Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-12-31
LIQUOR NOT HARD
TO OBTAIN IN CITIES
Prohibition Law Has Not
Made the State Dry, Much
Booze" Being Shipped
in and offered for Sale at
High Prices.

Atlanta, Ga, Dec. 30.-There seems
to be some mistake about the present
prohibition laws, which went into eff
feet May / last, settling the liquor
question in Georgia. No such intense
campaign as there was prior to the
enactment of the new laws is on, but
there is agitation regarding phases of
the question.
In some cities in Georgia liquor may
be bought at any time. 1t is true
that it is not difficult to get bottle
OF whisky in Atlanta, for instance, but
owing 10 the fact that blind tigers are
taking considerably longer chances
than formerly, the price has material
~ advanced Dollar liquor sells for
about $3.50 bottle, while some of the
better grades run as high as 81 for
a short quart.
An Atlanta man who was in Macon
recently and wanted a bottle of whis-
ky mentioned the fact to a friend. He
got it in few minutes. Reports
reach here from other cities in Geor-
ga where whisky may be obtained
without material difficulty, all of
which is apparently indicative of the
fact that there has been loosening
of the reins since May !.
1t is natural that these conditions
should have produced some further
agitation, and the rapid increase in
liquor shipments has had somewhat Of
the same effect. Atlanta increased
from some 1000 shipments in May to
more than 10000 in October, and the
holiday record will probably pass go
900.
MAY SEEK TO CHANGE LAW.
While the situation has not brought
forth suggestions Of any additional
legislation in 50 far as the prohibition
organization is concerned there is
considerable quiet talk, and efforts
in that direction would produce no
surprise
There has been much talk about
endeavoring TO secure congressional
action closing the mails to liquor
literature and solicitation of liquor
orders. and also prohibiting the inter
state transportation of wet goods.
Georgia senators and congressman
have introduced bills along these lines
in both houses.
But it is an interesting fact that
the only suggestion of additional state
legislation has come from the other
side Former Representative Wohl-
Wender of Muscogee. who comes to
the next state senate, long we'll
known opponent OF prohibition legis-
lation, now proposes 10 tighten the
reins as they have never been tight
nned before. 1t is announced that he
will introduce and urge a bill putting
specific tax of So on every ship
Of hra, tnfA ata 20
The average package OF liquor now
brought into the state costs the re-
cipient somewhere around $3.50 to SO
or his two quarts, express and all.
WOHLWENDER BILL FAILED.
When the fight over the present
prohibition laws was on in the house
Wohlwender offered bill making 1t
misdemeanor for any person to have
liquor in his possession or to take
drink. He said he wanted to test the
sincerity of the prohibitionists; that IL
they wanted real prohibition, here was
4 chance for them to get 1t. The bill
failed to pass.
Now WohlWcnder proposes another
test. Georgia cannot close the mails
or shut off interstate commerce. but
she can put high tax on 1t, he holds.
The last Legislature did put tax of
10 cents on each package, Of which
3 cents goes to the express clerk and
the balance to the ordinary who keeps
the record. The state gets all that is
eft over above certain figure.
IL 10-cent tax Is legal. why not a
Is tax, Wohlwender asks. He pro-
noses to pay some of II to the ex-
press clerk and to the ordinary, but
that the bulk OF 1t shall go to the
state treasury