New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-27
OPIUM AND LIQUOR USE
At HIGH WATER MARK
Internal Revenue Report Shows
Startling Gains in Both
TraffiCS.
0LEO FRAUDS DISCLOSED
Public and Government Cheated
by Butter Dealers Because
Of Law, Says Com
missioner.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau.

nsrcm The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Nov. 2S.-startling increases
m tho smoking Of opium. ia oleomargarine
frauds and in the production of distilled
spirits are shown in the report Of Royal e.
Caben. Commissioner Of Internal Revenue
Just made public.
The last year Witnessed the largest pro-
auction Of distilled spirits in the history Of
this country. I75,4O2.Sa5 gallons having been
produced. representing an increase Of $685.
AZ gallons over the largest previous produc-
ton. which was IN 1907. and an increase OF
1914, $50 gallons over 1910 The production
of beer ale. etc. amounted 20 65,g6S5l bar
rels, nearly 700 barrels more than In Inc
previous record year. 1910. The amount Of
iouor held in bonded warehouses for ripen-
ing now reaches the enormous total Of 2i9'-
g7aS4s gallons
Moonshning is Common.
Referring to prohibition states, the Com
missioner says.
large number Of the field force has
hetn used during the year in detecting iIilclt
distlling, which practice has increased
steadily, especially in those states IN winch
prohibitory laws have been enacted. Dur
ing the last fiscal year there were Sei re5
with 19l1 for the fiscal year lslO. me
prevalence Of this practice VIII be better
understood when II is recalleSdd %, tnat tnelS
were operated last year only 923 registered
distilleries in the entire United states
Investigations made by the Bureau Of
internal Revenue disclose the fact that
The smoking Of opium Is a widespread Vice
IN this country and that opium 'joints
are in existence in practically all cities OF
any size. Mr.. Cabell says.
While the present statutes forbid the i'm
nortstion Of opium for other than medic-
nal purposes the statute IA fataly ue
fective in that Il relates only 70 OPIUM IT.
legally imported and has no Application 70
opium domes tcally produced or which was
iTnported prior to the enactment or thS
statute There is no law enabling the gov
eminent TO follow the handling OF opium
after II has once passed the Custom House
or 10 proceed against II unless II mas peen
illegally manufactured FOR smoking pui-
poses ,.-. &c.,
4he gum opium itself or from various prep
arations thereof is such a simple process
shat can be carried on so easliy WIN tl3e
simplest utensils IN the privacy or a PIT
xats 6vellinR that detection OF the manu-
facturers is very difficult proposltlon. IN
various sections quite NUMBER OF MANI
featuring establishments have, however
1een located and seized and some conVlc-
lions nave been secured, with some prose-
buttons still pending. II this insldlous We
is ~ he sllccessfuliv dealt with there must
he enacted complete system Of federal
laws regulating the Importation manu-
f9Cture and sale Of al opium and It's
derivatives.
=recisl attention is given by Commission
c- Cabeu 70 the serious defects in the cleo
margarine statutes. "It IS confidently be
fcved." he says, that the oleomargarine
,av. is Al this time corrupting and debauch-
Ing more taxpayers ana affords the oppor-
unity for greater fraud upon the public
.b., any other statute with which the in
ternai revenue bureau has TO deal"
Many Violations Of Law,
During the last year there were 1915
,.iolaticns Of the law and regulations re-
ror,ed. Of which eighty-two cases were Of
Illicit manufacture, forty violations by
wholesale dealers and 1855 by retail deal
ers In a considerable number of cases
where prosecutions were instituted says
Commissioner CabeI. convictions have been
secured, carrying sentences Of imprison-
rnent. and in addition thereto $So.7o6 45 was
collected from fines, compromises and as
easements Of special and stamp taxes grow
ing out Of these violations
The Commissioner then describes the
methods used in realizing the oleomargarne
tubs. and gives as q remedy the following
II is strongly urged that there should be
complete revision Of tho oleomargarne
statutes that the double rate of taxation
should be abolished and that q fat rate be
adopted in lieu thereof; that the practice
81 handling oleomargarine I'M bulk or IN
large packages be prohibited; that the
1uanufa ctuTers be required TO pack cleo
lnarearine I'm approved statutory packages
running from one-haf to 1--WE pounds, and
that each and every package shall be
scaled with revenue stamp affixed that
TIE product shall be sold only in original
unbroken packages and that heavy penal
tea Be denounced for removal from fac
forv in other than stamped packages and
1or any dealer having in his possession or
selling any oleOmargarine not covered by
proper stamps, and that heavy penalties
he denounced for selling oleomargarne as
butter