Connecticut western news., 1917-06-07
PROHIBiTION IN
 GUISE OF TAXES
New Plan to Stop DiSIiIling
 During tha Var.
BEER AND WINE LET ALONE

Importation of Liquors Also Forbidden During War In Amendment to Rev. enue Bill Accepted by Senate Finance Cemmittee-Levy on Liquor Distil- ling Materials Is In Addition to Ex- isting Taxes.
 Prohibition will be almost assured prohibitive taxes accepted by the sen ate finance committee on ingredients entering into the manufacture of dis titled spirits At the same time the committee accepted in the war revenue bill an amendment forhidding the i'm portation of distilled spirits during the war.
 The senators on the committee do mol say that the new taxes on the mgredl' ents entering into the manufacture of distilled spirits are prohibition meas, ures. But they are so high they will be effective in this direction. Molasses, sirups and substitutes are taxed $5 per wine gallon, and grain, cereals and "other edible products" and materials SEQ per bushel. These taxes are in nd. dition to the present tax on distilled spirits.
 The amendment reads as follows:
 In addition to the tax imposed by ex- istlng law on distilled spirits tEcre shall be levied, collected and paid on the ma terial from which such spirits are manu- factured, after the approval of this act the following tax: On All molasses, sirups or substitutes therefor a tax of Sj per wine gallon, and on all grain, cereals and other edible products and materials a tax of so per bushcl of iifty-siX pounds And every distillor uSiag such material shal keep such records and file such returns and bonds and the tax shall be paid al such times and in such manner and sub. iect to such credits as the commissioner of internal revenue. with the approval oi the secretary of the treasury, may pre- scribe or require.
 Provided that the disttller shall be en titled to have refunded the amount of the tax paid on such materials when the spirits manufactured therefrom are with drawn free of tax under existing law oi withdrawn and used exclusively for the manufacture or preparation Of medicine. compounds; provided further that such spirits shall Rot be withdrawn for export except upon the application of an ac credited representative nf nation now at war with the imperial German govern. ment, in which application it shall be de. clared that such spirits are withdrawn fo' use in furtherance of such war.
 As a clincher the following. amend. ment was also adopted:
 No distilled spirits manufactured after the approval of thIs act from grain, from cereals or from any edible product thereof or from molasses, sirups or any substitute therefor shall be imported into the Unit ed States, Porto Rico or the Philippine Is, lands, except for industrial, mechanical or scientific purposes under rules and regula- tions to be prescribed by the secretary of the treasury.
 The amendments are considered dras. tic, as they include not only specified materials, but the words "other edible products" which include all foodstuffs, thereby attaining the same end intend. ed for the prohibition amendments offer ed at various times during the food legislation. The committee may com. plete the bill by the end of this week or the first of next and report it to the senate.
 The committee has definitely decided not to tax beer or wines any heavier during the period of the war. 1t in. creased to $1.10 the 20 cents q gallon tax imposed by the house on brandy used in fortifying other spirits.