The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-05
BREWERS HOPEFUL
DRYLAW WILL FAIL
Counsel Of State Association
Calls Prohibition an Act
of Petty Tyranny.
NO PLANS FOR FUTURE
Convention Completes Bust
ness in One Hour-R. j. Schae-
fer Is Elected President.

Brewers OF New York State have no
plans under way for the solution OF
the problem Of utilizing their plants
for other purposes now that the man
ufacture Of beer is stopped. About
1875 brewers from all over the State
gathered in annual convention here
Yesterday and completed their busi-
ness in an hour.
Col Jacob Rupert, who retired as
President Of the association, said or
the agricultural bill:
Its illogical status, its unwarranted
and harsh operation will be 80 obvious
by the date the act Is scheduled to go
into effect that II will fall for want Of
justification and validity. War pro-
hibition can no longer claim the ex-
cuse Of emergency, nor can 1t be sus-
tanned legally"
He submitted statistics showing the
total excise receipts for the year In
New York to be $22.s2s,675, and in the
State SS,767,908, with total national
revenue of $443, .544. The liquor
tax revenue for the state Of New York
for the year ended September 80, 1918,
he said, amounts to considerably more
than one-third Of the total tax col
lected by the State per year IN nor
NAL times. He further declared:
THE estimated sum of $1.100, ZOO, 900
to be raised from beer, wine and
spirituous liquors yearly, according
to the revenue bill now pending in
Congress-, is 1858. 013.049 in excess of
the total extraordinary receipts for
a. tot
year ended June 80, 1916. and was al
most double the extraordinary mill
tary and naval appropriations for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1911"
Col. Rupert said he believed the re-
turned American soldier will act as a
leaven OF common sense and liberality
among the people on the question OF
prohibition.
William II. Hirst, counsel for the
brewers said the prohibition bill is un-
constitutional and an act of petty tyr
amy.
THE brewers business is much toe
prominent and represents too great an
investment and means too much to
the people Of the country to be ruth
lessly cast into the scrap heap by
hysterical, tyrannical and confiscatory
legislation" said Rudolf J. Schaefer
newly elected president of the associa-
ton. THE total national investment IN
! brewing business is upwards of ST.
294,583, 1926, and the industry employs
| 749,4l persons. There are about 5000
! in this city"
| In spirit OF good will towards their
employees, the association decided &c
allow workers to retain their positions
| through the Christmas holidays and &c
| long thereafter as conditions will per.
| nit.
There is stock on hand in the brew
cries OF the State for three or -four
months supply. Nothing as yet indi'
Gates that the price of beer will be
raised as the supply becomes ex-
hausted. Col. Rupert said the brew
ers of the country have hundreds OF
millions of dollars worth of hops anC
malt on hand, and that no market /.
available for II.
John Bradley. Rochester, was elected
! first e-president; John c. HeintZ
| The Bronx, treasurer, and Sam S
Brewer, New York, secretary. To thu
board Of trustees We're elected Philil
F. Schaefer Jacob Rupert, A. G.. Hup
fel, Jr.. Louis b. SChram, b. T. kearns
F. X. Matt, George L. Clausen, Juliu.
Lehman, Frank c. Biehler, T.. j. y
Murray, Thomas FitzGerald and S. b
| Foster