The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-13
DRY LAWS PUT Big
HOLE IN LIQUOR TAX
Decrease in Consumption in
Y. s. This Year Nearly
100000 Gallons.
AMMUNITION % "ANTIS"

WASHINGTON. Dec. 12.-Commissioner
Of Internal Revenue Osborne attributes
to the effect Of prohibition laws the
tremendous decrease In the amount Of
liquors consumed In the United States
In the fiscal year 1915. In his annual
report. made public to-day. Commits
sioner Osborne points out hat whereas
there were more than $4,000 900 barrels
Of %fernented liquors removed and the
taxes paid in 1913 and $4,000, 900 In
1914. only 59.746.7O1 barrels were con-
sumed In the past year. Similarly there
was a decrease In the Withdrawals OF
distilled spirits from 1873, 900, 900 gallons
In 1914 to 12<,155.17s gallons In 1915.
This. in The main. can probably be
attributed to the prohibition laws" OBJ
serves the Commissioner. Alabama,
Arkansas, Arizona. Georgia. Kansas.
Maine. Mississippi. North Carolina. North
Dakota. Oklahoma, Tennessee and West
Virginia are operating under prohibition
laws. and Colorado. Idaho. Iowa, Oregon.
South Carolina, Virginia n Washing
ton have passed prohibition laws which
will become effective In the near future.
and undoubtedly this has had and will
continue to ave effect upon Internal
revenue receipts"
Commissioner Osborne does not mem
ton In connection with the liquor de-
crease the tremendous decrease in the
consumption OF cigars. which has been
cited by opponents OF prohibition as
evidence hat a "a OF economy which
swept over the country after the out
break Of the European war WAS in "A
large Measure responsible for the slow
up In the consumption of both luxuries.
Say Economy Il Caase.
Anti-prohibitionists have emphasized
| the fact that the country consumed ap-
proximately $50. 900. 900 fewer cigars.
| while resorting To an increased consump-
ton Of cigarettes exceeding $40, 900 900.
as Il probable effect of economy. which
bore no relation to the spread OF re-
form laws. They rave argued from this
that "A large measure OF the decrease
in liquor consumption should be attrib-
| uted to the same cause.
In another section of his report the
, Commissioner says
/ Under the conditions here noted no
| fiscal increase in revenue from distilled
! spirits during the current hscal year
can be reasonably expected. Indeed, a
gradual decrease in annual receipts from
, this source. IN consequence OF the State
prohibition laws. may. 1 think. be safely
predicted
The Commissioners comment In the
present report upon bookkeeping in pro-
hibition States. or the Illicit distilla-
ton of liquor. Is less emphatic thar in
other years. In regard TO this. he said
last year:
"Bootlegging Is principally carried on
In the States operating under prohibition
laws and appears to be n OF the
hardest problems the revenue officers
! are called upon TO face"
In the present report the Commits
sioner says:
The business of the 'moonshiner In
Uhiskcy in the southern states, from
the number OF Illicit distllleries reported
seized during the fiscal year ending June
SO. 1915. appears 10 he increasing. There
were reported. $50. Illicit distilleries
destroyed during the fiscal year 1915.
AS against 2.617 destroyed during the
Ascal year ending June 30. 1914"