Evening journal., 1919-03-17

PRE-JULY THIRST
CUTS WHISKY STOCK
Only $4,000, 900 Gallons
IN Bonded Warehouses
When Drought Starts
SAY MUCH is
STORED IN HOMES

WASHINGTON, March Irrational
prohibition next July 4 will find only
about 50,00000O gallons Of liquor in
bonded warehouses, barred from dispo-
siiion for beverage purposes, IL the
present demand for whiskcy continues
during intervening months. officials
who have observed the effect OF high
lakes in the past believe, however,
that Withdrawals from bond will de-
crease under-thc new revenue law,
and that between 60,OO0,O0O and 75,A
10000 gallons win be left in ware
houses July 4.
10 is conceded that 10 Is impossible
10 foresee the effect Of approaching
prohibition on the demand for liquor
10 be stored away by consumers and
officials say bis movement OF buying
even under the increased tax may de-
Velop and leave the quantity OF liquor
left in bond smaller than the advance
estimates.
The estimates do not take into con-
sidsraiion liquor which may be stored
in cellars or attics OF prospectice con-
sumers. Nor do they include any
stocks which wholesale or retail deal
ers may not sell before the prohibit
tion wave catches them. These are
not measurable by any official reports.
Revenue bureau officials calculate
That at present bonded warehouses
ronneoted with distilleries. but under
lock and key OF government agents, |
~old less than 9O,00O,O00 OF the 200O00.- !
200 gallons in stock when manufacture !
reased September 3, 1917, under The |
food conservation act. Withdrawals in |
January and February have been less |
than i0O,OO0OoO or more gallons in De-
cember, according 10 indications based
on preliminary reports from revenue
agents.
on January 4. ii2OOO,0O0 gallons of
distilled spirits were reported in bond.
including 6.60OOOO gallons not available
for beverage purposes. About 10 per
cent. Of those figures must be deduct
cd as allowance for leakage or eyapOra-
tion from barrels. on December 1, the
latest date for which itemlzcd figures
are available. the stock OF distilled
spirits in bond was distributed, as fol-
lows. Whskey, i0S,si6.O0O gallons;
rum. 6O5,O0O; sin. 2.33S, 500; alcohol, D.
900: refined alcohol or "high Wines
s,73G,00O and brandy. 2.i36OO0.
The normal rate Of demand, measured
BY Withdrawal from bond, had been be-
tween 100000 and 6O00,OO0 gallons a
month until last October, when with
drawsls jumped TO S.35S0O0. in No
vember they were 9.597,O00 and in De
cember it is estimated they ran over
toOO0,O00 gallons, while in January and
February indications are that the de-
mand probably was nearer 100000
gallons. Most OF this liquor was taxed
when taken out OF the bonded ware
house at the rate Of $500 a gallon. In |
der The new revenue act The rate is
amounting 90 s64 Conso-
luenily the Increase amounts to $3.50
I gallon. or so cents a quart. and the I
lggrogatc tax per quart is Si60. i
BY terms OF the pending bill provid- :
ng for enforcement OF prohibition un- l.
er the constitutional amendment ef- @
sctiye next January i6, the President q
rould be empowered 10 appropriate al
or government purposes. the stock OF ;
quor left unused in warehouses. The al
rice TO be paid Tor this would be de-
ermined by agreement or by a special bI
commission. w