The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-01
R { N 0 Y A | 0 T.
ALCOHOL TAX
tco,ti.uea form paf. l.,

bled, that when that form of distilled
spirits of domestic production COM
mercially known and described as
ethyl alcohol" has been rendered un- !
fit for use as a beverage by the addi- /
ton thereto of such material or sub
stance as the commissioner of in
ternal revenue, with the approval of
the secretary of the treasury, shall
prescribe, such distilled spirits, or
ethyl alcohol, when intended for use
in manufacturing processes and for
lighting, heating and cleaning pur-
poses, and for use as motor fuel,
may be withdrawn from distillery
bonded warehouses free of internal
revenue tax, under such rules and
regulations as the commissioner of
internal revenue, with the approval
of the secretary of the treasury, shall
prescribe.
The following relative to removing
the tax off denaturized alcohol will be
of interest.
Present Law.
Under the present law what is
known as grain alcohol of the or
binary strength bears an internal
revenue tax of about 50 and z or
cents per gallon, there being no tax
on wood alcohol, which is poisonous
and injurious to the health and unfit
for a. great many industrial uses.
Proposed Law.
The high tax on alcohol is prohibi-
tive when it comes to the use of al
cohol for purposes of light, fuel or
power, and in thousands of uses for
manufacturing. 1t is not proposed to
do anything with the tariff on al
cohol, which is about s1.50 per gal
lon, but 1t is proposed to take the
revenue tax entirely off what is
known as denaturized alcohol, that is,
alcohol rendered unfit for use as a
beverage or medicinal purposes. This
is done by mixing it with a very
small percentage OF wood alcohol and
by numerous other ways which rem
der it obnoxious and render the re-
covery of the alcohol inexpedient,
owing to the great expense.
United States Alone.
The United States is the only coun-
try of any Importance that taxes de-
naturized alcohol intended for use in
the industries, and as result of this
foreign countries are far in the lead
in the manufacture of all articles in
which alcohol is necessary =
How Manufactured.
Alcohol may be manufactured from
anything which contains starch or
sugar. 1t may be made from corn,
potatoes, sugar beets, sugar corn, or
the refuse from sugar factories.
About three gallons of alcohol can be
made from bushel of corn, and even
if the corn is damaged by frost or
otherwise it will still produce the
alcohol. After the alcohol has been
extracted from the corn or other
grains the by-product is worth enough
for feed for livestock to pay the ex-
pence of distilling the alcohol.
Prohibitionists Favor 1t.
Many of the leading representatives
of the prohibition movement through
out the country, after making thorough
examination of the subject, have be-
come enthusiastic advocates of the
proposition. 1t would certainly seem
better to burn the alcohol than to
drink it. 1t is known that many large
distilleries which are now mahufac-
turing alcohol for a beverage (there
being no other market for it under
the present high price,, would gladly
quit that business and manufacture
nothing but denaturized alcohol for
the industries.
Opposition From Standard OIL.
Untaxed denaturized alcohol will do
more to bring the Standard Oil COM
pany and other oil companies, and also
the coal companies, to terms than any
other possible legislation, as it will
bring product in competition with
theirs which it will be impossible 10
corner. The principal opposition to
the proposed legislation will come
from these companies, as it will be
telling blow against their monopolies.
OPPOSITION Will also come from the
manufacturers of wood alcohol. Wood
alcohol is now permitted to be made
untaxed, and in view of the high price
of grain alcohol the wood alcohol man
ufacturers are enabled to get an enor-
nous profit on their product
: Wood alcohol is very poisonous and
dangerous to the health of the work
men in many of the sciences, arts and
Industries, such as painters, picture
mould manufacturers, finishers of fur
niture. ETC., many instances being
known where blindness has been caus-
ed by wood alcohol.
Revenue Not Reduced.
1t will also be opposed somewhat by
certain classes who fear that 1t will
reduce the revenue of the government,
This legislation will not interfere ma
terially with the revenue, as it is not
proposed to take the tax of alcohol
for the purposes to which it is now
put.
Uses of Alcohol.
1t is believed that alcohol will. n