Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-07
PROHIBITION TO
GET LITTLE RUM
IN WAREHOUSES;
Big Buying Movement of Con-
sumers, Even Under Tax,
Is Probable

Washington, March 7,-Nationai
prohibition next July will find only
about 50,00O,000 gallons of liquor
in bonded warehouses. barred from
disposition for beverage purposes, IL
the present demand for whisky con-
tinues during intervening months.
Omcials who have observed the er-
feet of high taxes in the past believe,
however, that Withdrawals from
bond will decrease Under tho new
revenue law, and that between 6O.-
100000 and 100000 gallons will
be left in warehouses July ].
1t is conceded that 1t Is impossible
to force the effect, of approaching
prohibition on the demand for liquor
to be stored away by consumers. and
officials say a big movement of buy
ing even under the increased tax,
may develop and leave the quantity
of liquor left in bond, is smaller
than the advance estimates.
Doesn't Include All
The estimates do not take into
consideration liquor which may be
stored in cellars or attics of pros
pective consumers Nor do they In
clude any stocks which wholesale
or retail dealers may not sell before
the prohibition wave catches them.
These are not measurable by any
official reports.
Revenue bureau officials calculate
that at present bonded warehouses
connected with distilleries. but under
lock and key of government agents.
hold less than 90.000,000 of the 20O.-
10000 gallons in stock when manu-
facture ceased September 8, 1917 un-
der the food reservation act. With
Ia UNAtn
have been less than the 10000, 900
or more gallons in December, ac-
cording to indications based on pre-
li-ninary reports from revenue
agents.
ON January l, s112. 100000 gallons
OF distilled spirits were reported in
bond. including 6.660.000 gallons not
available for beverage purposes.
About Is per cent of those figures
must be deducted as allowance for
leakage and evaporation from bar
reis. On December /. the latest
date for which itemized figures arc
available. the stock of distilled spirits
in bond was distributed as follows:
Whisky. 10S,S46.O00 gallons; rum,
6O6.o0o; gin. 2.s3S.oO0: alcohol. o.
10000; refined alcohol or "high
wines, 3,144,O00; and brandy, g.
$4,000.
Normal Rate of Demand
The normal rate of demand,
measured by withdrawal from bond.
had been between 100000 and g.
100000 gallons a month until last
october, when Withdrawals jumped
to S,35S.000. In November they were
9,597.O00, and in December it is esti-
mated they ran over 10000, 900 gal
Ions, while in January and February
indications are that the demand
probably was nearer 100000 gal
Ions. Most of this liquor was taxed
when taken out of the bonded ware
house at the rate of $500 a gallon.
Under the new revenue act, the rate
is doubled amounting to $40. Con-
sequently the increase amounts to
$500 a gallon or 80 cents a quart,
and the aggregate tax per quart is
SLIGO. Ts..-ss..s. .zs---..t..s.s..s.
BY terms of the pending biif pro-
viding for enforcement of prohibi-
tion under the constitutional amend
ment effective next January 16. the
President would be empowered to
appropriate for government pur-
poses. The stock of liquor left un-
used in warehouses. The price to
be paid for this would be determined
by agreement or by special CON-
mission.