New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-08

got together it reversed itself, recon
sidering and rejecting the Cummins
amendment that kept strong spirits in
bond for the duration Of the war.
1t was a half-hearted proceeding. The
new spirit which the war has brought
which makes the talk of property
rights invoked in defence of bonded
alcohol sound hollow and inadequate,
was too strong for the midnight
manipulators.
To Take All Strong Drink
The Senate undid Cummins only to
accept Smoot. who induced it to direct
the President to commander all the
bonded strong drink in the country and
convert it into munitions of war, thus
saving grain that otherwise would
have to be used for this purpose. This
direction was finally inserted into the
bill, after the Prohibitionists had failed
to secure the adoption along with 1t Of
the Senate committee plan to put the
regulation of beer and wine in the
Presidents hands.
Beer and wine remain free. Whiskey
goes. when the stocks in the saloons
are sold, probably never to be sold IN
this country again.
II is a hard and unexpected blow for
the distillers. They probably looked
forward TO being forbidden TO manu-
facture more liquor Food conserva-
ton plainly required this Introduction.
Besides, they saw prohibition coming
anyway, but they expected TO sell the
stocks in bonded warehouses at huge
profits, prices advancing under limita-
ton Of supply Now, if their fight for
delay avails nothing, they will sell out
al cost plus 10 per cent.
II the Chamberlain plan to invoke
cloture fails. there will be virtual
filibuster against the food bill The
reasons for il are plain. The dlstillers
will want time if the Smoot plan con-
tinues to prevail to finance the removal
from bond of all the whiskey that can
be taken out before the bill becomes a
law. They will hope by delay to exert
pressure that will win concessions,
either from the Administration or
from Senators who care more for the
war than they do for prohibition, II
there are any such. They have every
thing to gain out Of the confusion that
will come from filibuster.
Vast Sums at Stake
And the sums at stake are vast.
There are said to be 200,000,000 gallons
of strong liquor in bond. IL is est
mated that sold to the people over the
bar it will bring $500, 100000. while
il the government buys it at cost plus
10 per cent the distillers will get $780,
100000 TO S200,000,000
These are Senate debate figures and
vary with the individual Senators, but
give them as the best available. The
cost 10 the government Of commander
ing il the whole supply IS left in bond
will be at the outside 5000, 100000 plus
the loss Of expected revenue, $4,000
OOO-S640,0 900 900 in all, total that
was heard often in debate, but u was
pointed out by those who were de-
termined to turn drink into smOkeless
powder that if the alcohol COM
mandeered would cost s640.000.000,
drunk it would cost the same people
50. 800. 100000 The social side Of
questions gets much more considera-
ton than it used TO before this war
began.
Not only will the food bill be de-
laved, but also the revenue bill. which
is less important. Senator Simmons
moved to have it recommitted TO his
committee when the Smoot com
Wandering plan went through finally.