Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-23
- - Aloohol I'M.


Il viii be interesting 10 note the atti-
ltude of tho United States Senate towards
the bin now before that body providing
Nor the removal Of the tax on donaturized
alcohol when intended 20 be used for
utility purposes. There is a secret oppo-
sition TO the measure, and there is reason
70 believe that the temper of the majority
members Of the Senate is such that they
will be ready 70 take advantage Of any
opportunity for permitting this measure
70 die n natural death In the Senatorial
graveyard.
This bin was passed by the House Of
/ Representatives by the overwhelming
vote OF 222 TO Z, on April 10th. Upon
sboing read In the Senate it was referred
Ito the committee on finance of which
lsenator Aldrich of Rhode Island is chair
man. Senator Aldrich stands charged
lw1th being a close friend Of the Standard
Oil Trust. and STANDARD OH has a MAJ
terial interest in tho defeat of the Free
Alcohol bil,-Puiting these two things to-
qethor, and Il viii be seon that the Free
Alcohol bin Is in great danger
Tho chairman of committee is not
the whole committee, by any means.
He Is simply the presiding officer OF the
committee during It's deliberations and
Be spokesman In reporting measures back
TO tho paront body. Many chaimen,
however make the mistake Of assuming
that d special prerogativo attaches TO tho
position. by virtue Of which the occupant
IS empowered to act as the entire COM
mittee instead OF only at its direction.
So prevalent has this idea become, and so
assiduously is it cultivated, that in legis-
lative bodies a hostile chairman is fro-
auently fatal to the prospects Of any
measure referred 70 the committee. The
chairman can delay consideration In
committee and also delay action in the
parent body, for as a rule the other mem-
hes are reluctant 20 take the step of
deposing the chairman and assuming
the leadership themselves.
II viii therefore be seen that the Stand
ard oil Trust has a "iriond at court" in
Senator Aldrich rs chairman of the Senate
committee on finance with tho Free Alco-
hol bill IN the custody Of that committee
Recently some Of the STANDARD officials
stated that they had no concern in tho
bill, but when it is considered that de-
naturized alcohol. choaponed by the ne.
moval of the heavy tax. would prove q
formidable competitor TO gasoline and
other products of the Standard Oh, IN
which il now enjoys a practical monopoly
it will be seen that there is little truth IL
this airy remark The STANDARD oil
has a deep concern in the measure, anc
so have the people Of the country. FoI
It has been proved that donatunzod alcoho
would be a most advantageous element II
many lines Of industry and manufacture
by reason Of It's availability for heat. ligh
and power purposes. II is said that i
would practically supesede gasoline al
the motive power for automobiles. anC
this alone would open a large field to IL
use. In the other lines. also, il woulD
prove a great benefit to tho people b..
aiiording q cheap and sat islactory subsli
tute to gasoline, the price OF which wa
advanced by tho Standard Oil Trust onl,
"a few days ago.
lt remains 70 be seen, therefore
whether Senator Aldrich, by reason Of th
interest he Is alleged to have in the Stand
ard oil Trust, viii endeavor to doiea
favorable action on the Free Alcohol bin
and whether the majority of the Senat
viii permit him TO do so The tariff IN
tenests are strongly represented in tn
Senate and while the Free Alcohol bil
does not apply to tariff schedules,
promises to he such an object lesson Of tn
benefits 70 be derived from tax reduction
that it viii naturally suggest the pro
priety Of reducing tariff taxes also. i
order to reduce the prices of commoditie
on which the people are heavily taxed b.
the operations OF the protective tariff
For this reason the tariff Senators ar
likely to defeat the Free Alcohol bin
they think the people VIII stand for sucl
an imposition Il VIII be wen Tor th
people TO make themselves heard in rela
ton 70 this important subject