The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-08


senator's talk about wanting thor
yugh understanding Of the matter.
There is nothing to understand ex-
sept one thing, and that Is that breads
|1NMl help US win this war more than
Swniskey. We must have
bread to win the war. but do not have
% have whiskey to win. That Is all
there II to 1t.
FL Senator K D. Mcclellan, of Ten
asssee: OF course have considered
She revenue feature. 1t will take
kway q great deal Of revenue, but 1t
VII make a better nation, q happier
nation, q more efficient nation, a
Idnher nation. a nation more able to
Dear the tax burdens that must be
n placed upon 1t in this great crisis. II
" this government must depend upon
n thS revenue derived from liquor TO
uphold it. we ought to change our
xmethods and subjects OF taxation. We
ought to raise the revenue in some
other way. We ought to use these
Z grains for the purpose of giving sus-
Z tenance to our people. OF giving the
bread OF life to our people. SO that
they can be efficient and sober, ana
X 20 enable them to raise money TO
Z pay the taxes that are imposed. Let
4 us impose taxes on some other sub
N jects Of taxation.
E / am willing as one man TO de-
nauch the American people In order
so raise revenue for the government.
would gladly vote today to Abolish
the sale OF liquors throughout the
United States and lose every dollar or
the revenue. We have thrashed TINS
revenue argument out time and. time
again. We have had 1t UP in Tehnes-
Aec time and time again. There we
have lost all the revenue that came
from liquor, but at the same time our
state II more prosperous and the peo-
pie are happier and better and more
y able to pay taxes than they have ever
been before, The same rule which
applies to a state applies. in my judg-
ment, to the United States. ] believe
that II we had no liquor and no reve-
nuo from liquor our nation would De
hGppter and more prosperous .ahd
better. nation. and more able 10 pay
thess extraordinary taxes that we
must impose. In taxing liquor we
| merely tax the people who drink
liquor. and make the hquoF oea'eF
our tax collector.
Senator ]. c. w. Beckham. or Ken
lucky: The liquor interests of this
country have been driven to their
| last stand In their fight against pro-
hibttion. The only argument how
upon which they rely lis the argument
of revenue and taxation. They would
-
nation, that 1t is important, III not
eseantiai that we should have this
product as a means OF raising rev.
-erue -fhey have had abandon
every other argument Tho progress
az scientifc and medical investigation
has proven every other argument
that they have advanced failacious'
ana believe that this Is eqaaiiy iaa-
| iacious with the others.
n
| the LIQUOR industry pays d revenue
In this country. In nation. In state
in county. and in municipality. AS
matter OF fact the liquor INDUSTRY
nsvs NO revenue a. all. II Is merely.
toa email extent, a tax collector anu
itafs the worst tax collector ever
known. Those engaged In the manu-
-%nrtura and in the sale of alcoholic
liquors pay no taxes except ~hat shes
collect from the consumers
n this amendment should go
thrcurh II might be true that the con :
mitteo on nnance would have TO ma
snna other method OF raising tnis
revenue; but you arc not aes1ros .as
q source OF reFspne when you sssai,a
Art this country. The revenues
t,,rr.d In by the liquor interests in
Nj. country are paid by the consum-
-. tfdirectiy. You would have 10
rh.rv. ta1etax system To snIne exIshl
- that much money in some otner
-. INT / believe that the consumer
[rs,Id be In much better poss,loil
II nav this revenue In some othel
way than to pay II through 'he ''auo'
process. 49, ~. c.r-
...ts~a is but IL has been estimated
ehAt = very small percentage OF tne
1900 that is paid over the counter
.aioon by the consumer goes
srto. ma treasury of the state Oh .no
nsfion. I have heard IT stateu sn ,s
I, r,xa not over 20 per cent ~ wou,u
4. r,,,ch better to leave In the hahas
g ~ consumer all of the money
-. '. pays for liquor and seno
80. ~ rsllector to him direct. or IN
sa,r. nther way than this way. TO COZ
:eet what you may need from "''"'
RI. other argument that has been
.nvsnced is one of constituuohai''s'
- ,.co-nszed today, especially
.s.s. the outbreak of the European
- ,hat nne Of the most Important
s.strrns Of national defense ana saie-
- I. M. question of liquor regulation
.,-ch,h:tion. We have seen inc
snvsrnment OF Europe, one by one,
ssnr. this war began. adopt laws -
nroh.bit entirely. or to restllct ~
sU,srts during the war / believe.
snerefore, that this Is matter OF
ssnommon defense"
nsrator A, ]. Gronna, OF North Da-
Nofa. Anything that will produce el
Nciency. anything that Will conseIve
~ food products OF this nation wn'cn
must be conserved, should be aons.
NNoause, bxsad upon the report l'aue
~. ether day by the agricultural as
r.rtmsnt, We know that the produe :
MON win 20 'sss than 400 w ,eo NOV
Cus s,,cr 4, IN. history rt this cour.
49, nav. W. producai A. much az
HI. 600. 900 bushels Of spring wnsa :
sThat makes total OF less tnan eev..
eAn 600 busheis--iess than tho amount
"a. consume IN the United States N
hut regardless Of that. ] believe We =,
.Acnid do all that - In our power C
..,s the 11o.00O.O00 bushels OF
Svssn used in the Manufacture OF a
XS.itr uoucrs That y the amount
Ik