Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-07-13
INTERNAL REVENUE FIGURES
UNCERTAIN.

Minneapolis Tribune: Advocates of
prohibition may take comfort from
the reports Of internal revenue col
lections for the fiscal year ending
June 80. Figures are not complete,
but they show decrease Of about
$4,250,0 900 in the tax collected for dis
titled liquors. The tax on distilled
liquors is at the rate of s1.1o a gal
Ion, SO that this decrease means a
smaller production by more than A.
100000 gallons.
There was a slight increase in the
collections on fermented liquors, about
$275,000, which means that many
barrels at the rate Of 81 barrel for
the tax. These figures look large de-
tached, but they really mean little
When 1t Is considered that the inter-
nal revenues from all sources, prin-
cipally from liquors and tobacco, in
tho year 1913 were s344,416,3s6; for
the year 1912. 1921 1,612.2oo: for the
year 1911. $s22,52s.210, and for the
year 1908, s230,s10.124: and for the
decade the increase was gradual If
not always constant, this decline Of
$4.250,000 for the year may be ex-
planned on purely commercial grounds
the year before, or more may be held
There may have been overproduction
in warehouses
In the case of fermented liquors,
the small increase means no more
than tho daily fluctuations Of the bus
iness Of large stores or the deposits in
q bank. Distillers, brewers and deal
ers could easily explain the figures,
and show that the falling off was
only the result Of conditions encoun-
tered in any line of manufacture or
commerce. On the other hand, tenn
perance workers might analyze the
figures in such a manner as to indi-
cate the growth Of prohibition senti-
ment and the enactment of dry
laws. That little dependence is to be
placed in figures.
There is no denying that temper
ance sentiment is rampant. The
question Of county or some form of
local option will be a live one in the
coming legislative campaign. and in
the legislature next winter. The ques-
ton of national prohibition is active
now, and congressman are being petit
toned to support the Hobson amend
ment to the federal constitution.
But it must be remembered that dis
tillers and brewers do not pay reve-
nue. taxes on liquors they do not make
and sell. They are the last men in
the world to pay Uncle Sam good
money merely for the purpose Of max
ing showing. When a distiller pays
$1.10 to a revenue collector it is be-
cause he has sold gallon Of whisky;
and when a brewer pays his dollar it
means that he has made and sold a
barrel of beer. And this liquor is not
thrown away-depending wholly on
the point Of Wow, Of course. It is con-
sumed.
There are many dry" spots os the
map Of the United States, the last
great one the entire state Of West
Virginia Temperance forces are con-
quering territory as fast as they can,
whether cities, towns, townships, coun-
ties or states. The liquor men may
say in the words Of the old song,
'4rhese temperance folks, they crowd
MS awfully."
But admitting the revenue figures
on the one side and the "dry" spots
on the other, what is the answer? Is
e not that substantially as much IL
quor Is made and sold and consumed
consumed son1ewhere-year in and
year out? This naturally would mean
that the temperance lines are more
sharply drawn; the fight is more and
more open; men are required to be
Tor one side or the other; legislators
cannot dodge the issue. The weight
Of temperance opinios is now directed
/. better; temperance leaders are bette,
Sunners than Of old, and can plant
th0ir shots whore they tell More tenn.
pefance laws do get on the statute
books, but they are like all laws tina,
aim 70 put moral issues into concrete
J and workable form-of little worth
risless backed by local moral ant
religious public sentiment that is vi
ri1A - hours Of the day and a65 day.
of the year.