The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-26

A large delegation Of brewers represent
ing the United States Brewers Association,
appeared before the House Ways and Means
Committee yesterday morning and made
strong argument in favor OF the reduction
of the tax on beer They represented that
while they had submitted uncomplaining-
" TO the imposition of an additional tax
of 81 per barrel on their product when the
money was necessary for carrying on the
war. they thought, now that the surplus
was rapidly piling up in the Treasury it
was time the tax should be taken off. With
beer selling at S. per barrel it was unfair
for the Government to take two-ffths as
its part.
The delegation was introduced by Repre-
sentative Rupert of New York, who ar
ranged for the hearing, in connection with
Representative MCLEAN of New York, who
is member OF the Ways and Means Com
mittee. Those present were Messrs. Ru-
dolph Brand, of Chicago, president Of the
association; n. W. Kendall. of New Haven,
vice president; Edward Ruhl OF Boston;
P Hauk. jr. of Newark y. j.. E. G. S.
Miller, of Buffalo; c. G. Pankow, OF Buff
falo, President of the New York State
Brewers Association; J. W. Brown, of
Brooklyn; Robert Portner, of Alexandria,
Va, and G. Thomann of New York. secre-
Mr. Brand, the president of the associa-
ton, was the first speaker, and addressed
the committee as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Committee on Ways and Means: We are
grateful TO you for granting us the privi-
lege to appear before you again to state
our cause. In this very month of April,
two years ago, we had the honor to appear
as petitioners before your honorable body.
her nndpr
cumstances differing essentially from those
surrounding us at this time of peace and
prosperity. A few days before President
McKinley's message on the intolerable
situation which followed the destruction
of the Maine and our Governments almost
superhumap but truitiess efforts to bring
Spain to terms, had been sent TO the Sem
ate and the House of Representatives. In
tense anxiety prevailed throughout the
country; the American people were wait
ing in terrible suspense for your reply to
that message Whatever differences of
opinion may have existed among the peo-
pie before the publication of that message,
there was but one opinion as TO what your
answer would and must be. The people
were determined to maintain the dignity
and honor Of the nation at any cost, at any
hazard; and they knew that the Congress
OF the United States could not and would
not fail to respond TO the call of pa
triotism.
Before that event there were practi-
cally but two classes OF citizens-on the
one hand, those who clamored for war,
right or wrong Just or unjust; and on the
other, those who deprecated war and all
its Undesirable horrors, but insisted that
II war be unavoidable no sacrifice OF blood
or money should be deemed too great.
brewers Deprecated War
THE brewers of the country belonged TO
the latter class, and we came here then as
their representatives to say to Congress
that If the honor Of the nation and the
welfare Of our country required extraordi-
nary efforts and sacrifices on the part of
all her people, the brewers would be the
last to shirk patriotic duty; and that il
the revenues TO be derived from those in
dustries which were not then and have
not been taxed since the termination of
the civil war should prove insufficient to
cover the needs of the Government, the !
brewing industry, though unable to bear I
additional burdens would not shrink from
necessary sacrifices
II have here quoted literally the words !
uttered two years ago in this very room I
by delegation Of American brewers, rep |
resenting the United States Brewers AS I
ISOLATION, and practically the entire Amer /
lean brewing industry We could not co
more; We would not do less. We had be-
fore us the example Of the founders Of
our association, who during the civil war
at time when, unfortunately. so many
other manufacturers sought, by hook or
crook, TO evade Just tax burdens of their ,
own accord proposed to the Government a
method by which every dollar due from the
industry would find its way into the Fed /
eral Treasury.
We took it for granted that new war
tax would not be superimposed upon the I
old war tax, unless all other wealth-pro- I
ducing sources, not then taxed, failed 10 |
yield the revenues required for success /
full conduct of the war. We took this for /
granted because We relied no less upon /
the justice OF our own attitude in this /
matter than upon the willingness of other /
manufacturers to heed the dictates of pat !
riotism. The latter assumption proved TO |
be woefully erroneous. Many manufac- !
turers evidently belonged TO the class that |
stood for war at any price, provided the !
brewers betrayed the cost OF their ardent /!
patriotism. II the brewers could be made |
to foot the bill. those patriotic citizens [,
would readily consent TO any sacrifice. !
Theirs was a sort of altruism that is but |
too common nowadays; and their patriot |
ism was doubtless of that peculiar brand |
that sanctions the noble sentiment: 1t (
try, provided the other man attends TO
the dying.
I'VE were unwilling to believe that the
tax upon an article OF consumption, which
is regarded as one OF the necessaries OF
life by great masses Of our people would
be doubled; while many articles both Of
general consumption and of luxury were
but lightly taxed or not taxed at all and
while the tax upon ardent spirits, which
F1t lnxnTa rtfaFla +alx- fhas,
any other country. remained unchanged.
We believed that not only economic and
fiscal considerations, but also moral and
ethical reasons, and some regard to the
past history Of the ruling party would for
bid a reversal of that policy, recognized
and adhered 10 throughout the world
which up to 1898 maintained in our country
some discrimination in favor Of malt liq-
uors Nd thus promoted temperance in no
uneoA mon measure.
In our memorial. a copy of which we
beg leave 10 submit 10 you today. we have
dwelt at some length upon this and other
OF this question; and as we desire |
by the brevity Of our statements TO show
our appreciation of the privilege you have
granted US, We abstain from repeating
many essential points.
Congress imposed this additional war
tax upon our product in spite of the fact
that fully two-thirds OF the legitimate rev.
enue sources Of the country. resorted TO
In 1862 and 1863. remained wholly untaxed
We paid this exorbitant and unjust extra
taxa tax representing 40 per cent of the
price Of our product-during two years;
we paid it. candidly speaking, under silent
protest; we paid 1t under industrial and
difficulties which brought to
many Of US utter ruin, TO some OF us Sc
rious impairment Of business prosperity.
and TO all Of us such measure of finan-
cial embarrassmenfs no industry In he !