South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-02
DISPOSITION Of
BOOZE BIG TASK
100000 Gallons of Liquor
Now Stored in Warehouses
Throughout Country.

CONTINUED FROM PACE ONE)
ent warehouses and afford the own
ers relief from carrying charges by
placing that burden on the govern
ment. The cost OF employing ade-
quate guards. ne estimates. would be
from 100000 to 100000 a year.
In a letter TO Chairman Fordney
Of the house committee on ways
and means Commissioner Roper
says:
Government certificates Of indcbt-
edness might be issued 10 the pres
ent owners based upon the fair mar
ket price Of spirits as Of, says. April
i, 1919. before the price of spirits
became so greatly inflated. The gov
eminent might then retire these Ger
tihCates as the spirits are sold. a per-
Tod OF time being given for the com
plete retirement"
In the purchase plan there is in
vOlved, in Mr.. ROpcr's opinion, a
considerable loss. "since the demand
for medicinal and scientific purposes
VIII be very small and the amount
remaining in warehouses II so large
that It is impossible that the total
amount could be distributed before
"a large quantity had been lost
through natural causes evaporation
mainly.
Large Force OF Guards
AS TO the second alternative, IL is
estimated that the force OF store
keepers should be increased from
the present number Of $50 20 about
2 500 men. Experience has demon
strated that active and resourceful
young men cannot be employed at a
salary OF from less than 50 to Sc n
day. depending upon the part OF the
country IN which employment is Of
Tered
AT an average expense of So a
day. the total annual expense would
De from 100000 20 $4,000. 600
Congress should provide the neces-
sary funds for this purpose and the
department IS submitting an estimate
Of the additional appropriation ne
Cessary for this purpose for the re-
manning six months OF the fiscal year
OF $4,000, 600"
The exact amount Of spirits re-
manning on hand. as revealed by
Commissioner ROper's letter. Is g.
z62, 391.S gallons. OF this amount,
approximately $1,000. 900 gallons is
whisky. 400, 600 gallons is rum. gin.
brandy and other beverage spirits
and 100000 gallons is nOn-bever-
age spirits. Most of the liquor is in
eight states, as follows: Kentucky.
3S,i34.S5S.2 gallons; Pennsylvania.
12.2s7.075.s; Maryland. 6.OO1 .726: II
iinois, .467.22O.7; Ohio, 2.162,9S2.2;
New York. 1.537.661S: California,
1.502.1l2.2; Indiana, 1,261,2371.
According 20 the commissioner.
the liquor can be withdrawn for
practically no purpose except medi-
Cinal" and he adds:
May Dispense With Booze.
AS 10 this purpose II may be said
that while some physicians take the
position that whisky is A valuable
stimulant and tonic In certain cases
OF illness or debility the majority
opinion OF the medical profession
seems To me that II can be entirely
dispensed with as a remedy"
The commissions estimated that
the banks OF the country have 500
Oo0. 600 involved in loans on liquor
securities He did not think it would
be feasible for the government to
guarantee these loans other than by
taking over the liquor as suggested
in his first alternative. According
10 the commissioners figures, the APP
prOXimate loss Of revenue during the
present fiscal year as the result Of
prohibition was S432. $4,000. This
will be compensated for IN his opin-
ion. by increased sales Of soft drinks
and the collection OF taxes thereon.
and the expansion OF the confection-
cry business resulting from prohibit
tion. which. as well as the general
Improvement IN economic conditions.
is bound 20 be reflected I'm increased
income taxes"