Evening star., 1933-12-14

(Contlnued From First Page.)
this country in four months, under a
quota system.
dividual nations could be increased if
the other nations agreed to buy more
American products.
Great Britain's allowance Of GOT, 900
gallons could be raised if she agreed to
buy more American pork Great
Britain now has pork import quotas
based on averages in years before the
United States actively entered that
market.
Others Could Boost Quota.
France likewise could obtain a hike
in her 7S4,o0o-gallon quota if she in
creased imports of American apples;
Greece's $4,000 gallons would be re-
vised upward if she used more Amer
lean rice. Other farm products figure in
the talks with Ireland and Argentina.
Discussions along these lines already
have been started with ENJOYS of these
five nations. Many other countries
have made overtures to the United
States, but so far none of these has yet
reached bargaining stage.
that if there is a whisky trust. as the
Kentucky diStillers he represented be-
lieve, then they are entirely outside
Of it.
I'VE found there was trust when
we sought financing" he added
THE whisky trust has all the white
oak timber cornered for the purpose of
controlling barrel production"
Smith contended if his distillers could
make their own barrels they could
produce good whisky for $6.71 barrel
He said the barrels could be made
for S1.81 to S2.40 each, but if bought
from outsiders they would cost $3.50.
Sees Prohibitions Return.
The possibility OF return of national
prohibition if the bootlegger is not
eliminated by repeal was suggested by
Representative Cochran, Democrat, of
Missouri
Cochran warned the bootlegger will
remain unless legal liquor is sold
cheaply enough to reach the poor man.
The MiSsourian compared liquor
prices today with prohibition and pre-
prohibition days, asserting they were
too high now to drive out the illegal
traffic.
Liquor selling for S32 so case before
the medicinal liquor law Of last Winter
is now selling at $66.50, he said.
IF we are going to make a success
we have got to put good whisky in
reach of the poor man or the boot
logger will remain" Cochran said.
THE eighteenth amendment can be
put back and, as sure as We are here
today. if we do not put liquor within
the reach of all, we are going to have
reaction we will be sorry for"
Cochran did not recommend any
specific tax, but said If the committee
felt high levy was necessary, it should
be graduated tax.
Would Exempt Group.
Representative Buck, Democrat, of
California, urged that distilled wine of
less than IA per cent be permitted to go
tax free.
Speaking as a vineyardist, Buck said
the grape industry was in need of re-
Mobilization and warned that any tax
on distilled wine would fall on the
grape grower. .g
Every cent of tax on wine means
tax of 81 ton on grapes" Buck said.
He added the American people must
be educated to drink wine and there
was no way to estimate consumption.
As a maximum wine tax schedule
BUCK suggested.
Distilled wine of IA per cent or less
of alcohol, 10 cents gallon; 14-21 per
cent, 20 cents over 81 per cent, 40
cents; carbonated wine, 20 cents; ma
turally fermented champagne, S1.20;
brandy used for fortifying, 20 cents.
Buck also pointed out American pro-
ducers will not be able to supply de-
mand for some time, and hence there
is no reason to boost tariff duties on
wine imports. Wine must be aged from
one to four years, he said, and the
domestic product will have to await the
process.
Smith told the legislators a tax of
$3.50 gallon would be "a poor way to
raise revenue"
Sees Racketeer Control.
eff you make the tax too high you
will keep the bootleggers and racketeers
who are now in charge of the industry"
he testified.
THE whisky business, with the ex-
ception of one or two New York bank
ing houses, is now owned by foreigners"
Smith testified whisky could be manu-
factured for II to Is cents a gallon and
aged within a year.
He recommended q maximum tax Of