New-York tribune., 1904-10-31
WOOD AND GRAIN ALCoHoLs.

1ho Yo-oe ,rnnher Of deaths In this city which
have been attributed 10 the use or beverages III
which there was wood alcohol mas caileu lFesn
attention to several well known commercial
abuses. There can be little doubt that this pol
sonous product is often substituted Tor grain
alcohol In the preparation OF medicinai com.
pounds for internal use. and is constituent OF
much Of the cheap whiskey now retailed In
Iiauor shops. Furthermore, both evils appear
to be increasing steadily.
One of the remedies which it Is proposed 10
apply is to modify the internal revenue tax on
grain alcohol In two particulars reaucuon
of about one-third, it is asserted, would bring
the price of the commodity to the level OF its
mischievous rival. and the temptation TO employ
the latter illegitimatey would thus be removed
The other change which has been suggested is
10 remove the tax altogether from grain alcohol
that Is intended for service in the industrial arts
-dissolving gums for varnish cleaning brass
and host Of other useful and necessary opera
tions. To prevent the drinking Of such alcohol
certain precedents established In foreign coun-
tries would be followed. The fluid would be so
drugged as to be extremely unpalatable. as well
as positively injurious to health. An attempt
to- evade the revenue by redistilling and purify
ing 'denaturlzed" alcohol might De made II the
tax on the pure article remained unaltered. but
the advocates of this plan believe that no rea-
the duty were lowered as they recommend
Before undertaking to secure fresh legislation
for the suppression Of the abuses here men,
toned, it might be judicious to consider how
far existing agencies could be utilized 10 that
end. If, as seems probable. dangerous adulter-
ations OF beverages and medicines are viola
tions Of State law, the prosecution Of offenders
is already practicable as well as extremely de-
sirable. Moreover. in some municipalities the
local health boards have large powers as well
as grave responsibilities. If these bodies and
the district attorneys in afflicted communities
did their full duty, revolution might be effected
without any addition to the statutes. The sug-
gestion OF DR.. William E. Gamble, of Chicago.
that a dealer In wood alcohol should be CON-
PEELED to label receptacles in which It is sold so
as to show that they contain poison is an excel
lent one, but it is not altogether clear that other
legislation is yet demanded in the interest OF
public safety.
The desire to get cheaper alcohol for indus
trial uses Is perfectly legitimate. and there Is
nothing dscreditable In the endeavor to do so
by seeking a reduction in the internal revenue
tax on spirits. Whether the government can sf-
ford the concession. though is another question
Those who are moving to obtain II declare that
the change would not result in loss of income
because returns would be made TO the Treasury
on much larger quantity OF alcohol than now
If the Commissioner of Internal Revenue takes
the same view. one serious objection to the sur
render would be removed but Congress will
naturally wait for the opinion OF experts In gov
ernment finance before IL takes radical meos
ures