Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-13
DUTY ON WINE AND SPIRITS
Experts Testify Before House Com
mittee on Effect of Tariff.
ALCOHOL DILUTED WITH WINE
Spirits from Reciprocity Countries
Pay Less Tax ON Alcohol Than
Internal Tax on Domestic
Article.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.--The wave of
prohibition which, it is claimed, has spread
over the country. apparently has had little
effect on the consumption of alcoholic liq-.
ors and spirituous drinks. according to evil
dence brought out at today's 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. well satisfied with the
present tariff on spirits. wines and other
beverages, as the wine growers and i'm
porters were practically the only interests
represented at today's hearing.
The morning session was enlvened by a
sharp but good natured colloquy between
Percy T. Morgan, representing the wine
growing interests of California, and Rep
resentstive Boutell OF Illinois.
Mr. Morgan was telling the committee
why the regulations OF the Dingley tariff.
covering the importation of still wines.
should also apply to those wines imported
from countries with which the United
States has reciprocity treaties.
Addressing Mr.. sBspse1 a5r. Morgan said:
my contention fs That wines can be Inn
ported under the present reciprocity ar
rangements up to "a per cent. which is IS
proof, while the whisky you yourself drink
is only IS proof"
THE whisky drink is not any proof"
was Mr.. Boutelrs quick rejoinder.
You take some occasionally for medicinal
purposes" said Mr.. Morgan
'I never take any" replied Mr.. Boutell.
Alcohol Diluted with Wine.
Mr.. Morgan claimed that under the pres
ent reciprocity treaties with the principal
wine producing countries. alcohol diluted
wine diluted with alcohol
'In any revision of the tariff on wines
there should be re-established a differential
between wines containing only alcohol pro-
duced by natural fermentation and those
which have been fortified by the addition
! of distilled spirits" he said. so that the
condition may not continue to be presented
OF the possibility of importing alcohol into
the United States at less rate OF duty
than Is eXacted on domestic spirits by the
revenue laws, or of such a handicap being
placed on the domestic wine producer as
the possibility of importing a wine of SUCH
alcoholic strength that after arriving in
the United States the addition of water
may effect the cutting in half of the estab-
lished import duty"
Champ Clark on Labels.
Champ Clark, prominently spoken Of as
successor of John Sharp Williams as the
minority leader on the floor of the house,
was present for the first time at the hear
ings a member OF the committee.
w. II. HIldreth OF New York. a cham
pagne expert, declared that the cost of
making American wines was much greater
than was that OF producing French wines
and champagnes He was telling the COM
mttee that Americans only pay for the
French labels. when Mr.. Clark remarked:
! There are not 1000 men in the United
/ States who, after they have had three
drinks, tell what they are drinking"
! At the afternoon session c. X. King and
John II. Wheeler Of New York. argued for
a decrease in the duties on ale, porter and
beer and declared that as a result i'm
ported ale and stout would be cheaper to
/ the consumer.
Tomorrow the committee will take up
the schedule on tobacco and manufactures
| of tobacco.