Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1911-03-17
WHAT is Effect
OF PROHIBITION?

/ Washington, Mar. 1.-THE last
annual report of the commissioner
of internal revenue, showing that
there had been Il large increase both
in production and consumption of in
toNicating liquors during the year
1910 over 1909, raised an interest
ing question in the session of con-
gress just ended as to whether the
closing of saloons really tended to in
crease consumption. The house COM
mittee ON interstate and foreign COM
merce gave number of hearings
concerning the question. Many per-
sons were brought before the commit
tee and otherwise a large amount of
data was closely examined.
Congressman James M. Miller.
joint author of the Miller-C rtis bill
in the house, was asked for an ex-
preston of opinion just before he
went to his home in Kansas today.
His statement is especially signif-
cant, not only because he is men,
Der of the committee which has been
investigating the subject, but also be-
cause the state from which he comes
Kansas-has in recent years been
the battle-ground of many hot liquor
contests.
cit is not denied" Mr.. Miller
said THAT the amount of both dis
titled spirits and fcrmented liquors
produced and consumed during the
last fiscal year has increased over the
amount for 1909. 1t is highly inter
esting to note, however, that there
is a very material decrease in both
the consumption and production of
liquors in the revenue districts COM
prlsing prohibition states, while the
increase is largely in three or four of
the states where the license policy
prevails.
1t is important to notice, also,
that while there is an increase in the
total production and consumption of
liquor, as compared with the year
before, yet there is Il substantial de-
crease in comparison with the fiscal
year of 1907. The reason for this
showing is indicated by the fact that
while during 1910 there was no back
ward step, and some additional coun-
ties and communities were put i'm the
dry column, yet the number of
those districts that became dry dur
ing 1910 was not so large as the ag-
gregate of those which went dry
during either of the two previous
years, consequently, the amount of
decrease in the sections that were
added to the no license list was not
sufficient to Offset the continued in
crease in the large cities and license
states.
During the fiscal year of 1910
there were the following increases
Alabama and Mississippi, 176 gal
Ions; Georgia, 7,245; Kansas and
Oklahoma, 357; Maine, Vermont and
New Hampshire, 597; North Carroll
ma, 271, 160; Tennessee, AGO, 18I.
In contrast to these figures those
containing the three largest license
cities in the United States are MS
follows: New York, increase, 2, 1OO,-
l79l; Pennsylvania. l, 1928, 147; Hi
nois, 234, OO5."
Upon being asked in what manner
the various states might be enabled
to stop the interstate shipment of
liquor, Mr.. Miller said:
GAS we view the problem, there
are four possible ways by which the
states may be given the necessary re-
lief:
81. Action such as is contemplated
by the MilerCurtis bill, which now
attempts to remove an impeachment
which exists by reason of the absence
OF specific utterance on the part of
congress, thus allowing imported Ii
quors to fall within the jurisdiction
upon arrival Immediately within the
boundary of the state to which con-
ignment has been made and thereby
become mingled with the common
mass of property within the state.
"2. Action by which interstate
shipments of Intoxicating liquors may
be forbidden altogether, as in the
case of lottery tickets.
3" Action forbidding partial in
terstate shipments of liquor, when
consigned to those VINO are not au-
thorized by state law to dispose of
them.
"a. The adoption of an amendment
to the interstate commerce clause of
the constitution, which, without
question, will give congress full
power to take whatever action is
necessary in giving relief to the
state"