The Washington herald., 1922-11-20
PROPOSES BEER
AND Wine TAX
T0PAY BONUS.
entten; Of Illinois, Drafts Bill
To Satisfy Soldiers and
Thirsty. at Same Time
TO OFFER MEASURE TODAY
Says Legislation Would Wipe
Out National Debt in 20
Years; Confident Of Passage

6elutrO0ucuOu on Ine eOiolerB
bonus bin. ~ passed by the last
Congress and vetoed by President
Harding, win be made by Con-
grsssman Fred A. Britten. OF n
iinois. today. with a provision for
raising the money through a tax
on light wines and beer.
The tax as proposed by Mr.. Brit
ten win be s1e a barrel on
domestic beer. $40 a barrel on i'm
ported beer. SO a gallon on i'm
ported champagne, s5 a gallon on
imported still wines. and 50 a gal
Ion on domestic wines. The bill. n
passed. will permit the manufacture
of per cent beer and IL per cent
wine, with the provision that each
State may give its own definition
OF the words Intoxicating liquor"
The original bonus bill will not
be altered In any respect, save the
provision for raising the money.
Following the introduction OF the
eAAA NAt AAo1EC Va ANIpA trChIaINtc
today. II will be referred to the
Ways and Means Committee where
action win be taken on It. accord
ing to Mr.. Britten. immediately
after disposition Of the ship subsidy
bin.
SEEKS HARDNG's HELP.
The measure will undoubtedly
pass this session II President Hard
ing gives it his support" the H.
nnois Congressman said yesterday.
In vetoing the bill, the President
stated that his reason for doing so
was because no provision was
made for obtaining the money.
My bill not only provides funds
for payment, Of a soldiers bonus.
but will, in twenty year,. pay off
our debt Of $4,000. .0o0. 900.
THE time Ia particularly ripe for
the imposition of a 500. 900 900 an
nusl tax, which will hurt no one,
but on the contrary will meet with
the hearty approval Of more than
SO, 100000 people, whose personal
liberty has been challenged by a ri
diculous law that is being broken
daily in every State in the Union"
In order 20 prevent the return of
the corner saloon, provision IN made
that all such beverages are 20 be
consumed away from the place Of
purchase.
into the pockets of bootlegRers and
moonshiners will be employed in le-
gitimate channels and the hip
EIA- Ill - - l.
past" Mr.. Britten said. The nomi-
nal tax which the bill will impose
will be more cheerfully paid than
any other tax the government ever
levied" he stated.
PREDICTS PASSAGE.
The Congressman feels certain
OF the passage Of the measure and
was confident yesterday that the
present body VIII vote its adoption.
Mr.. Britten pointed out that be
fore the war this country manu-
factured large Quantities Of excel
lent still wines and champagnes
besides 65.5oo.0 900 barrels Of beer
per annum. In the manufacture
OF this large amount OF liquors
thousands Of men are employed.
Many Of the former service men
now out Of employment were en-
gagged In some branch OF the liquor
industry before the prohibition act
was passed. Therefore, he ers
planned. with the passage OF a law
allowing the reopening Of breweries
and wine stills. not only will money
for q bonus be provided. but places
Of employment for many thousands.
We should put off no longer
the passage Of a measure which
will assure the former service man
q practical token of the apprecia-
ton OF his nation for the part
he played In the great war" he
asserted. The former service man.
In many cases. In out Of en-
ployment. rasred. hungry and
often unfit for the battle with
life. as a direct result Of the warl
There can be no doubt that hS
should receive some compensated
at the hands OF the country fof|
which he sacrificed all. In MANY
cases Q bonus will provide just
the amount needed 70 turn a forl
mer service man from q burden on
a community 20 one OF its most
valued business men and citizens. \