The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-17
Hoover Issues Official Orders to
All DiStilIerS.
Hike in Price Expected To Fol-
low Closing Down.
MAKE BEER WEAKER DRINK?
All Breweries May Make 2 Per
Cent in Near Future.
This Would Be Big Saving of
the Grain Supply.

Washington, Aug. 17.-Not another
drop of whisky will be manufactured
in the United States after II o'clock
on the night of September 8. All
other distilled spirits for use as bev-
erages will cease to be manufactured
at the same time.
This ruling was made by the food
administration after it had been bonn
barded for several days with a cease
less flow of kilograms from distillers
asking for specific information. The
food control law provided that the
production should cease thirty days
after approval of the measure. The
bill was approved August 10 and con-
sequently its provisions would go into
effect midnight, September 9. This
being Sunday and as the Internal rev.
enue laws prevent the operation of
distillers on the Sabbath, a question
was raised in the minds of the dis
tillers.
The limitation is place.. in section
Is of the food control law, which
reads:
That from and after thirty days
from the date of the approval of this
act no foods, fruits, food materials or
feeds shall be used in the production
of distilled spirits for beverage pur-
poses"
The food administration has been
informed that distillers were planning
to continue manufacture up to the last
minute. that is. to place the grains in
the watts and allow the process of fer
mentation to continue after the limit
prescribed by the law
Prices To Go Up.
Peoria, Ill, Aug. 17-Whisky may
be expected to advance sharply in
price on September s, when distil-
leries must quit making spirits for
beverage purposes, Peoria manufac-
turers agreed today. They said the
measure of the probable advance
would depend upon the increased
demand.
Whisky win be quoted at s22o a
gallon on change today. Prices are
fixed by representatives of all local
distilleries.
Manufacturers said they had al
ready determined to make no spirits
after IL p. m. on September 8, the
Administrator Hoover. They will con-
tinue to make alcohol for export and
for domestic use in manufacture of
munitions, altho the demand is limited
at this time.
Make Per Cent Beer.
Washington, Aug. 17.-Reduction of
? per cent of the alcohol contents of
beer is expected to be Herbert Hoov-
er's next grain conservation step.
OIOWlHS Ills OIutI " SlOp uiStlild-
ton of spirits after IL p. m. Septem-
Der 8, Hoover is said to have decided
beer strength must be reduced from
its present Y to per cent alcohol
to save 100000 bushels of grain.
Such action would not mean a reve-
nue. loss to the government but should
it be found necessary to reduce the
alcoholic contents further a loss OF
100000 would result. England
has been forced to reduce beer
strength.
Whisky rs Cents a Glass.
Cincinnati, o., Aug. 17.-What nan
on manufacture does not do to the
price of whisky, proposed higher taxes
probably WILL local distillers said to-
day when they were told September
8 is last day for distilling.
Sharp advances are not likely al
that date, distillers said, but with an
added excise levy, look for whisky al
rs cents a glass.
Stocks on hand will last two OF
three years, dealers said. If the pro-
pOsal to boost the tax from $1.10 to
1920 goes thru, whisky will mount
from its $1.25 quart to nearly So al
once, according to dealers.
They don't expect the government
to buy liquor stocks to make alcohol
That would be too COSTLY