The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-01-19
Government
TO Buy LIQUOR
Commissioner Roper Thinks
It Cheaper Than Guard
ing Private Stocks
HAVE WAREHOUSE
IN EVERY STATE


Medicinal Purposes-Would Not Ex-
pend Large Amount of Money at
First-House Committee Favors Plan.
WASHINGTON, Jan. I9.-Fair com
pensation to the liquor interests for the
financial damage they incurred through
national prohibition, and concentration of
all liquor supplies in central warehouses
located in virtually each one of the AS
states, are the cardinal features of leg
islation recommended by United States
lei G. Roper, to Chairman Joseph w
Fordney of the ways and means commit
tee
The purpose and general plan of the
proposed legislation meets the approval
Of Mr. Fordney, who called upon the com
missioner few days ago for full in
formation Oh the matter. He viii ask
| the WAYS and means committee to meet
soon to prepare a measure.
| That the liquor and revenue therefrom
are in danger Of being lost was one of
the facts emphasized by the commits
sioner He pointed out too, that the
course he recommended would be less
expensive to the federal government in
the long run.
In bonded warehouses CT the country it
WAS shown there are now 69,000,000 gal
Ions Of whiskey This is stored IN l73
public and 1913 private warehouses. There
are few states which do not have some
liquors in bond. The amounts stored in
individual warehouses range from $4,000
| to 50O00,0O0 gallons. The liquors are
being stolen in great quantities. The
owners OF the liquor cannot dispose of
it. Mr. Roper showed, although they are
being required TO hold it in bond foz
the payment of the revenue thereon
1t was 4 few days ago that congress
was asked to appropriate $2,000000 Will
which TO employ men 70 guard the ware
houses from now until June 80, 1920 t
prevent further theft.
j is estimated that an adequate guarC
for every Warehouse three shifts a day
and eight hours each shift, would requir,
2,5G0 to 5000 men and entail an annua
cost of $S00O000 or $4,000 600, which i
over and above the cost Of S1,000.000 an
nualIy to enforce the prohibition law
As the liquor would be used slowly, 10
purely medicinal and scientific purposes
the total cost Of prohibition to the GOV
crnment would run into many millions il
a few years.
Only the government can dispose o
the whiskey, as the law takes that RICH
away from the owners. except for tn
permissible uses Il is therefore re
garded as almost entirely govern
mental function.
BY eliminating all but about Is ware
houses, it is pointed out that big say
ing can be effected in the cost of keen
ing the supplies BY concentrating it
the several states, il is thought it coul
be handled more conveniently and |
more readily available where require
for medicinal purposes. In some state
it might be necessary to have more tina
one warehouse Most of the whiske
now is kept in Kentucky Illinois, Obi
New York. New Jersey and Maryland.
The plan of compensation will not il
volye the immediate expenditure OF
large sum of money. As indicated /
Mr. Fordney. it would require the issl
ance of certificate Of sale to the pre-
ent owners of the liquor The govern
: ment would reimburse them as il di
o posed OF the supplies.
"a The price, while not definitely dete
IS. mined. would be fixed according to son
of pre-war basis, possibly around Sl.50
te 50 per gallon. At s. per gallon, with /
~ deferred payment, an appropriation
Z" $l3S 100000 would be required.