New-York tribune., 1920-08-07
End Of Liquor
WI lpOIesaler i'm
u. S. Is Hinted
Elimination of Dealers in
Quantity Is Suggested to
Simplify the Work of
Prohibition Enforcement
Kramer Assails Tactics
More Operating Now Than
Before VoIsicad Acs:
Number Being Reduced

WASHINGTON, Aug. (By The As
sociated Press ILLUMINATION by the
government of the wholesale liauor
dealer as means of simplifying pro-
hibition enforcement appeared posi-
bility tonight with the announcement
hy Prohibition Commissioner Kramer
that the issue of wholesale permits in
the future would be "rigidly re-
stricted"
Mr. Kramer declared that the whole
sale traffic presented the greatest prob
lem with which enforcement officials
were confronted. Wholesale dealers
he asserted, resorted to subterfuges
which perplcxed government agents
and which made the dry law difficult
to enforce. This phase of prohibition
enforcement was said to have developed
consideration by officials Of the Inter
nal Revenue Bureau Of q plan by which
the quantity dealer would be driven
out of business and the liquor transfer
made direct from bonded warehouse to
retailer or consumer
Although no decision has been
reached, and probably none will be i'm
medlate y, the approaching period
when wholesale licenses are rcissued
tor the next calendar year is expected
to bring the question to a head. Ap-
pllcations for wholesale licenses must
be IN the hands of Federal officials by
October l, giving the government the
three months prior to January 1 in
which to investigate the responsibility
of the applicant.
Will Cut Number of Licenses
officials said that regardless of the
bureaus decision with respect to elimi-
nation of the wholesalers, the num-
Der of licenses issued for the ensuing
year would be smaller In event the
government permits the wholesalers to
continue in business, it was said. a
policy of Investigating the record Of
the applicant "and all of his affairs"
would be employed
Treasury records reveal that more
Wholesale licenses are in existence now
than Immediately prior to the effective
date OF the Volstcad act Commits
sioncr Kramer said that while the
wholesalers were being watched closely
drastic action had been necessary in
certain localities.
NO licenses have been issued in Chi
cago for wholesale trade in the last
Sin weeks, Mr.. Kramer said Other
officials reported that similar checks
had been placed on the number of
wholesale dealers elsewhere. Mr..
Kramer's visit to the New York dis
trlct early this week was said to have
resulted IN tightening of restrictions
there.
More Men Sent to Maryland
The situation in Baltimore resulting
from the ruling of Attorney General
armstrong that no Maryland state or
baltlmore municipal official could aid
IN Dry law enforcement work has com
pelled the transfer of additional Fed
eral agents to the Maryland district.
Nj. Kramer said that enforcement
work would be pushed everywhere re-
gardlcss of local cooperation
Wholesalers and "plain bootleggers. y
1T was asserted by prohibition enforce
ment officials, have combined to com
plicate the enforcement Of the law in
baltimore, and the conditions there
have entered largely into the develop
ment OF a program to abolish the
wholesale license.
AS another step toward strict en-
forcement officials were said to be
drafting regulations defining the status
OF Federal enforcement officers. and
also to be inquiring into state law pro
VISIONS to determine what duties the
local authorities could be required to
assume in upholding Federal laws.
These questions probably will be put
up to Attorney General Palmer, and it
Is understood that officials of the In
ternal Revenue Bureau and members
OF ,Commlssloner Kramcrs staff soon
VIII confer with representatives of the
department of Justice and the Treas
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