that any injustice was being done to local
@deaers because of present prices or that
#the prices now charged were in excess of
#those obtaining in other cities of this sec
tion the facts would only have to be
shown us to be Immediately remedied."
~ Reference was then made to the advan-
Ntages accruing to a city from the support
of local industries. In refusing to accede
n to the request of the retailers the belief is
expressed that further consideration of
the facts and conditions would satisfy
NJ them that there is nothing unrea sonable
or unjust to the local dealers In the pres
II cut Schedule of prices obtaining in Sayan-
II nah. A comparative statement of prices
in other cities Is given as follows: