i nyr?
h
I1
The Commoner!
m
VOL. ,17, NO. G
t
i'
i
V
r
k
Ik
I
Senators Vote Tax oh All Spirits
'',A,' yasjifcgton dispatch to tho, Now
York jle'rdlu, dated Juno 5, says:
By placing an enormous tax on all
foodstuffs used in tho manufacture
of distilled spirits, the senate finance
committeo today proposed to make
further production of whiskey and
other spirits prohibitive during the
war. If tho now section of tho rev
onuo bill agreed upon by tho com
mitteo is passed by congress; beers,
malt liquors and wines will be tho
only "war drinks" possiblo of manu
facture. In addition to the present tax of
$2.20 a gallon, liquor tax of $20 a
bushel (from $6 to $9 a gallon),
upon all grain, cereal or other food
stuffs used in manufacturing whis
key or other distilled spirits for use
as beverages was written into the
bill.
No additional tax will be placed
on distilled spirits in bond, and it is
estimated that they are sufficient to
supply the country for more than a
year.
At tho same time the committee
voted to prohibit the Importation of
any distilled spirits made from ce
reals, grains or other foodstuffs, ex
cept for mechanical or scientific pur
poses. Mr. Qoro'a Statements
Tho prohibition amendments to
tho bill were offered by Senatbr
Gore, of Oklahoma. They were
adopted by the committee by a large
majority vote.
The flrBt of the Gore amendments
roads as follows:
"In addition to tho tax imposed.
by existing law on distilled spirits,
th or o shajl be levied, collected and
paid, on the materials from which
such spirits are manufactured after
the approval of this act the follow
ing tax: On all molasses, syrups or
substitutes therefrom a tax of $5 per
wine gallon, and on all grain, ce
reals and other edible productsahd
materials a tax of $20 a bushel of
fifty-six pounds, and every distiller
using any such materials shall keep
bucIi records and file such returns
and bonds, and the tax shall bo paid
at such time and in such manner and
subject to such credits as the com
missioner of internal revenue, with;
the approval of the secretary of tlie
treasury, may prescribe or require;
provided that the distiller shall be
entitled to refund the amount of "the
tax paid on such materials when the
spir'ts manufactured therefrom aire
withdrawn from the tax under ex
isting law, or withdrawn and used
exclusively for the manufacture or,
preparation of medicinal compon
1 ents; provided further that such
jBpirits shall not be withdrawn trom
lexnort except upon tho application
of an accredited representative of a
nation now at war with the Imperial
German government, In which ap-
plication it shalj be declared that
Uuch spirits are withdrawn for use
fin furtherance of such war."
Mr. Simmons Sees Prohibition
Commenting briefly on the sec
tion, Senator Simmons, chairman of
the senate finance committee, said:
"The tax makes prohibitive the
use of grains, in the further manu-
facture of distilled spirits. There is
I no additional tax on spirits in bond."
The second Gore amendment pro
i Tides:
J "That no distilled spirits manu-
fatured from grains, cereals or any
edible products, molasses, syrups or
substitutes therefor shall be import
tAi(l into the United States from any
foreign country or Puerto Rico or
tho Philippines, except . for indus
trial, mechanical or scientific pur
poses under directions of the secre
tary of the treasury."
Tho action of the committee does
not stop tho manufacture of beers,
malt liquors or wines. It does not
prohibit the sale of intoxicants. And
it is th ) expectation of the committee
to be able to raise as much revenue,
if not more, for a year at least,. by
the prohibitive tax as would have
been raised had spirits distillation
been allowed to continue. That de
pends, however, on the duration of
the war.
It is not believed that the com
mittee's action will stop the "drys"
in congress from attempting at least
to make "War prohibition" in all
forms the law of the land during the
war. i
' There is a very active force still
trying to stop the sale as well as the
manufacture of alcohol drinks. The
senate judiciary committee has sev
eral such bills before it for consid
eration late this weekt
It is the opinion of the conserv
atives in congress that the best the
"drys" can hope for at this partic
ular time is what the senate finance
committeo proposes. They declare
it a step forward toward complete
prohibition, and that may result be
fore the end of the war.
OONdTSIVE PROOF
ARMY PROHIBITION BILL IS
EFFECTIVE
A Washington dispatch, dated
May 24, Bays: Reports reaching the
war department indicate that the
war army acts prohibiting the sale
of liquor about military camps or to
enlisted men and officers in uniform
is being observed rigidly. Even hotels
and restaurants have refused to serve
liquor to guests of army officers wear
ing the uniform on the ground that
such a sale would be to the officer
and ,would make the management
liable to a fine of not more than
$1,000 or not more than one year's
imprisonment or both, which th5 act
provides as penalty for violation.
" Tho law forbids not only sale but
evc-n possession ct liquor of any kind
at military camps or clubs. A, bill
applying similaT real r lotions to tho
navy is pending.
FOOD PRODUCTS AND DETAILS
Before starting on his tour in ad
vocacy of larger . food productions
Mr. Bryan obtained from the agri
cultural department important sta
tistics bearing on the subject. His
addresses, therefore, will not be
merely rhetorical flourishes, tickling
io me ear ana entertaining, but so
ber performances carrying facts and
practical suggestions. As he will be
treating of the soil and many of its
products, he will keep his feet on
the earth, and pack his talks with
matters of the everyday.
This example should be 'copied.
When a famous rhetorican goes upon
that tack, others should note and
follow.
The subject is as yet undeveloped.
It came upon the country as a startl
ing surprise. Suqh a thing as food
shortage in the United States had
never before been discussed except in
an. academic way. Students of gov
ernment and of our national devel
opment had now and then in speech
or writing offered some observations
under that head as something that
might happen; but the suggestions
had never reached the busy circles
HOvJ.THC, JZ) f HQV 'CAN HOO TCU. 1 . i. ' ""
MY DfAlVgATS(W(
I PCftCEiuE
PROTRJpfNJ-
COAT POCXEr
A FiFTV
Dollar,
war BONO
. -XT
J&F if
2K c WR D,f-
J: holmes, pj)
Wr
-,
!
n i.l
-From The Dallas (Texas) News.
in America engaged with ordinary
affairs.
Suddenly the subject is, in, every
body's mouth and mind". We'; are atf
talking or writing about it. It ig'nb
longer academic, but the opposite.'
We are told by the most competent
authorities that our supplies are
short and must he greatly increased.
The matter must be taken up at
once, and by as many people as can
assist in making up the deficiency.
Washington Star.
MUST DRIVE SALOON OUT IN
TIME OF WAR
From the Dallas,, Texas, ,Tews,
May 25.
"We must drive out the salpon,
in order that our soldiers may meas
ure up to a soldier's duty, and' jn,
order that our. people at home may
be strong to support the government
during the war. We must forget
that we are democrats or republicans,
and one and all unite to drive out the
greatest enemy the home has eyer
had. We must furnish everything
from men to money to maTce this
war a success."
This was the appeal of the Hon.
W. J. Bryan, syeaking at the Fair
park coliseum last night to an au
dience that filled that great building
to its capacity -the gathering being
composed of members of the general
assembly of the Presbyterian church
of the United States of America, here
from every part of the United States,
and of Dallas citizens generally, as
well as visitors from nearby points.
Mr. Bryan, who is an elder in the
Presbyterian church, came to the
general assembly by invitation to d'e-
llver a temperance address, and t
public meeting at which he spoke
was in charge of the temperance
board of the church, and was held
at the Coliseum in order to allow
tho general public, to hear the, 'dis
tinguished orator.i .
"Purchase of -Liberty Bonds"
Mr. Bryan urged;-as the patriotic
duty of every person who can do so,
a?
the purchase of Liberty Loan Bonds;
urged greater food production and,
of even more importance, the con
oervation of food and care by house
wives and all others, in avoiding
fqod waste. In this connection ho
inveighed against the use of grain to
manufacture alcoholic drinks at this
tinte, when the world needs bread.
r
NO TIME FOR THE SNEER
Irom the Asheville, N. C, Times.
Every little while the Times reads
in-some exchange a sneering commeut
concerning William Jennings Bryan.
Mr5. Bryan needs no defender hut
it is against the policy of this news
paper to overlook an opportunity of
standing up for the "other fellow."
It is ill-natured for any individual
to indulge in sarcasm concerning the
tender of services on the part of Mr.
Bryan. The tender was made in a
manly fashion and in modest and
loyal language. Mr. Bryan wrote
Mr. Wilson: '
"Please enroll me as " a private,
whenever I am needed ana assign me
to any work that I can do. Unt
called to the colors, I shall, through
the Red Cross, contribute to tno
comfort of the soldiers in tho hos
pital and, through the Y. M. j- a.
aid in safeguarding the morals of tne,
men in camp." ...nn re.
In appreciation, Mr. Wilson r
plied acknowledging the offer and
expressing his confidence In the loy
alty of Mr. Bryan. In the meant Ime,
Mr. Bryan goes steadily at a J
which marks his genuine manhood;
He speaks for Jho ja
and tho aammww1" -. ,j
w confidence , wa "" Md
Known as au uuvuv, Bryan
bitterly opposed to r, Mr.
realizes the seriousness ottne
ation and stands by niB ;u' he Com
people and their need, nn
moner, under his signature, ho so
"..'"The nation has entered e
Men differed as to the wisdom of
ing into the war, but .tno g
men has acted, and there is no
