The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1920-08-26
FAVOR PURCHASE OF
ALL WHISKY STOCKS
DRYS WANT GOVERNMENT TO
BUY PRIVATE STOCKS
Say They Are Menace To Enforce
ment Of Prohibition Laws-COst Es-
mated at From s1OO,OO0,OOO to
S5OO,OOO,OOO Appropriation BY
Congress Necessary II Some Mem
bers Advocated the Plan.

A recent dispatch from Washington
gives the information that leading
drys are in favor Of the purchase OF
the whiskey stocks of the United
States by the government to be held
and disposed of in such a way as is
legal. Special legislation and an ap-
preparation by Congress would be
necessary. The cost is variously es-
timated at from $100,000,0O0 to $780,
100000. The drys think the big ad-
vantage for prohibition would be the
removal Of the supplies from private
hands.
When the prohibition amendment
and the Volstead enforcement act
were debated in Congress, the pro-
posal of the vets that they be paid
for their stocks was turned down by
the drys. who failed then to see
enough merit in the suggestion to
warrant Congress taking the action.
The past spring members OF Congress
advocated purchase Of the Whiskey
stocks. Drys who were consulted
gave their consent. Chairman Ford
ney, of the ways and means commit
tee and the banking minority member,
Mr. Kitchen, approved the purchase.
1t did not receive sanction by other
congressional leaders because Of the
crowded legislative calendars and the
desire to roll up as high an economy
record as possible.
The latest figures available on
the amount of whiskey in bonded
warehouses are for Nav 81, 1920
Then there were 58,055,89S gallons
Since that date the amount has de-
creased until there remains but APP
proximately 100000 gallons. It is
feared that much Of the whiskey has
been lost by thief
Rough estimates obtained today IN
dictate that tax paid whiskey in bot,
ties is worth $25 or $50 a case Of
three gallons, or from So TO 10 .
gallon. Western burbon whiskey II
bord is estimated at about SITE
gallon.
The least figure that the stool
could be bought for in the opinion o
those familiar with the situation, il
placed at $1OO,000000. This is al
average Of about So gallon. Becaus'
Of TIE higher price Of some OF tn
whiskev (and prices are computes
according to the cost Of securing tn
whiskev leoallv( the totsl cost o
purchase is placed even higher. Som
members Of CONGRESS- thought tn
government should only pay the ap
proximate cost five or six years acc
The proposal of government pur
chase contemplates its storage an
use as required entirely under tn
supervision of government Officials
E. G. Dinwiddie, former Legislative
superintendent Of the Anti-Saloo
League and now legislative superin
tendent for the international Orde
of Good Templars, is in favor OF gov
eminent purchase.
Il have been in favor Of it for som
time" he told the World correspor
dent, provided the government pun
chases it for legitimate price.
would take out of the hands OF priv
; ate parties liquor that is now me
: mace to enforcement and which
also very serious temptation. Whe
|; the whiskey is needed for legitimat
purposes the government can sell
at legitimate prices"
I Mr.. Dinwiddie would not under
take to say what the goyernaal
should pay.