Washington sentinel., 1901-02-02
Beer, Tobacco and Temper
ance.

The report of the Senate Fin
anse Committee, further reducing
the tax on beer beyond the figures
set by the House bill, is commend
able, but it might have gone far
ther still and yet not have ex
posed the committee to the charge
OF oVer-liberalitY.
Compared with the reduction on
tobacco, which has had rs per
cent Of its war tax stricken of,
while beer is only reduced 40 per
cent, the decrease recommended
by the bill will hardly be consid-
cred an extravagant one. AS be-
tween beer and tobacco, If it were
necessary to split hairs there were
ample reasons why the benefit
should be gwen to the former,
When the tax was levied tobacco
was increased from 8 to Ia cents a
pound, or SO per cent. Beer was
raised from 81 to SI.8s net, or IS
per cent increase. Here was a
wide difference at the outstart.
Then again, when the War bill
was passed It provided for a reduc-
tion in the size OF the tobacco
package cor monty sold from two
20 one and three quarter ounces.
This opened a way Tor the tobacco
manufacturers to saddle their
share of the war tax on the con-
sumner. No such consideration
was extended to brewers, and the
result was that, with but few ex-
ceptions, the latter were compelled
to bear this burden themselves,
and they have done so up to the
present. The result OF such dis
elimination has been apparent Tor
the past two years in the complete
sGagnation, to use mild term, in
the brewing business, the effects ct
which have been told candidly and
plainly by the representatives Of
the Board OF Trustees OF the United
States Brewers Association in
arguments before the committees
oi Congress and in pamphlets is
sued by them and distributed for
the information OF members.
The tax on tobacco, it is said, is
essentially a tax on the poor. That
is true, and its repeal is therefore
a step in the right direction.
II the beer tax is not also tax on
the poor, il is due solely to the
fact that brewers evinced full
and fair appreciation OF their
duties towards the Government in
Its necessities and Of the burdens
under which the laboring man was
already staggering. and voluntar
lily assumed the obligations i'm
posed under this act. When other
industries or individuals have dis
played a spirit OF this kind it has
hitherto been designated as patriot
ism, deserving of emula ion, and
worthy OF first and fullest recog-
milton when legislative reliei is to
be granted.
We have no objection to the re-
duction On tobacco except in SC
far as it works an injustice tc
brewers. A reduction Of 3 cents
a pound-or Is per cent Of the wal
tax-is uncalled for when it is re
called that tobacco manufacturer,
did not pay the tax and will no
give the user the benefit Of the
decrease. 1t will amount merely
TO a Pift Of nearly So, 9,ooo, 900 to thu
tobacco manufacturer, and we hol,
that it would be better for Con
gress to use this amount in relieV
ing the taxpayer of some OF tn
hardships imposed by the Spanisl
War than to vote the surplus ava,
in largesses to those who had n
part in creating it. whose bushes
was not hampered and has nc
suffered by the collection of it, an
whose product is regarded as
luxury for those who use it. "A
between luxuries and necessitie
the tax should be retained on tn
luxury.
Atwo cent reduction on tobaec,
the saving to be added to the bee