New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-07-01
TROUBLE OYER NEW LAW.
Revenue officers E1pect LiUely
Times IN North Carolina.
fFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.l

Washington. June 30.-The Commissioner of
Internal Revenue expects a most interesting
situation in North Carolina a result of the
going into effect tomorrow of the Watts law.
which. as stated in special dispatch to The
Tribune this morning, prohibits the existence
of grain" whiskey dis ,!lery outside the
limits of an Incorporated town. There are now
49S registered whskey dstieries in North
Carolina. and the large majority will be affected
by the Watts law If 1t is enforced. Most of
these are small affairs which. prior to the early
EOS were operated as Illicit Stills but which
at that time under the supervision of the
revenue officers the condition that past Of
fences would be forgiven all who registered.
AT each of these distilleries the government
is now obliged to maintain an official. usually
what is known a storekeeper gauger. These
officials draw from 50 to 81 a day, most of them
the latter compensation. and many Of these have
feared that the operation Of the new law would
deprive them of their situations, but there is
grave doubt in the Internal Revenue Commits
sloner's office as to whether the law will prove
constitutional will be enforced to any extent.
Although a letter sent out weeks ago.
inquiring what the distillers would do after the
law went into effect, no reply has thus far been
received and not one dstiller has given notice
of a change of location It is regarded as prob
able that a test Will be inaugurated soon,
and until the result is known no government
employee will be discharged.
1t is further believed that the State authorities
do not realize the magnitude of the undertaking
involved in the enforcement of the new law.
North Carolina whiskey makers have the repu-
tation of being the most lawless in the United
States. Notwithstanding the vigilance of the
revenue officers, it required last year $4,000
taken from the fraud fund to apprehend the
Illicit distillers, in addition to the regular ex-
pense; eighty-three registered dstiers were re-
ported for attempts TO defraud the government
as against eleven. the highest number in any
other State. and 23,949 gallons Of whiskey were
seized because of violations of the law Under
the provisions of the law thirty-siX tracts Of
land have been seized by the Internal Revenue
Commissioner in that State alone because Of
alleged violations, as against fifteen the high
est number in any other State The magnitude
of the industry in North Carolina is shown by
the number engaged in the business 1873 as
which ranks next. The men engaged in this
business do not readily brook interference by
Congress or legislative enactment and the reve-
nue. officials fear that if any serious attempt is
made to enforce the Watts law 1t will produce
serious trouble. and perhaps eventually result
In a great number of Illicit stills
In addition to the number of whiskey distillers
named, there are also SOB fruit distillers" who
manufacture brandy, but they are not affected
by the Watts Law Most of them are farmers
and political reasons are said to have prevented
their inclusion in the provisions Of the new
measure.