Evening star., 1913-12-04
BAN UPON NEAR BEER"
NOW BEING CONSIDERED
Inquiry as to Whether Product
Falls Under Excise
Law Asked.
Excise Board Declares Situation De-
mands Immediate and Ag-
gressive Attention.

Sale of near beer in the District OF
Columbia may come under the ban OF the
excise board. In a communication sent
to the Commissioners today the board
asks the assistance of the corporation
counsel, major and superintendent OF po-
lice and health officer in an investigation
to determine whether the dispensing OF
this product is in violation Of the excise
law The request is made because OF
situation described as demanding I'M
mediate aggressive attention.
The Commissioners attention is d.
rected to the fact that 931 or more
United States internal revenue special
tax receipts have been issued to liquor
dealers in the District for the present
fiscal year. whereas only 5oI Wnolesaie
and barroom licenses have been issued
under the excise law. 1t is believed by
the board that a number of these in
ternal revenue special tax receipts
have been issued to persons selling So
called near beers, which may De In
violation of law.
Laws Provisions Cited.
Provisions OF the excise law as to the
Interpretation to be placed upon the is
suance Of internal revenue tax recelpts
and designating what liquors shall ne
deeemed of the intoxicating variety are
quoted in the communication submitted
to the Commissioners.
PARAGRAPH % of the law states that the
issuance of internal revenue speclai laA
receints to wholesale or retail dealers IN
distilled or malt liquors at any place
within the District shall he prlma 1acle
evidence Of the sale of intoxicating liquors
by such persons at such places.
1t Is also stipulated that no per-
nnnlrtnerSn1D.
ton. club or corporation shall manu- :
frcture, sell, offer for sale. keep for
sale. traffic in, barter. exchange Tor
goods. give away or otnerWlse Iurhisn'
IN the District of Columbia. any in
toxicating liquors. except as herein
after provided. Wherever the term
'intoxicating liquors Is used in this
section it shall be deemed to include
whisky. brandy. gin. wine, cordials'
rum, ale. porter beerA hard or fer
mented cider. and all other fermente1,
distilled. sp.rituous, vinous and malt
liquors. and every mixture of liquors
which shall contain more than per
centum by weight. of alcohol and any
mixture Of LIQUOR which shall contain
less than per centum of alcohol II
the same shall he Intoxicating"
Must Make Tests.
Assistance desired of the health office
IN the proposed investigation is for the
purpose of establishing. by chemical
analysis. whether NEAR beer" and other
liquors, for the sale Of which no license
has been issued by the excise board,
contain more than per cent OF alcohol,
and, Il less than per cent, whether or
not they are intoxicating
The excise board today also called
the attention of the Commissioners to
the fact that it is advised that intoxl-
eating liquors are being sod by pro-
prietors OF certain houses OF dlsrepute
i'm the District.
Licenses have not been issued to these
persons under the excise law, and 1t Is
respectfully requested that the major
and superintendent Of police he IN
s.ructed to investigate and report on
the matter" states the communication
1T is suggested that if the proprietors
of these houses are found to be selling
Intoxicating liquors they should al
least be notified to cease the practice
| Immediately"