The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-02-20
ALCOHOL PLAN
BITTERLY OPPOSED
Ways and Means Committee
Hears Strong Argument.
BIG INDUSTRY THREATENED
Opponents State That Bills Now Being
Considered Are a Detriment
to Trade.

A strong argument against free aico-
hol was made today before the Ways
aud Means Committee which has under
consideration several bills looking
toward this end by Henry J. Pierce, of
Buffalo, y. Y, president of the Wood
Products Company.
Il appear here as the representative
of a great industry which it has taken
forty years TO build up, in which mill
ions Of dollars are invested and thou
sands of men are employed. and where
the welfare affects fully 100000 people,
said Mr.. Pierce in opening
He declared that those who are seek
ing for tax-free alcohol in the form Of
denaturized spirits are endeavoTing to
secure profit for a limited number OF
people from d source which does not
now exist, or, in other words. a benefit
that would not be shared in by the peo-
ple at large. He characterized their
plea Is purely selfish
Growth of Industry.
In stating his reasons for opposing the
passage If any bill providing for tax
free grain alcohol for manufacturing Or
other purposes. MIR. Pierce traced the
growth Of the wood alcohol industry in
this country from the imposition of in
grain alcohol during the civil war 10 its
present stage of prosperity.
Al present there are lis different pro-
ducers of the crude material located in
Maine. Vermont New York, Pennsyl-
yania, Ohio, Michigan Alabama. Wis
consin. and Missouri For two score
years wood alcohol has been of the
greatest benefit to manufacturers in
this country and through them TO the
people. in furnishing a caeaD ana sat
isfactoTy substitute for taxed grain alco-
In 1865 over 100000 gallons were pro
duced in this country
Shipped Millions of Barrels.
Mr.. Pierce said:
II have been engaged in the refining
and sal. of wood alcohol for twenty five
years. and during that time the Wood
Products Company. of which I am preSi-
dent. has shipped over 100000 barrels OF
wood alcohol. and 1 have yet to learn Of
a single case where convincing proof has
been furnished that death was due 10
The proper use Of wood alcohol
Wood alcohol is not to be Ussi inter
rally. ana the occasional cases Of death
CT blindness reported could only have
been caused by its having been drunk.
AR Pierce declared TO be untrue the
assertion ,hae the destruction Of the for
ests is due 10 the manufacture Of wood
alcohol.
Mr.. Pierce said that commissioners
Of Internal revenue from 1865 down 10
the present commissioner believed
that tax-free alcohol in this country
was impracticable. The enactment Of
q tax-free alcohol bill providing for the
use of denaturized alcohol in the
United States would only effect q say
ing Of $4,000 .000 to those using the ar
licle. 1t would cost the Government
at least 81 .o00, 600 To enforce the law
and it might cost from $4,000, 600 10
S5.O0O.O0O loss Of revenue through the
1tfegittmate use of the untaNed spirit.
II would ruin the wood alcohol indus
Try. seriously cripple other Industries
and increase the price Of numerous ar
ticies now used.
Other gentlemen who addressed the
committee We're the following:
Edgar s. Stevens. chemist Of the
Wood Products Company. of Buffalo,
George Chapparton. Of Cadillac, Mich,
representing lumber interests; Austen
Farrell OF Marquette Mich. represent
iEg charcoal and iron interests; w G.
Sharp, of Ashland. Wis representing
charcoal, iron and lumber interests. W.
=. Gray. of New iOrk CITY. a chemical
bI oker; ". 3. Bubb, of Williamsport.
Pa, a charcoal manufacturer. ". +.
Simmons, of Boston. Mass represent
ing New Eng land wood alcohol inter
eSts- Louis l.. Drake, of New York
city, secretary National oil, Paint and
Narnish Association; r. McT-ain, rep
Iesenting the Grasselli Chemical Com
Iany, OF Cleveland and New York. and
=. Howard Mason, secretary of the
Chamber of Commerce of Buffalo.
Warren W. Smith, a wood alcohol
manufacturer, OF Buffalo. Z. b Stew
ems, secretary of Wood Products Com
pany. OF Buffalo. and II. T. CaGney, of
Bradford. Pa, were also in attendance
at the hearing. Ex-RepreSentative Q.
+. Wright Of Pennsylvania; John Troy,
If clean, y. Y, a wood alcohol manu-
facturer; NJ T. Quinn. wood alcohol
manufacturer, of Straight, Pa; L X
Day. of Westiine, Pa; l.. T. Forsman
mayor of Williamsport, Pa: . w
Stone. Of Pennsylvania: Alfred and
Harper L. Berry. of Berry Bros, Of De
troit; f. G. Rust, OF Elk Rapids, Mich