The sun., 1919-07-03
RUM, HARD AND
RECKLESS, SOLD
Friends Of Barkeeps and
Bosses Have No Trouble
Getting Highballs.
"INTOXICATINGY ISSUE
Evidence Plentiful That City
Will Not Be Dry Without
Court Ruling.
"INTOXICATINGY ISSUE

yesterday that wartime prohibition
cannot be instituted in New York city
or the surrounding country until the
Federal courts dispose of the question
Of what constitutes Intoxicating
beverages.
Sale of beer and wines. both light
and heavy in alcoholic content. con-
tinued. In scores of places whiskey.
gin, brandy and everything else with
a real kick in it went on just as II
nothing had happened. 1t was as
easy for a sober man, favorably known
to the barkeep or boss, to get a high
ball in New York yesterday as 1t was
for an Indian in a military uniform to
get firewater in a Southern State-if
the Indian knew how to go about 1t
as we'll as the average New Yorker.
1t should be said, however, that the
liquor men generally attempted to keep
within the law as they regard II. A
considerable number yesterday discon-
tinued the salc OF wines and confined
their offerings to the ais beer. The un-
certainty Of their status in the case of
prosecution for the sale OF sherry, port
and other wines accounted for this A
considerable number OF saloon men had
realized that the law as 1t stands pro-
hibits the sale Of intoxicating liquors.
and every saloon man knows that the
wines mentioned are intoxicating to a
degree fully enough to get him into all
kinds of trouble with the Federal off,
cials.
Nevertheless, there will be plenty OF
beer and wine for sale throughout New
York until such time as the courts
rule on what constitutes an intoxicant.
This is in accordance with the policy
adopted by the various associations OF
men in the trade before the great
drought began. Practically all the
family liquor stores in the city will con-
tinue to fill orders for bottled beer. Some
OF them, II was said yesterday, would
go even further. but this is a matter
fon individual decision.
Beer Sale Continues.
The word was passed yesterday fol-
lowing a meeting of the representatives
Of each branch of the liquor traffic TO
so ahead with the sale OF beer OF the
ATS standard and Notwithstanding wines
That this policy will be generally
adopted seemed apparent yesterday by
the fact that up to the closing hour
only 1876 OF more than 1000 licensed
liquor dealers in the greater city had
turned in their State licenses and ap-
piled for a rebate for the months OF
July, August and September or the
total number turned in forty-seven were
for stores at which liquors might be
bought but not consumed, and the 9TH
ers were for saloons. clubs and cafes.
A meeting OF the allied liquor inter-
ests was held yesterday afternoon at the
rooms OF the Hotel Association and the
decision reached that little was to be
feared by members II they confined
themselves to the sale OF non-intoxicants.
The war time beer Is regarded by the
dealers as such, and each dealer will
have to decide for himself about the
wines until some specific ruling Is made.
Manhattan led in the number of IL
censes turned in yesterday upon which
rebates were asked of the State Excise
Commissioner. II was stated, however.
that most OF the holders signifed their
intention Of taking out another license
when the war time ban is lifted. or ex-
planned that they were forced out OF
business through lease expirations or
other reasons not directly connected with
the war measure or these licenses sur
rendered ninety-two were in Manhattan,
thirty-two in Kings. seven in Queens,
four In The Bronx and none in Rich
mond. Included In these totals were
thirty store licenses In Manhattan and
fourteen in Brooklyn, one in Queens and
two In The Bronx.
Oua rA9ullt Of fha rAafrfCtad Gala Of
hard liquor, as 1t was observed at the
close of the second day of war prohibi-
ton. was that the New York public
would probably eat a great deal more
food in the middle OF the day than has
been the custom. Another Is that the
prices charged for food will certainly be
Increased in places where cocktails and
similar appetlzers formerly were dis
pensed. A horizontal increase of at
least 20 per cent. was predicted for next
week by experienced caterers.
Big Drop in Receipts.
John J. Cavanagh. president of the
| Society of Restaurateurs, said yesterday
that his bar receipts for the first day
OF prohibition were s6s, as against $3.50
for June 80.
A canvass of a score or more cafes in
the business district where meals are
served and a speciality made OF the mid
day lunch showed that total receipts
had fallen OF from 20 to 90 per cent,
The majority of proprietors OF these
places said that they could not hope to
continue In business Glong their old lines
very long. Most of them said that q
new scale of menu prices would be In
ausurated next week.
Meantime the ingenuity of the bar
tenders was being taxed to invent ap-
pealing looking drinks that might tempt
the regular customers At many places
varicolored cordials were displayed in
bottles shaped and labeled like their
prototypes. but no connoisseur found l,
necessary 10 take second glass to find
out that the old kick was not under
| the cork.
New York liquor men were not in
| cllned generally to attach much sig
| nincance TO the Baltimore test case II