Washington sentinel., 1901-03-02
WAR TAX REPEAL.

The Republican members of thu
Conference Committee have de
cided to accept the rate OF 81 6c
fiat on beer, as fixed originally by
the House. This action is equiv
alent to a saving of between So
900, 900 and SIC. 900 a year to
brewers. The Senate had added
s., 900, 900 more in the shape OF a
further reduction OF 10 cents a
barrel, but, as we have said, this
addition was stricken out by the
Conference Committee, sno the
matter lett as il came from the
House.
In other respects the commit
tees action is in line with the plan
advanced last week by the SEN
TINEL. The tobacco tax is IN
creased above the Senate's figures
and the tax on bank checks is re-
pealed. In general, it may be said,
a return is made to the House
schedules, except in the case OF
tobacco, which is the only con-
cession Of importance made to the
Senate. AT this writing (Thurs-
day morning) the full bill has not
been completed. There is little
doubt that the bill will be com.
pleted in time for action by both
Houses, and less that it will tail to
receive favorable action.
From and after the rst Of July
next, the tax on beer will be $500
a barrel without rebate. This is
relief-but not release-from op-
pressive and unnecessary taxation.
The struggle must go on until the
last vestige Of war taxes is wiped
from the statute books.
In preferring its claims to recog-
milton Tor valuable and successful
services rendered the brewers in
their fight Tor relief from burden
some tax, the SENTINEL is mindful
OF the powerful work of the COM
mittees of the United States Brew
ers' Association, and wishes to be
understood as in no way detract-
ing from the praise which is their
due for Iabors successfully per-
formed, nor does it spprehend that
they will fail to award this paper
the iull measure OF recognition its
efforts deserve.
Its first efforts were directed to-
wards solidifYing its friends in
Congress in favor Of beer tax re-
duction. 1t has stTiven. with this
object in view, to lay before them
each week some phase OF this ques-
ton bearing out the olt-repeated
but sometimes disputed assertion
that the lax was crippling the in
dustry. To do this we have had
mainly to rely on our own inVesti-
cations, although they were a
times aided by publications OF the
United States Brewers Association
and by gratuitous suggestions from
brew ers themselves. The work
was tedious and slow, for in many
quarters the idea had found root
that no matter how high the tax,
brewers could pay it. BY perse-
vering and untiring labors the
opening OF Congress found the
Democrats in that body a unit for
repeal, and the adoption Of the
Conference Committees report
will see them in that same frame
OF mind. The advantage OF a com
pact minority pledged to the larg
est reduction that could be secured
has been ielt on more than one oc.
.casion.
The assembling of Congress
made it necessary to keep fresh in
the minds OF members the grounds
on which relief was asked and to
be prepared at all times to contro.
vert the false statements inimical
to brewers claims which were
spread broadcast by those who
expected to profit il Congress:
could be influenced to refuse re.
liei. Whisky and beer were helc
up for comparison, to the detri
ment, for awhile, OF the latter
Whisky was vehemently sale
to be paying a tax Of $40 a gal
Ion, while beer only paid 8 cent
gallon The impression intende,
to be conveyed is evident, ant
strange as it may seem, it eaugh