The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-03-13
WHIskEY SUPPLY. WON'T LAST.
Little to Be on Hand When July
Comes.

Washington, March 1.-National
prohibition next July 1 will find only
about 50,000,000 gallons of liquor in
bonded warehouses, barred from dis
position for beverage purposes, if
the present. demand for whiskey con-
tinues during intervening months.
Officials who have observed the et-
feet of high taxes in the past believe,
however, that Withdrawals from
bond will decrease under the new
revenue law, and that between Co.
100000 and 100000 gallons will
be left in warehouses July /.
1t is conceded that it is impossible
to foresee 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 smaller than
the advance estimates.
The estimates do not take into
consideration liquor which may be
stored in cellars or attics of prospec-
tive consumers Nor do they include
any stocks which wholesale or retail
dealers may not sell before the pro-
hibition wave catches them. These
are not measurable by any official re-
ports.
Revenue bureau officials calculate
that at present bonded warehouses
connected with distilleries, but un-
der lock and key Of government
agents, hold less than 9O,000,000 Of
of the 2,OO0,O0O,00O gallons in
stock when manufacture ceased Sep
tember 9, 1917, under the food con-
servation act. Withdrawals in jan
uary and February have been less
than the 100000 or more gallons
in December, according to indica-
tions based on preliminary reports
from revenue agents.
On January 1, 100000 gallons
of distilled spirits were reported in
bond, including 100000 gallons
not available for beverage purposes.
About Is per cent. of those figures
must be deducted as allowance for
leakage and evaporation from barrels.
On December /, the latest date for
which itemized figures are available,
the stock of distilled spirits in bond
was distributed as follows: Whiskey,
1O8,S46,000 gallons; rum, 100000
gin, 2,33S,000; alcohol 5,760,000;
refined alcohol, or 'high wines"
3,744,0OO; and brandy, 2,316,000.
The normal rate of demand, meas
ured by withdrawal from bond, had
been between 4,500,000 and 6,O0O,-
900 gallons a month until last Octo-
ber, when Withdrawals jumped to
S,35S,0O0. In November they were
9,597,000, and in December it is es-
timated they ran over 100000
gallons, while in January and Feb
ruary, indications are that the de-
mand probably was nearer 100000
gallons. Most of this liquor was
taxed when taken out of the bonded
warehouse at the rate of $500 a gal
lon. Under the new revenue act, the
rate is double, amounting to $40.
Consequently the increase amounts
to $500 a gallon or 80 cents quart,
and the aggregate tax per quart is
$3.50.
By terms of the pending bill pro-
viding for enforcement of prohibi-
ton, under the constitutional amend
ment effective next January 16, the
president would be empowered to ap-
propriate for government purposes
the stock OF liquor left unused in
warehouses. The price to be paid
for this would be determined by
agreement Oh by a special commis-
sion.
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