The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-09-14

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PREPARATIONS are being made for a
renewed and more vigorous effort,
when Congress meets again, to secure
such a change in the internal revenue
law as will give the industries of the
country the advantage of alcohol as
raw material of industry, free from
the crushing tax that is now levied
upon it. 1t is not an imported ma
teria1, butsone that can be produced
in this country as cheap1y as anywhere
in the world. The great variety of
uses to which it can be put, and is
put in other countries, in manufac-
turing processes is well known. It is
essential in many chemical products,
in photography, in making smokeless
powder and other Eliminates, in lac
quer work and score of other useful
preparations. 1t is largely used
abroad for heating and lighting and
for motor fuel. It's utilities are many
and various, but the industries in
which it is of the highest value are
almost suppressed in this country by
the enormous tax, to the benefit of
foreign producers, who can get the
material without this burden of in
terna1 taxation.
A heavy tax upon alcohol and COM
e l. = &c
proper enough when these are used
as a beverage, and there was time
when it seemed to be necessary to
make the tax indiscriminate in order
that it might serve it's Legitimate pur-
pose without successful evasion, but
that time is gone by. 1t is easily
"denaturized" in way 60 make i'm
possible its use as a beverage and
without impairing it's value as an in
dustria1 material. This lis done in
Great Britain, Germany, France, and
other progressive countries to the
great benefit of industries with which
we are unable to compete, solely be-
cause we make this essentia11materia
too costly by tax that is about 1000
per cent of the cost of making it. The
policy is altogether absurd. The bill
that has been prepared would relieve
"denaturized" alcohol entirely from
the tax and reduce that upon high
proof alcohol for use in the arts under
conditions that would insure it against
use for other purposes without the
blending to which special tax would
be attached, done in bonded ware
houses and under official supervision.
There can be no question that the
proposed legislation faithfully exc
cuted would effect it's purpose of re-
1ieving alcohol used as an industrial
material from the tax without permit
ting evasion on the part of that used
as an ingredient of beverages, and it
is confidently believed with gain
rather than loss to the revenue. Of
the great Importance of this to our in
dustries there is still less question.
It will contribute to the development
and prosperity of various manufac-
lures and it will increase the demand
for the grain from which alcohol is
made. It will largely displace the
use now made of the inferior and
noxious wood alcohol, and it is upon
that fact that the only opposition Of
any account is based. Wood alcohol
cannot serve nearly all of the same
uses and for many it is injurious. It
is a deadly substance, but has been so
refined and sophisticated as to be eff
fectua11y disguised, and on account
of its cheapness has been used to
some extent by the INSCRIPTIONS in
connecting liquors for drink. It's dis
placement is to be desired apart from
the fact that ethyl or grain alcohol is
vastly Superior and far more useful
for industrial purposes, and can be as
cheap1y made if freed from the tax.
We know of no measure proposed for
the benefit of the industry and trade
of the country that has so much in its
favor and so little against itiasr that
for making free this important raw
material. Journal of Commerce.