The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-05
HOTEL LOBBY GLEANINGS
ALBERT LIEBER AND JOSEPH {.
sCHAF RETURN HOME.
While in Washington They Urged n
Reduction i'm the War Tax on
Beer-HoteI Visitors.

Albert Lieber. president and general man.
ager of the indianapolis Brewing Company,
and Joseph c. Schaf, president of the
American Brewing Company. have returned
from Washington and New York. They
went East in the interest OF the war tax
on beer which the brewers are industriously
trying to have removed. THE first revenue
to be raised for the expenses of the Span
sh-American war" said Mr.. Lieber yester-
day. was placed on the brewers for the
reason that il could be done quickly. 1t
costs the government not one penny extra
TO collect the brewers war tax for the
reason that it requires no extra help, it only
being necessary to change the stamp from
81 to 81. The brewers paid the tax cheer
fully, believing that as soon as the war
was over the tax would be taken off. Thir-
ty million dollars have been collected in
excess of what the Sp~anish-American war
cost. The government is to-day still col
lecting 60 cents a barrel war tax, the rev..
enue only having been reduced % cents a
barrel since July l, 1901. The only industry
and one of the greatest of the d-th
is not sharing in the prosperity of the coun-
try is the brewing industry, owing to the
excessive taxation of the war revenue. If
the brewers are not prosperous now where
will their industry be should the general
wave of prosperity go the other way?
Since the Spanish-American war three
hundred breweries of the 800 in the United
States have taken the benefit of the bank
ruptcy law and are in the hands of re-
ceivers. OF course, they are the smaller
and weaker concerns. 1t is simply max
ing a monopoly for the rich. Beer has be-
come the national beverage of America
and this is a blessing. Every nation is
known by its stimulants. In Germany they
take beer and wine; in France wine and
absinthe; in England heavy ales. porter
and wines; i'm Holland, gin; in Turkey,
China. and in fact the Orient-opium. Now
then it ought to be the duty of each ma
ton to introduce the least harmful, or
most beneficial beverage. BY this L mean
10 say that the laws might be so framed
that that which is best for the people
should be fostered. The riminal record
will show that crime is less hideOus when
milder beverages, such as beer and light
wines, are consumed by a nation. You can
also judge a nation, as to it's intelligence,
by what its stimulants are. and l think that
most people will agree that America, Ger
many, England and France are the most
enlightened in the world. Take away a
bulky stimulant and you will drive those
that want it-and they will get II when
they do want ito opium, morphine, etc.
II 1t were Known, right from this city
opium is shipped in large quantities TO To-
calities where they have local option which
is local prohibition.
''Since leaving Washington the ways and
means committee of the House has re-
ported favorably on reducing all war taxes.
These, of course, include the tax that is
now collected from the brewers, which will
reduce the internal revenue on beer to 81
a barrel. 1t is believed that the Senate
will concur in the Houses action.
II saw the President while in Washing
ton and was at his reception with Mrs.
Lieber. We found the President looking
exceedingly we'll, and he handled the multi
tude of people admirably. Senator Fair
banks is highly respected in Washington
and his influence and opinion go very far.
Jesse Overstreet, of the House, is also con-
sidered very influential. In fact, the In
diana delegation in Congress is known to
stick together better in all matters of
great import than the delegation from any
other State, and it is for this reason that
we may expect great things from this ses-
sion."