New-York tribune., 1919-07-10
Vets Dilemma
Has Sharp Horns
viii Be Prosecuted If
They Take Out License:
Punished if They Don't

Liquor dealers In New York yes
terday were confronted with a
dilemma.
The government, according to the
rulings of the Attorney General is
perfectly willing to sell dealers liouor
licenses, but will prosecute them If
they violate the wartime prohibition
measure in availing themselves Of the
privileges that accompany the licenses
On the other hand, if dealer who
formerly has required Federal licenses
decide that he is selling only non-in-
1oXlcants and, as consequence, needs
no authorlzation to carry on his bust
ness, ne Will be subject to prosecution
11r 7Tn 1allure a allure to obtain such license.
The dealer, according to this ruling.
appears to subject himself to prosecu-
ton no matter what he may elect to do.
Sword Has Two Edges
-, This HI newest ruling, as given out by
enue Collector, is set forth in these
words:
$50 long as the taxes on alcoholic
liquor and on occupations in connec-
ton with the production and sale of
alcoholic beverages remain in force
they must be enforced The Attorney
General has advised this department
that the fact that an occupation or the
production or sale of q beverage is
prohibited does not relieve those en-
gagged IN such occupation or producing
or selling the beverage from tax La
bility.
ut must, however, be clearly under
stood that payment of tax in no wav
oh
exempt from liabilities imposed by the
prohibition legislation. The result of
the statutes imposing the taxes and
prohibiting the traffic is that the same
person may incur liability to tex and
at the same time be liable to prosecu-
ton under the prohibition laws"
Another phase of the decisions made
public by the Internal Revenue Col
lector is the obvious intent Of the gov
eminent to discourage the selling Of
alcoholic beverages on prescriptions.
vorite drink by that method will find
it necessary to submit to having his
name publicly listed at the office of
the collector, where the list will be
ready for immediate examination and
review"
This list, it is explained, will not
only show the name and address of the
patient to whom liquor is sold, but the
quantity obtained, the date of sale, and
the number of times the patient called
for such medicinal stmulant
Under the new Treasury decison,"
said Mr.. Edwards yesterday, "physi-
clans may prescribe wines and liquors
for internal use, or alcohol for external
use, but in every such case each pre-
scripton shall be in duplicate, and both
copies be signed in the phvsician's
handwriting. The quantity prescribed
for single patient at given time
shall not exceed one quart. In no case
shall a physician prescribe alcoholic
liquors unless the patient is under
his constant personal supervision.
Must Give Exact Details
"All prescriptions shall indicate
clearly the name and address of the
patient, the date when written, the
condition or illness for which pre-
scribcd, and the name of the pharma-
cist to whom the prescription is to be
presented for filling.
"The physician shall keep a record
in which separate page or pages
shall be allotted each patient for whom
alcoholic liquors are prescribed, and
shall enter therein, under the patients
name and address, the date Of each
prescription, amount and kind of liquor
dispensed by each prescription, and the
name of the pharmacist filling the
same.
"Any licensed pharmacist or druggist
may fill such prescriptions CD if his
name appears on the prescription in
the physicians handwriting, and ca
if he had made application and re-
ceived permit, Form 737, in accordance
with the provisions of 7. D. 278S; and
hn \
dealer, by the payment of special tax.
No such prescription may be refilled."