The Washington times., 1905-04-29
REDUCED TAX On
BEER AND WHISKY
DR.. Bartholdt Offers Remedy
for Treasury Deficit.
WOULD INCREASE REVENUE
Bigger Consumption of Best Qualities
of Liquor Would Result,
He Explains.

Representative Richard Bartholdt of
Missouri has plan for getting rid of
the Treasury deficit. He deplores the
excess of expenditures over receipts and
thinks & change is necessary to keep
the Government finances up to par.
The MissouriaH who has been clearing
up few department matters, left today
for New York, where he will be the
quest Of honor al banquet to be given
tonight by the magazine publishers OF
the metropolis. Clarence w. Bowen. OF
the Independent, will preside Next
Tuesday DR.. Bartholdt will sail for
Europe to attend meeting of the ex-
ecuuve committee CT the Interpar
liamentary Peace Union. at Brussels.
Tells the Best Way.
Speaking of the national deficit and
the best way TO get rid OF 1t, DR.. Bar
thoIdt said:
"A prudent head of the house, when
he finds himself running behind, does
one of two things-he either increases
his income or decreases his expendi--
lures. This. too, is what the Govern
ment ought to do. It cannot well de-
crease expenditures, so il ought to in
crease Its income.
1.-The best way to do this is TO re-
would increase the consumption of the
best qualities of those articles and get
rid of the deleterious kinds.
Beer Industry Backward.
1.-The beer industry is the only great
industry of the country which has not
had its fair share of the prosperity of
the country. It has had to pay the war
tax OF 81 a barrel right along. Some
people propose to increase it to 90 a
barrel. This would only have the effect
of making the beer poorer in quality and
the glasses smaller.
ut would displease the consumers all
over the country. But worse than that.
II would drive out OF business all
smaller brewers.
ut would encourage the 'moonshine
whisky makers to do more than they
do now. sThey are active enough Al
present. It would drive the big brewing
firms into trust for their self-protec-
ton.
The fact of the matter is. the prohi-
bition advocates have been making a
very successful campaign all over the
country. They have been especially ac
tive in the South 1t has hurt the brew
ing interest a great deal The brewers
ought not TO be taxed more, but less.
Tax on Bank Checks.
What I would propose would be a tax
people who draw checks can we'll afford
TO pay a little 2-cent tax. They would
not mind 1t at all 1t would yield
good revenue and would be more in the
nature of a tax on luxuries than a beer
tax would be.
.I am not in favor OF Dutting a tax
on anything that would make the poor
man pay more and get poorer quality
than he does now. That's what beer
tax would do
To Attend Peace Meeting.
The meeting Of the executive commit
tee Of the fnterparliamentary Peace
Union, which Dr. Bartholdt is to at
tend, has been called now for the pur-
pose of arranging plans for the August
conference. AT that meeting he ex-
poets TO propose three suggestions for
extending the work of the Peace Union:
First. that all the South Americans re-
rublics be invited to join the organiza-
tion; second, that a general arbitration
treaty be drafted, specifying which sub
Jects may be referred to arbitration by
the executive without consent of the
legislative branch Of the government
and third, authorization OF a permanent
peace congress TO enact international
law, its decisions to be approved regu-
larly by the nations comprising the con-
gress. The American representatives 10
the August conference Will be Ave Sem
ators and afteen Representatives.