The Washington times., 1907-02-09
.DIS7ILLERS FIGHT
FOR MONOPOLY
Boast They Will Defeat Adj
VOcateS of Denatured
Alcohol.
Plan Provided Too Expen-
siVe for Farmers Small
Plants.
German System Has Given
Advantage TO Private
Stills.

Another contest between the big dis
filling interests and the advocates OF
denatured alcohol IS promised in the
closing days OF the session OF Con-
gress.
Last session the great distillers won
with Congress They have not hesitated
to boast that they won. and they have
even mildly bOasted. the present session.
that they would find means again 10
get lheir own way and 10 preserve the
monopoly thar was placed at their COM
mand. because Of the form in which
last years legislation passed.
They may make good the boast. but
there viii be strong opposition. and ii
Will be carried forward 10 stiu another
session II IL fails now The original
friends Of denatured alcohol believe Il
VIII be OF real utility only when il shall
have been put into the power Of farm
ers 10 produce il singiy OF IN neighbOr-
hood combinations That is the con-
dition Ia Germany, and the German plan
10 the aim Of the people VINO nave most
confidence in the possibilities Of the en-
terprise.
Inspection Is Expensive.
The legislation OF last session provided
under such conditions that Government
supervision Of the processes must be
continuous and expensive. The regula-
lions issued By Commissioner Yerkes.
in compliance with the statute. made
IL very clear that small stills could not
be probably operated under the law.
Unless The output We're very large the
cost OF Government inspection ara su-
DcrvisiOn would add 50 much 10 the cost
as 10 make the business Improbable.
Accordingly the problem Of simpiifr-
Ing these conditions was taken up. and
investigation resulted in conclusion
thai the German system would work
Is well here as la Germany. The Gov
eminent Is just es rigid about enforcing
us revenue restrictions there as here.
BUT IL has 50 organized the Work that
the small producer Il IJt compelled 10
Pay an excessive charge tor his SUPER
vision.
The German system is very simuIe IL
d not required that Inc INSPECTOR follow
az the processes OF manufacture Of al
cohol- In small establishments known
there as farm dIstlllerles, the plant Is
inspection, accepted. and bonded II b.
so arranged thar when the alcohol
passes from the worm Of the sin &c
must How into "a tank or reservoir. 50
constructed that it, contents cannot be-
removed except in the presence OF the
government revenue agent The agent
holds The only key by which this reser-
vOlr can be opened. The distilleT can
make his alcohol and rul il into the
tank, without Interference, but he can't
take II out until the revenue agent
comes. breaks tie seals. unlOcEs the
reservoir, ana Witnesses the removal
and denatuTing OF the contents Then
he gives clearance certificate. locks.
and seals the reservoir once mole, ana
leaves the distilleT ID iii ID again ID his
pleasure.
Distillers Hope TO Win.
Under the operation Of tins system.
out Of about s9.009900 gallons OF deEa-
tured spirits produced last year be- Ger
many. only about l59.J10 gallons was pro-
duced in large 6istiIleries. The rest
came from the country Establishments
The cost OF inspection was insignificant.
The big distilliHE interests II the
United States, which sustain very close
and harmonious relations. do uaI n.t-
pose To SEE this huge frsuchish taken
away from them 81 they car D. sent
They see the possibilities OF great p40nts
ia alcohol Tor power and heat. 81 the
cnunUE once gets into the habit oI
using II. They have been powerfully
enreseuJed here tAis session. and cN-
pect. IL is declared, 10 prevent legisla-
ton ia favor 0I the small establishment.