The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-13
evidence Brought Out Before
House Committee OH Tariff
Revision Interesting.
AMERICAN WINES COST
MORE THAN THE FOREIGN
Importers Ask for Reduction of
Duties on Ale, Porter
and Beer.

WASHINGTON, Nov. l2.-The wave
of prohibition, which it is claimed has
spread over the country, apparently has
had little effect on the consumption of
alcoholic liquors and spirituous drinks,
according to evidence brought out at to-
days hearing on the proposed tariff
revision before the House committee on
ways and means. 1t was apparent, too,
that the liquor interests are, on the
whole, we'll satisfied with the present
tariff or spirits, wines and other bev-
erages, as the wine, growers and i'm
porters were practically tho only inter
ests represented at today's hearing.
The morning session was enlivened by
"a sharp but good natured colloquy be-
tween Percy T. Morgan, representing the
wine growers interests Of California,
and Representative Boutelle of Illinois,
Mr.. Morgan was telling the committee
why the regulations OF the Dingley tar
jff covering the imuortations of still
wines should also extend TO those wines
imported from other countries, with
which the United States has reciprocity
treaties. Addressing Mr.. Boutelle, Mr..
Morgan said:
Morgan States Position
My contention is that wines can be
imported under the present reciprocity
arrangements up TO twentyfour per
cent, which is fortv-eight proof: while
the whisky you drink yourself is only
eightyfive proof. y
The whisky 1 drink Is not any
proof" was Mr.. Boutelle's quick re-
joinder.
lyon may take some occasionally for
medicinal purposes. said Mr.. Morgan.
81 never take any replied Mr.,
Boutelle.
Mr. Morgan maintained that under the
present reciprocity treaties with the
principal producing countries alcohol di.
luted with wine would be imported in
stead of wine diluted with alcohol.
" In any revision of the tariff on
wines there should be re-establisbcd
differential between wines containing
only alcohol produced by natural fer
mentation and those which have been
fortified by the addition Of distilled
spirits, - he said, $50 that the condition
may not continue TO he presented of the
possibility of importing alcohol into the
United States at less rate of duty than
is cxacted on domestic spirits by the
revenue laws, or Of such handicap
being placed on tho domestic wine pro
ducer, as the possibility of importing a
wine of such alcoholic strength, that af-
Ter arrival in the United States the ad-
di,ion Of water may effect the cutting
in half of the established import duty
American Wines Costly.
W. f. liildrcth, Of New York, 4 cham.
psgne expert, declared that the cost Of
making American wines was much
greater than was that Of producing
Ia oh, l.
telling the committee that Americans
only pay for the French labels, when
Champ Clark remarked:
There are not thousand men in
The United States who, after they have
had three drinks, can tell what they arc
drinking.
L. J. Vance. Of New York. secretary
lion, declared that the reciprocity
treaties gave the importers of foreign
champagne reduction OF two dollars
per case In the duty. and that these i'm
porters used the dollars thus saved for
the purpose OF advertising and keeping
trade which the American wine.
makers possibly could get if they had
similar amount to spend for that pur-
pose.
He also asked for an increase of the
duties OF mineral waters TO meet the
high tariffs Of foreign countries. He
declared that France practically pro.
hibits the importation of American
waters.
AT the afternoon session C. n. King
and John II. Wheeler, of New York.
argued for q decrease in the duties on
ale, porter and beer, and declared that
as result imported ale and stout would
be cheaper TO the consumer, saying that
Irish ginger ale could not possibly be
sold cheaper thar the domestic article.
even if put on the free list. Mr.. King
asked for a reduction In the tariff on
that beverage,
Tomorrow the committee will take I'D
the schedule on tobacco and manufact.
urers Of tobacco,