The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-12
OLIVE OIL AND ALCOHOL.
Now Under Discussion at the Commit
tee Tariff Hearing.

Washington, Nov. 12.-The hearings
on schedule A of the Dingley tariff law
held before the house committee on
ways and means in the past few days
have emphasized the fact that the safe
guarding of the internal revenue tax
levied upon alcohol or distilled spirits
and the imposition of high rate of
duty on the articles is one of the mani
fest purposes of the tariff law. Among
the suggested changes in the wording
of the law which have been determined
upon as the result of a thorough in
vestigation of court decisions, are
many affecting articles containing alco-
hol or in the preparation of which al
cOhOl is used.
This attitude of the committee with
regard to alcohol and distilled spirits
is in accord with the consistent policy
of congress in the enactment of tariff
laws in the past. This morning the
committee began its hearing on sche-
dule H, covering spirits, wines and
other beverages" and it is evident from
the notes on tariff revision prepared
for the use of the committee that
similar attitude Will be maintained in
the proposed revision of this schedule
President Roosevelt yesterday receiv-
ed a copy of the book entitled, Notes
on tariff revision which contains over
1000 pages of information and which
was prepared under the direction of the
clerk of the committee on ways and
means. The presidents s attitude on the
subject of revision is well known and
it is expected that he will convey to
the committee on ways and means some
expression of his views on the changes
proposed for further protection and for
continuing the policies advocated by the
present administration and provide for
in the pure food and drug act.
The regulation of the importati N of
olive oil is one of the most important
~ ,f- a No1, In nAF1arO a
have to consider as result of the.
consideration of chemicals, oils and
pa ints About 5,000000 gallons of olive
oil were imported into this country in
mitted free of duty as olive oil fit only
for manufacturing purposes. This lat
ter oil, which is used for lubrlcatlng,
Illuminating, woOlen dressing and man
distinguish from the product used for
food and medicine. This difficulty has
been the cause of "a large amount of
litigation and has Shown that the pre-
scribed tests by which the dutiab1llty
of the oil is to be determined are un-
satisfactory. 1t has been proven, in
case before the board of general ap-
praisers in which DR.. Wiley of the de-
partment of agriculture testified that
certain oil held to be free of duty as
fit only for manufacturing purposes,
was used for food by a certain class OF
foreigners.
To overcome this difficulty it is pro-
posed to change the requirements for
free entry of olive oil so that it must
be rendered unfit for use as food ''by
such means as shall be satisfactory
to the secretary of the treasury and
under regulation so prescribed by him.
NJ. B. Snevily, of New York, repre-
senting importers and consumers of.
olive oil in speaking before the com
mittee with regard to the proposed
change in the law at yesterdays hear
ing, said:
This would require denaturing,
which might be suitable for some, butt
not for others. CASTLE soap is one nf
the principal articles of manufacture
in this country in which olive oil is re-
quired. This soap being unscented,
would not be marketable as CASTLE soap
if given an odor as would be necessary
in denaturing. 1 would suggest that a
provision be made to have olive oil ad-
mitted when it is shown that it is used
for manufacturing purposes"
The committee will gather further in
formation on the subject before deter
what changes in the present law
ir will recommend