World War I 100 Years Ago This Week: Oct. 24-31

From The Indianapolis Star, Saturday, October 24, 1914: The effects of the European war have come to the corner saloon by way of the war tax. In an effort to replace the revenue lost with the decline of import tariffs, the tax on a barrel of beer is now $1.50 (2013: $34.39) a barrel, a raise of fifty percent.  The brewers have, in turn, raised the price to saloon keepers fifty cents (2013:  11.46) on the barrel, and the saloon keeper passes it on to the customer with smaller glasses and smaller steins. Doubtless there will be some bitter wails and protests, but in the end the customer buys; the customer would rather pay more and get less than get no beer at all. The additional tax on every barrel of beer means an immense revenue for the government.