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

A large NfLEEallOn OF NIENEle lt t'- A4-h ia
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 tha'
while they had submitted ncomplaining-
lv 10 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 il
was time the tax should be taken of With
beer selling at S. per barrel it was unfair
for the Government to take two-nfths 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 q member Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee Those present were Messrs. Ru-
dolph Brand OF Chicago, president Of the
association \ w. Kendall. Of New Haven,
vice president; Edward Ruhl OF Boston;
p Hauk. jr OF Newark y. J.; z. G. $.
Miller. of Buffalo c. G. Pankow. OF Buff
falo. President OF the New York state
Brewers Association. J. ". Brown. OF
Brooklyn; Robert Portner. Of Alexandria,
Va. and G. Thomaun Of New York. secre-
tsry Of the association.
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 privl-
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.
We then appeared before you under cir
cumstauces differing essentially from those
surrounding US at this time Of peace and
prosperity few days before President
McKinley's message Oh the intolerabie
situation which followed the destruction
of the Maine and our Governments almost
superhuman but fruitless efforts to bring
Spain to terms, had been sent TO the Sen
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 PEG
pie before the publication Of that message,
there was hut 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 pracu-
cally but two classes Of eitizens-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 indescribable 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 10 Congress
that IL 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 a patriotic duty; and that Il
the revenues 10 be derived from those in
dustries which we're 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
additional burdens would not shrink from
necessary sacrifices
Il have here quoted literally the words
uttered two years ago in this very room
by delegation Of American brewers, rep
resenting the United States Brewers AS
ISOLATION, and practically the entire Amer
lean brewing industry. We could not GO
more; We would not do less. We had be-
fore us the example Of the founders q
our association, who during the civil war
at a 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
a
eral Treasury.
we took it for granted that a new war
tax would not be superimposed upon the
old war tax, unless all other wealth-pro-
ducing sources, not then taxed, failed 10
yield the revenues required FOR a success /
ful 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 70
be woefully erroneous. Many manufsc-
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 10 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
is sweet and glorious to die for one S coun- [
try provided the other man attends TO
the dying.
we were unwilling to believe that the /.
tax upon an article OF consumption. which .
is regarded as one Of the necessaries Of I
life by great masses Of our people. would .
be doubled while many articles both Of 4
general consumption and Of luxury we're
but lightly taxed OF not taxed al all and .
while the tax upon ardent spirits which
Is much lower, proportionately, than in
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 liz
uors sd thus promoted temperance In no /
uncoN mon measure.
In our memorial. a copy Of which we I
beg leave 10 submit to you today. we have I
dwelt at some length upon this and other .
aspects Of this question; and as we desire .
by the brevity OF our statements 10 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 4
that fully tWo-thirds OF the legitimate rev 4
enue sources Of the country. resorted TO /
IN 1862 and 1863. remained wholly untaXed
We paid this eXorbitBnt 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 IL under Industrial and
.Hnn FHE. Nh.
many Of US utter ruin. TO some Of US a SCI
rious impairment Of business prosperity