Washington sentinel., 1900-04-28

the whole Board OF Trustees go tC
Washington at once and seek tC
persuade Senators and Represen
tatives to take action toward abol
ishing the extra tax of one dollar
per barrel on beer.
This action" continues the
ByeaVeYS' ReViezV, "was taken quite
suddenly as result Of an unex
pected change in the political sit
uation. So unfavorable had the
National Legislature become dur
ing the last months that all hope
oil securing a reduction, to say
nothing OF total abolition, Of the
war tax was given up as hopeless.
Quite unexpectedly, however, Sec
retary Of the Treasury Gage pub
lished an estimate OF the revenues
for the fiscal year in which he put
the income at $40, ,ooo, 900 above
the expenditures. In view OF this
prospective surplus, the lawmakers
at once began to talk about pairing
down the taxes, and among the
Democrats especially was found a
general feeling that the brewers
had stood more than their share
and ought to be among the first to
get the benefit Of this surplus rev.
enue by having their enormous tax
burden cut down."
For the benefit OF the members
OF Congress (every one Of whom
will receive copy ofthe SENTINEL)
we publish the following official
announcement:
United States Brewers Association,
Ioo-III East Fifteenth Street. New
York, April 4th, 1900. To the members
OF the United States Brewers Associa.
ton. Gentlemen. n.-Washiugton dis
patches. published in last Sundays
newspapers, seem to indicate an
unexpected disposition on the part of
both the A ADMINISTRATION and of Congress
to open the revenue question. The Dill
introduced by Hon. !. M, Levy, of New
York, is said to have the undivided
support OF the Democratic minority;
hence, If the dispatch above referred to
be correct, this unexpected development
may help us.
In view of this report the Board Of
Trustees earnestly request YOU to forth
with write to your representatives IN
both houses OF Congress urg giDg them to
work and vote for a reduction of the
beer tax.
Use the arguments contained in The
enclosed printed memorial, a copy of
which will again be mailed from this
Office to every Senator and Representa-
tive. In addition to this, urge the
reduction OF our tax upon the following
grounds, viz:
FIrst-Because the tax was imposed
as, and officially declared to be, war
measure, designed to raise sufficient
revenue for the conduct of the Spanish
American war, and to be revoked as
soon as the exigencies growing out OF
such war ceased to exist.
Second-Because there is at present
in the Federal axchequer not only a
sufficiency, but a constantly increasing
surplus OF revenues which is actually
causing an embarrassment Of riches"
and Justifying the Government in antic-
ipating its obligations to the nations
creditors.
Third-Because, while agriculture,
commerce. and all branches Of industry
are enjoying an unprecedented degree
Of prosperity, expanding and increasing
their operations both IN extent and
volume, and reaping enormous profits,
the brewing industry, overtaxed in a
measure unparalleled IN the fiscal history
ol the world, is in a most deplorable
cOnditioE-the decrease in its production
amounting, during the past year. to
I,ooo, 900 barrels, and the number OF
bankruptcies Increasing at a most
alarming rate and In proportion clearly
indicating the utter annihllation oil the
smaller establishments.
Fourth-Because the continuance OF
this outrageouslY unjust tax, affecting,
as it does, an article ofconsumption that
has justly earned the title of most
powerful promoter of temperance, and
which to the great mass o. the woI king
people OF this nation is both food and
drink, would be a most unwise course
not only on account OF its injury to a
most beneficial and important industry,
its injustice to the consumer, and its
evil consequences to the cause OF tenn
perance; but also by reason of ITS
destructive effects upon the only source
ofrevenue which from the days of the
civil war up to 1895 could be relied and
counted upon with almost mathematical
accuracy for predeterminable amount
OF revenus and an equally certain and
steady increase.
Following close upon the deci-
sion to renew work tor a repeal, a
large delegation Of brewers repre-
senting the United States Brewers
Association, appeared before the
House Ways and Means Commit
tee Wednesday morning and made
a strong argument in favor Of the
reduction OF the tax on beer. They
represented that while they had
submitted uncomplaininglY to the