Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-06-07

Thursday, June 4, 1911
THE Senate finance committee, which
is engaged in formulating the new wal
tax bill, agreed upon liquor regulation
amendment on Monday last. 1t was
decided to place practically prohibitive
tax upon the distillatiou of whiskey and
other alcoholic spirits for beverage pur-
poses. In addition TO a tax OF $3.50 {
gallon on such liquors, tax OF $40 ;
bushel is to be levied upon all grain
cereal or other food-Stuffs used in tht
manufacture OF whiskey and other spirit:
for use as a beverage, which woulc
amount to S. TO SO a gallon. Increased
taxes of S. gallon upon molasseS, syrups
and substitutes used in distillation are
also provided for. A further amendment
prohibits the importation OF any liquors
used as beverage if distilled from food
stuffs. Wine and beer are not subject tc
the above provisions.
II is said that there is sufficient whiskey
in the bonded warehouses TO last for two
or three years, at the present rate OF con-
sumption. The whiskey manufacturers
say that they will not be able to operate
their distiIeries under these restrictions.
The advocates oil prohibition will rejoice
at this curtailment OF the evil use OF good
foodstuff and the decrease in liquor pro-
duction. In our opinion, however, Con-
gress would be justified in still more
strenuous anti-liquor legislation, and we
believe that it will come to this fthe war
shall continue. II is now unlawful 10
sell liquor to a soldier in uniform. Why
not protect all the people of the country :?
A MEETING OF Charles Town citizens
was held last week, at which time an or
ganization was formed and committees
were appointed for the purpose OF induc-
ing, il possible, the selection OF Jefferson
County as attaining camp and drill ground.
We cannot but express our opposition to
the movement, for we believe that it
would be public calamity instead OF a
public benefit
The government, We understand, re-
quires some 30, 900 acres of land for such
a camp, for in addition 10 the housing OF
5000 men in training, ample grounds
would be necessary for drilling and ma
neuvering. Many farm buildings would
beiabandoned and perhaps torn down,
orchards would be cut down or made
worthless, and OF course all crops would
OF necessity be destroyed. Itisestimated
that more than one-third OF The tlllable
land of the county would be an unproduc-
i've waste.
With government and State officials and
public-spirited people calling loudly for
conservation OF products and increased
crops, il would be little short of a crime
to destroy the wheat and corn and other
supplies that are now growing and are
hereafter to be grown in this the most
fertile and productive county in the State
and one OF the best farming sections in
the world. To destroy or put out OF use
such splendid agricultural regior would
be inexcusable, and we cannot think that
those in authority would agree 10 such
proposition.
The worst feature of such a camp in
our opinion, however, would not be the
destruction OF crops and the damage TO
the property occupied. These would be
we'll paid for. But the actual injury and
moral disadvantage caused by an army of
$4,000 men from every station OF life TO
the country adjacent TO their camping
place would be terrible; and when there
should be added the presence of thous-
ands OF camp followers-gamblers,
thieves, bootleggers, thugs, degraded
women and the other desperate characters
that gather wherever there is opportunity
TO seize upon such prey-the situation
would be disastrous beyond conception.
The soldiers themselves would be under
some sort OF restraint, but who would
control the camp followers or exercise
authority over the evil men and women
who would flock 10 our peaceful country
side?
We think that no pecuniary benefit could
possibly compensate for the moral devas-
tation that such a camp would inevitably
bring upon the people OF our county.