Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-30
HIIMINoT0S. FBfDAY. MARoH 20.
Nlrcli.I.AErons REooRn
Beneflts OF Free Alcohol.

ENNNNNAAH " "N08 NAAAAAA9Aa
The proposition, now before tho ways
and means committee Of the House Of
Representative, 10 remove tho tax on
alcohol for use In tho arts and for COM
mercial purposes, has melted a most inter
esting discussion Of the benefits that would
attend the enactment Of a law carrying
this proposition into effect
Tho wisdom of taxing alcohol used as
a beverage is questioned by few, but the
cheapening Of alcohol used in the arts and
for commercial purposes, particularly
the latter, would It is argued be attended
by extraordinary results. For It's uses
are manifold, and its cheapening. by the
abolition of taxes, would naturally tend
70 increase every business in which it finds
a place. The abolition Of the tax, it is
said would reduce its selling price TO
about one-twentieth Of the present figures.
"Iherb is hardly an industry" says
the New York Evening Post In an edi-
torial discussion Of the subject, "in which
alcohol isnet nard to some extent, and the
list Of articles which would be cheapened
by free alcohol is very long Ether,which
costs ~ cents a pound in Germany and
60 cents here, is an extreme example of
is effect in the chemical industries
American transparent soap is increased
in cost So per gross by tho tax, and, ac-
cording 20 testimony given before Sem
ate committee few yeari ago, our manu-
faoturers could undersell the English
makers by 81 a gross II they enjoyed
the same free raw material. illuminate
of mercury, the explosive Of percussion
caps. is no longer made in this country
al an. but imported from Canada at
saving of more than a dollar per pound,
because that country has free alcohol.
AN the oelluloid products, including
Photographic films would be much
cheapened, and the stimulus to their
manufacture would not only add to the
demand for grain TO be converted into
alcohol but create a special need for the
raw cotton which is the base Of these sub
stances. But in its coming employment
for fuel the greatest revolution may be
expected The development Of internal
combustion engines, the automobile, and
the motor-boat, have created a tremen-
dous demand for liquid fuels suitable to
such mechanism. Alcohol, considered
by many the best and the safest, has been
absolutely prohibitive in cost. Case
lene has been practically the only sub
stitute available, and IL has continually
rsen in price Also alcohol is described
as a better fuel for cooking purposes than
coal or gasolone, and under an incan-
descent mantle serves as an excellent
illuminant."
In the face Of such an argument, Il is
hard to conceive Of objections being
raised to the abolition Of tho internal
revenue tax, which is about 81 a gallon
Il is said that with this tax abolished
alcohol could be sold At a profit at n
cents, or even 10 conts. a gallon. How
such an enormous reduction in cost would
stimulate It's use along the various line.
suggested may be imagined
But it is not expected that the propo
sition Of untaxed alcohol viii be favor
ably entertained by the present Congress
That body is a protection aggregation
heart and soul. II is true the PROPOSE
tion does not include the abolition Of thu
tariff duty on alcohol, and applies onl,
20 the direct tax, but Il involves relic
from taxation, and tariff is taxation
Therefore, TO the average protectionist
anything that touches taxation touche
the tariff, and the tariff must not b
touched
There is, further, the probability tina
untaxed alcohol might put It into seriou
competition with the products Of the O
TRUST. II so. then good-by to an pro.
poets of a removal of the tax. For IN
Trust interests have such hold on IN
present Congress that no legislation whic
might threaten to interfere with ther
to the slightest extent viii be allowed Z
even reach the stage Of formal considers
ton.
Therefore, despite the great benefit
that would follow in the train Of untaxe
alcohol for commercial purposes and fC
the arts, it need not be looked for at II
hands Of the present Congress. But n
proposition win afford ample mater.
for discussion during the campaign
this year for the election OF a new House
Representative.