The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-12
Would Apply Only to Liquid for
Fuel Purposes.
FOR LIGHT AND HEAT.
Would Be in Active Competition
With Kerosene.
Thinks Its General Use viii
Simplify Light Situation.

Washington, Jan. 12.=Representa-
tive Victor Murdoch. who was the
Kansas pioneer in favor of the move
ment for the removal of the internal
revenue tax on nonpotable alcohol for
uses in commerce and for fuel and
light; a movement which is now
sprea ding over the country rapidly,
and will have its first hearing before
the committee on ways and means of
the house of representatives and the
committee on finance of the senate this
month, said today:
1.-The use of alcohol from corn,
beets, and potatoes, to light the farm
er's house, run his machinery, and his
pump, is as sure to come. as the night
is to follow the day.
Recent experiments in Germany
show that 80 cents worth of alcohol
will burn and give the same candle
power of light as Is cents worth of
kerosene, and burn twice as long.
Kerosene is now over 20 cents a gal
lon in Kansas. The heat unit in a
gallon of alcohol is greater than that
in a gallon of gasoline. Take the in
ternal tax off of alcohol, denaturized,
and it can be produced and will be
produced in Kansas at from IL to "A
cents per gallon.
sIn the United States the removal
of this internal revenue tax will con-
sumo close TO oUusWUU3UUO DuSnelS OF
corn. I expect to live to see the day
when not one bushel of corn will be
exported. One pushed of corn will
produce from four and one-half to
five gallons of alcohol The residue
of the corn can be used for stock feed,
as it is now a t the great distileries.
1.-The benefit of the change in the
law will go more directly to damaged
and inferior corn, giving it a market
in Kansas that it never had before
introduced a
ter in the house of representatives to
bring this legislation to head. The
resolution was Killed. Others have
now taken the matter up and are
pushing it; and I receive a great many
communications on the subject. 1
think am in position to relate the
nature of the opposition.
First of all, the Standard OIL COM
pany is fighting the proposition; not
only in America, but in France, Ger
many and England. It is being licked
/ in Europe and is going to be licked in
the United States. The alcohol inter-
/ ests defeated the Standard Oil in South
America the other day. gaining Vene-
zuela, which will hereafter light by
alcohol
THE most serious opposition to the
measure are those 31o believe that it
will impair the revenues of the govern
ment to an extent that can not be per-
mitted at this times No exact figures
are obtainable; but it is thought that
we get from alcohoIused for CONNER
cial purposes about ten million dollars
a year; but if the potable alcohol
which is used in patent medicines,
havoring extracts. and similar articles.
| and which would not be exempted
from internal tax by this change, was
subtracted from this ten million dol
lars, the sum would be greatly re-
duced. For my part, do not believe
that the revenues would be impaired TO
I the extent of q million dollars.
THE minute congress can be per-
suaded that this is the fact, the change
will be made. do not believe there is
! a piece of possible legislation that
/ means more to the farmer in the way
of a direct benefit by an increased de-
mand for one of his products, and by
freeing the country from the grasp of
/ the Standard Oil than this.
''Those in favor of the legislation are
/ the farmers of the country who have
! been informed by agricultural papers
on the subject. the temperance people,
/ who through their organizations are
agitating in favor of it, and the manu-
| facturers of hats, shoes, pianos, furni-
/ ture who use great quantities of alco-
! hOl and who are now at the mercy OF
the wood alcohol trust.
Fuel light and commercial alcohol,
! such as is proposed. is not drinkable.
/ It is obnoxious to the taste. 1t is used
! with perfect safety. and with great
/ economy in every leading nation in the
! world except the United States. 1t
/ ought to be, and will be. used here"
Mr.. Calderhead has introduced a bill
/ much to the same end as Mr. n ur-
] docks resolution.