The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-22
RAISING REYENUE.
Opportunityto Increase Receipts by Equal.
iEinE the Liquor Tax.

To TIE Enron OF THE Sun Sir: The prop
osition 20 lay duty on coffee Is one which
do not believe will receive any very serious
consideration from the present or any future
Congress unless the need for such duty be-
comes more apparent
Your suggestion that the better way TO
wipe out the deflSit Is 70 eject economies IN
administration and thereby reduce eKpendi-
lures is Just and timely. No doubt q large
majority OF thinking people outside Of Con-
Rress Will agree with you, but II is doubtful II
Congress is now with you on this suggestion.
Granting for the sake OF the argument that
am right in my diagnosis OF Congressional
opinion as IL now exists, does II follow that
members OF Congress are anIiously consid-
erlnE a coffee duty? ! think not. No Con-
gresham Ia ignorant OF the fact that there
exists another source from which a revenue
equivalent 70 a i've cents q pound duty on
coffee may be obtained. and which. leaving
all questions OF ethics out Of the discussion,
has the very distinct advantage that II is not
likely 10 raise any popular olamor.
This other source Of revenue is through an
equalization Of the excise tax on alcoholic
liquors. The tax on spirits il tiIo a proof
gallon: that IL IA cents per cent. OF alcoholic
strength. or IL cent. per degree Of alcohonc
proof proof being so per cent. aIeohol The
tax on malt liquors is 81 barrel Of SIX gal
Ions. Beers vary In strength from about
per cent. in the oase Of weiss beer 70 about is
per cent alcohol In the case OF heavy stock
aes and poTters. the average for ordinary
drauR lager bein perhaps under per cent
II Ia asserted by the brewers 70 be about per
cent, or Q degrees proof II we may apply the
term in use as 70 spirits. At IL cent per
degree Of proof this would make the tar ee
cents a gallon, or a.. "a q barrel. The tax on
the heavier beers OF course would be higher
In round numbers the consumption OF beer is
about 50, 600. 900 barrels a year, 30 Il will be
seen that by an equalization OF the whiskey
and beer taxes q revenue OF SO, 600 900 or more
q year can be raised.
These facts are well known TO every prom
inent member Of Congress, and Il is for the
reason that they are well known that / cay
that there Is no danger Of a coffee duty. As
question OF practical politics, between raising
the tax on beer and a duty on coffee not a
dozen members Of Congress would hesitate
fve minutes As matter OF sound fiscal
policy why should they hesitAte2
The stock argument Of the beer men against
the equalization OF the liquor axes has been
that IN the interests Of temperance the Gov.
eminent should favor the mildeT against the
stronger drink: that TO increase the beer
tax without a corresponding Increase in the
whiskey tax would be 10 Increase the consump-
ton Of whiskey and decrease the oonsumptlon
OF beer, and that this was contrary 20 sound
temperance principles. Whatever the ethics
OF this argument may be 70 was itself Knocked
out by the proof OF the Spanish war tax At
81 barrel the consumption Of beer not only
did not decrease, but actually made a large
Increase, and the whiskey consumption Waa
practically unaffected q. A. L.
HYATIsvILLK. Nd. March 10.