The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-13
An Old Proposal Revived.

a large committee, representing a NUMBER OF
temperance organizations met behind closed
doors in Washington Saturday to perfect the
Hobson resolution defeated in the House last
December, with the hope OF making it more ac-
ceptable to the Senators and Representatives.
One objection to the Hobson resolution that
it only prohibited the manufacture and importa-
ton OF alcoholic liquors for sale. A good many
prohibitionists do not like that exemption.
which only prohibits the sale OF alcoholic bever-
ages. If these beverages are poisonous and a
danger TO the people, and 10 be prohibited,
the prohibition ought to be like that in Russia,
complete. But it is said that the committee could
not agree any change in the plan OF prohibition
proposed by Capt. Hobson, although it is ad-
mitted that it would legalize the work of the
moonshiners who have been the most pctur-
csquc law breakers OF this country since the civil
war.
The moonshiner insists that he has an nalien-
able right manufacture whisky, brandy, apple
Jack, anything else he prefers from his corn,
rye, apples and peaches, and that government
has the right to make him pay tax on his prod
ucts. He has been going along in this way for
more than hall a century, and the great govern
mcnt OF the United States, with small army Of
special agents has been unable to suppress moon
shining. The Commits Sioner OF Internal Revenue
admits in his report that this illicit manufacture
and traffic is growing with the passing of time
and the increase of prohibition laws in the South.
The moonshners have been defended in Con-
gross and something like the proposition OF Capt
IIobson was proposed thirty-hvc years ago, by
distinguished North Carolina Democrat, who
was the father OF the Democratic leader in the
Sixtv-iourth Congress. His name was William
kitchn. and he proposed an amendment to the
internal revenue laws providing that sixty gallons
in any one year, manufactured by each distillcr,
should be exempt from taxation. Some of the
Northern Representatives ridcu1cd Mr. Kitchn's
amendment hut it vigorously defended as a
temperance measure by Southern men. Mr.. Kit
chin said in debate that his amendment was to
place all producers equal footing and
added: Il Will take occasion to say that | be-
licvc it is radically wrong and unjust ard in op.
position to the fundamental principles upon which
government is based, to tax the necessities OF
lie, to tax that which man raises upon his
farm for the support and benefit OF those who are
dependent upon him. Every man ought to have
the right to what he raises upon his farm for
the benefit OF his family. That is the intention of
government. II will do injustice to no section
OF the country, and to no individual and what
ever revenue the government may fail to derive
from this exemption be made uD by passing
4 law lcvying tax upon incomes, upon the money
and the capital of the country. Let put a
burden there and take it off the poor and needy"
Much OF this speech. delivered in Congress by
William ktchin, April co. 1880. has familiar
sound today Mr.. kitchn and those who sup
ported him wanted to permit each family to have
its still and manufacture sixty gallons of
whisky or brandy year for family use, without
paying a tax. The Hobson resolution makes the
exemption general that each man manu-
facure for family any amount OF whisky or
brandy he pleases and without paying tax. Mr..
Hobson's followers also propose to make up the
deficit in Federal revenues by taxing the incomes
OF the rich. The captain and his friends have
simply turned the barrel over and dug up the old
Kitchin plan to legalize moonshining