The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-12
SALE OF HOPS ID
 |. INDIVIDUALS s IS ORDERED STOPPED
Great Secrecy Surrounds Bureaus Action and Details of the Order Are
 Lacking
By Associated Press

Washington, November il. - Home brewing was brought actively under the prohibition ban today when it was learned that enforcement officials had ruled against the sale of hops and malt to others than bakers and confection- CTS. Great secrecy surrounded the prohi- bition bureaus action, but it was ascer- tained definitely that such instructions had been issued.
 Details of the order were lacking. The only admission made by prohibition of ficials in the absence of Commissioner
 Kramer was that stne volsted act had been construed to mean that the sale of hops and malt as component parts of home made beer were without, the pale of the law and their sale must stop.
 Enforcement offiicals throughout ths country have been notified of the gov ernment's determination, but they hare not been supplied with the technical lan- guage of the decision
 The construction of the law which re- suited in the new order was made near ly two months ago At that time offi- cials having it in charge started docu- ment through the regular procedure from which it energes as treasury decision. But it has not yet been approved by Secretary Houston. Further than to ad- init existence of the proposed treasury ruling, officials declined to discuss it. Emphatic denial was made to the re- port that the bureau had considered or had included in the order other article used in home brewing. Officials like wise denied that provision was to be made for the licensing of even iac bakers and confectioners, apparently the only persons who will be able to pug chase hops and malt
 MANY COMPLAINTS
 There were persistent rumors at both the prohibition and internal revenue teadqusrters that scores of complaints had coma from the manufacturers or cereal beverages, containing less than is of per cent of alcohol, against the tTem endous growth of brewing as home industry. On this phase of the situation, officials also refused com ment It was understood, however, that the beverage manufacturers had based a complaint on steady but rapid deer ease in their sales whicn trey charged to the growth Of home brewing. They were understood to lave protested to the internal reve- nue bureau that enforcement agents were enforcing the alcoholic restris- tions on them while the home brewer with the aid of hops and malt has been l able to produce a beverage approxt- mating oid-fashioned beer s
 I Officials anticipated that theN n an malt and hops sales would bring 2 wave of litigation as to the govern fpent's rights. They claimed, however 1 that thei. decision had been preceded by a thorough study of the questions I Involved and said they were prepared f n meet inc attack, Sections of the act specifically pro- hibiting the sale of integral parts of beer as well as the formal advertis- ing of recipes for it's manufacture were cited. as one of the Foundations for the ruling. The point which they expect to be tested In court was wheth- CT the food value of the two articles ba nned would in the eyes of court, Dc rmit their continued sale as sucn despite their use as basis for bever- 1 age making The line of demarcation Letween the use of the two articles
 which ca annot be sold and fruits, sugars
 and syrups was said to be regarded
 as rather indefinite, but those having
 the question in charge believed they
 were on safe ground.