New-York tribune., 1920-01-15
Fruit Juice and
Cider to Come
Under Dry Ban
Dealers i'll These Beverages
S. S. To Be Held Responsible
When Alcoholic Content
zts%
Exceeds u of l Per Gent
Liquors in Bond Stolei,
Army of $500 Watchmen
=. TO Protect Stocks Con-
s sidered by u. S. Bureau

~ ~ AOttSt OdOChS Ion.
sidered by u. S. Bureau
sNAsHINGTON, Jan. 14.-1n one Of
the broadest constructions yet placed
on provisions of the act for enforce
sAont of constitutional prohibition. Pro
hin ton Commissioner Kremer has
ruled that fruit juices and elders come
vfnin the dry ban if they contain
more than 4 of l per cent alcohol.
The commissioners Interpretation of
tsse law was set. forth TODAY in 81
IN norandum charging prohibition di-
aee ors and inspectors with the added
* of examining the alcoholic con-
ter of such beverages.
he drastic regulation goes into ef-
with constitutional prohibition
uary Is. Violation of it carries the
penalties as for the manufacture
ale of stronger liquors.
All Previous Structures Exceeded
fficials, in discussing the ruling. as
ed that such 8 step could not be
IN under wartime prohibition, nor
1t enforceable under the prohibition
's of most Of the states. Hitherto the
eau of Internal Revenue has held
to the policy of assessing taxes
a. INST fermented liquors containing
n than 12 of l per cent alcohol, but
=: tally the regulations could not be
- he'd to elders and fruit juices be-
s..' sc of the technical language of the
". it was said.
Srlct enforcement of the regulation
wll hold liable dealers in fruit Juices
aed. elders IN which the alcoholic con-
tent increases even while in storage.
Tue department does not intend. how
''ec, to gauge all beverages thus pro-
8 ced, officials said, but "a watchful
80 would be kept on these manufac-
Wers and dealers. Natural fermenta-
ion will offer no excuse for evasion of
Mse regulation, it was declared.
". Bonded Liquor Stolen
Employment of force of $500 watch
men to guard 69,O00,O0O gallons of
f'lauor held in government bonded ware
s1ases is planned by the Internal
Revenue Bureau to protect the liquor
against thefts, which are occurring
sally, Prohibition Commissioner Kremer
to-day told the House Appropriations
Committee. He asked that Congress
make S2,000,000 available imme diately
Tor establishing the guard.
No plan for final disposition of the
liquor has been determined on by the
bureau, Mr.. Kremer said adding that
perm.ssive Withdrawals after consti-
tutional prohibition becomes effective
would be SO few as not to pay the ex-
rense for maintaining the guard. Con
gTess, ne suggested, may be asked to
salve TIE problem of disposing of the
liquor, and committeeman suggested it's
concentration in a few places. Such a
Plan of concentration, Mr. Kremer said,
is being considered by the bureau Of
5cials.
Seventy-fve thefts have been re-
ported from the warehouses in the last
ieW months g. despite. iron doors and
adding In response to an inquiry that
-nef1s were unknown in the "wet'' days
When liquor was easily obtainable
T&t hout a large increase in the present
sf0rce at the warehouses, Mr.. Kremer
said. large quantities would be released
bst theft and distributed and consumed
III defiance of law.
Distiilers Held for Thefts
sDistillers who own the liquor were
said by the commissioner to be pressing
the bureau for an increased guard be-
cause they are compelled under their
bpud placing their liquor in the ware
Houses, to pay s6.40 gallon for with
dra gals, and thefts come within this
pt pEision.
More than half of the liquor-ap-
proximately 39,o0o,0oo gallons-is in
Kentucky warehouses. Large quantities
aFo are stored in Indiana, Ohio, IL
si.ois. New York, Maryland and Penn
So vania and in virtually every state
there is some liquor in storage.
Commissioner Kremer, in telling the
anittee of plans for action later in
week, when the constitutional pro-
ton amendment becomes effective,
force Of 1.400 agents for en-
ing the law had been organized
force will be dual organization,
said, mpSt of the agents being
ers and detectives, with the other
It ION forming the branch of the
e au TO have charge Of pcrmissive
2st Of the force, it was said, would
entered in the East, officials ex-
- ing to need fewer men in the
tern prohibition states. The force,
7s commissioner said, will not get
~ ely at work until January II or 18.