The sun., 1900-12-09
MORE BEER. LESS WRTSKEY.
Indications That the Internal Tax Has Little
Eject on the Consumption Of Either

WARRINGTON, Dec 3-There Is an organized
effort by the brewers Of the country. who num-
Der about l.ocO. to induce Congress TO make n
reduction in the beer tax in the coming re-
vision Of the internal revenue tax. They
have received thus far very little encourag ge-
inent Prior TO the present Internal Revenue
Tax law. passed TO meet the extraordinary
requirements Of 1908 for military and naval
expenditures, the beer tax was 81 a barrel
each barrel measure being thirtv-onc gallons
Beer is taxed by barrels. but sold in halves.
quarters or sixths. the latter being 'keQ. :"
The basis Of the tax is the fun barrel Under
the present rate Of So a barrel the expectation
was general among brewers that tho popularity
OF beer as u Substitute for alcoholic spirits
would be diminished
Twenty years before the adoption Of the
present Government tax on beer. the consunp-
tion per capita in the United states Of liquors
was. Spirits one gallon. wine half q gallon. and
malt LIQUORS beer and alel. ak gallons and n
half During the twenty years following, through
,he devGlopm NJ OF brewing in the United
States. the annual per capita consumption of
spir'a declined 20 ninc-tenths Of a gallon. wine
remained stat ionary. while the per capita con
This great incre1s' I the sale Of beer was, 10
some extent. due ~ climatic conditions. 20
mider weather in most parts of rho United
towns. beer being essentially Il City drink"
little being sold In rural districts.
The general opinion thai by doubling the
II would decrease, proved erroneous. though
in the ilrs' year following the doubling Of the
Federal tax there was n decrease in Production
though not i'm consumption, Cf half n million
barrels Thl> year tho PRODUCTION Of beer ard
ale i 10 the amount approx imatcly q 81 eco ooO
barrels A. against 34o'p.0GO in 1898, 33nDoCO
in 1874. 33op,oNo in isa5, 81. 100000 in 1879 "a
ou0Nu In 1897. S7.6iSp in 1895 and 10 GnN
in isH9 all fiscal years The Production Of
lager ms continued In much the same amount
as before the increase in the tax. The beer
produced In one year IL not usuallv consumed
ii fta a lf tor pAtt,
year and half or two years after Many
brewers who sackened their beer produCt 10
await q rest oration - the old rate of tax now
find themselves with their sIrI lus almost gone
Tho consumption has continued steadily with
ou' dinirution and in most cases the additiCral
Federal tax haa been shifted to the retailer
The brewers now. finding their supply low nd
yoC1te reduced tax "a an onooura gernent 10
lnccr mnnufacturc-n return 10 the old rate
or reduction 10 Al 20 n barrel
The tax appears 70 have very little To do with
the consumption Of hecr in tho United states
heavy tax has not lessened il and a reduced
tax would not increase H. Tho sale Of beer
though largest in New York. New jersey md |
IN the Middle and Western States (partic,ll,rlv |
where tho German population il larccsD il |
groatlN Increasing IN the South. The CITY of |
Now Orloang nov g. nsIines a1l M no rrel. ~ |
laCcr in n vonr, tho state of Texas 4ol IN b,r |
rel~. and other Southwestern states in in |
cr"asins amount Much Of the increase in tho |
beer product il duo to tho improvements intro
1rond IN bottlny. whereby the number Of beer |
1rint"rs hnS hecn increased Tho sales of |
whi'key show no increase during tho last few
years. The rate Of tax does not affect il |
petition urging n reduction in the beer tar
e 20 u" scnt 10 the Ways and Means COMMITTEES
aud 20 zach member of Congress by the United
states Brewers Association