The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-03-11
MORE BOOZE
Prohition Docs MOI Affect The ConsuUp-
ton Of Liquor.
MORE USED THAN EVER
According to the Annual Report De.
spite the Closing of Many Saloons
in Various States, Production of
Intoxicating Liquors for 1910 Ex-
ceeded That of 1909.

Intoxicating Liquors Tor loAV Ex-
ceeded That of 1909.
The last annual report of the COM
missioner of internal revenue, show
i ing that there had been large in
crease both in production and con-
sumption of intoxicating liquors dur
ing the year 1910 over 1909, raised
an interesting question in the session
of Congress just ended as to whether
the closing of saloons really tended
to increase consumption, says the
Washington correspondent of The
News and Courier. The House COM
mittee on Interstate and foreign
commerce gave a number of hearings
concerning the question. Many per-
sons were brought before the COM
mittee and otherwise large amount
Of data was closely examined.
Congressman James. H. Miller,
Joint author of the Miller-Curtis 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 significant
not only because he is member of
the committee which has been In
vestigating 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.
"It is not denied" Mr.. Miller said,
'that the amount Of both distilled
and fermented liquors produced and
consumed during the last fiscal year
has increased over the amount for
l1sO9. 1t Is highly interesting to
note, however, that there is very
material decrease in both the con-
sumption and production Of liquors
In the revenue districts, comprising
prohibition Statesu while the increase
is largely in three or four Of the
States where the license policy pre-
walls.
tsIty.is important to notice "als3 that
l.while there Is an increase in the to-
tai production, and consum ption of Il:
lquor, as compared with the yehr be-
fore, yet there is a substantial de-
crease in comparison with the fisUal
Iyear of 1909. The reason for this
Eshowing is indicated by the fact that
while during 1910 there was no back.
ward step, and some additional coun-
tiles and communities were in tine
I"dry' column, yet the number Of these
districts that became dry during
1910 was not so large as the agsre'
gate OF those which went dry dur.
ling either of the two previous years;
subsequently the amount Of decredse
in the sections that were added to the
Ino-license list was not sufficient tc
offset the continued increase IN the
large cities and license States.
During the fiscal year of 1916
there were the following decreases
Alabama and Mississippi, 176 gal
Ions; Georgia, 7,245; Kansas and
lOklahoma, 357; Maine, Vermont and
New Hampshire, 597; North Caro-,
lima, 271, ,160; Tennessee, 460,1S1.
"In contrast to these figures those
containing the three largest license
cities in the United States are as fol-
lows: New York, increase, 2,1G0,-
l791; Pennsylvania, 1,52S,147; ILL
nois, 234,OO5.'
Upon being asked in what manner
the various States might be enabled
to stop the Interstate shipment OF
liquor, Mr.. N'iller said: GAS We
view the problem, three or four pos
sible ways by which the State may
be given the necessary relief.
1. Action, such as is contemplated
by the Miller-Curtis bill, which now
attempts to remove an impedimcnt
which now exists by reason Of the
absence of a specific utterance. on the
part of Congress, thus allowing i'm
ported liquors to fall within the juris-
diction upon arrival Immediately
within the boundary Of the State to
which consignment has been made,
and thereby become mingled with
the common mass Of property within
the State.
2. Action by which the Interstate
shipments Of Intoxicating liquors may
be forbidden altogether, as in tine
case of lottery tickets.
8. Action forbidding partial Inter-
State shipments Of liquor when con-
signed to those who are not author
lied by State law to dispose of them.
T. 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 nee
essary in giving relief TO the State.
This latter suggestion is condi-