New-York tribune., 1906-12-22
nENATURING ALCOHOL.
4, Explanation By the Commissioner
of Internal ReUenue.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau


,roshington Dec. 21.-Internal Revenue Com
.,.s,oner Yerzes has denied permission TO a
work department store TO deal In denatured
''sol on the ground that the concern also
- IN drugs and pure alcohol. and Il would be
-~.,,st public policy 10 allow those who handle
-e,sble alcohol 20 sell the other product
'.r-. are desirous OF asoertaining whether there
- ne ANYTHING in the regulations" wrote the
-.nsrer Of the store TO the Internal Revenue
ryreau which VIII prevent department store
rEs ours from selling denatured alcohol in our
ar department in sealed packages OF less than
s,Tr and half gallons. Our drug department
!. situated on The main floor OF our building. We
s,ys wholesale liquor and rectifying license in
ar- srocery department on the fifth floor"
IT denatured alcohol were sold on one floor
,,s spirituous beverages on another loor," said
a. yerkes to-day. "it might happen some day
.so. there would be a mixture, by mistake
\, course we co not say that thSre sgould be-
hut such mistakes have been known TO happen
sus II Is & peculiar fact that whenever such
.-n,stakes' occur the government always loses
ny the error. The person who makes that kind
~ mistake never by any chance makes a mis-
.ake which viii pay more tax into the Treas
nv. He always seems 10 manage TO deprive the
Treasury Of some part OF the tax that ought TO
be paid"
Commissioner Yerkes announces that the In
.e-ual Revenue Bureau is ready 70 take care
~ the denstU1ed alcohol business as soon as
Fl Is allowed by law 10 begin operations through
ont the country, Oh January !.
81 have no means OF knowing how many con-
osrns viii engage in the manufacture or how
many VIII deal in the denatured product" said
M Yerkes. "but in any event we VIII be able
70 take care Of the volume OF business. no mat
rs-
letters 10 al the collectors OF internal revenue in
the country tnstructing them Immediately to fur
uish ne with al the information they can gather
about the manufacture Of denatured alcohol
Just as soon as II starts IN their districts, and
70 al once call on me for whatever additional
hslp they may need properly 10 supervise the
Industry.
In this connection. 7 want TO say that am
surprised and entirely out OF patience with the
ignorance have seen manifested by supposedly
intelligent men who are discussing this denat-
ured alcoho! business. Members OF Congress
and the Senate, editors OF big newspapers and
ordinarily bright and up-to-date men OF all
yocauons seem absolutely at sea when they get
on this subject, and relieve themselves OF the
most oUtlanGish and absurd statements For
instance. I have just thrown into my waste
basket editorial that appeared IN an after
noon New York newspaper. IN which the writer
stacks the denatured alcohol law on the ground
that Il makes Il impossible for any one to en-
gage IN the manufacture OF denatured alcohol
II less quantities than 500 gallons DAY. Why is it
hat many men viii take some other mans state
ment OF z fact rather than go 10 little trouble
and make certain Of the thing themselves
As a matter Of fact. the manufacture Of alcohol
and its supervision has not been altered one tota
BY this new law. II merely throws certain safe
guards about the business Of changing the nature
q the product. L makes sick 10 hear some
C0ngressTen talk about the ease with which the
German farmer can engage IN the manufacture
q denatured alcohol and the difficulties thrown
n the way OF farmers. The German
and all the government does is 10 send around a
man & couple Of times a week 10 unlock and
lock the container that holds the product Now.
Td ike 10 know what difference II makes TO
comes around twice q week or STAYS the
place al the rtTne IN either case the farmer
Goes not Pay the bill The government pays the
salary OF l+le inspector and the farmer Is not
charged g cent. That's what this government
ofers 10 Go. and & does not make one bit OF
difference whether he makes five gallons, 500
gallons Or 100000 gallons a day. The gov
e.-Tnent VIII pay the cost OF inspection, and not
q cent VII be deducted from the profits OF the
csiiler for that purpose. There is nothing on
sz-;h 70 prevent an farmer IN the country from
gong into TIE manufacture OF denatured alcohol
tomorrow Il he wants 20. and he can CO II on a
capital % 500. $1,000 or almost any amount ne
gsases i is only question with him whether
is going 10 pay him. out IN Kansas Where
coI Is now selling a. - cents bushel, * prob
ably won't Qay him 70 DO Il. When corn -
down 10 20 cents IL doubtless would. There Is
Lhs case IN 6 nutshell The farmers who have
The product d hand with which 10 make de-
probably engage IN the business with profit
those who have roy co. IL VIII ind il 10 their in