The New York herald., 1921-05-14
Home Brew a Novelty.

Mr.. Kramer was convinced tndt WilH-
in a short tire enforcement will be
effective. He admitted that during the
last year 1t did not cope up to ex-
pectations but frankly stated that the
fault was with his administration and
not with the Volstead law.
I'VE made mistakes, but we are learn
ing from experience" he said. The
output of home brew will be greatly de-
creased within the next year. In fact
ii will wear out in that time. 1t is
this practice. People who want a drink
do not want to spend a month in max
ing it,
Mr. Kramer said the need for addi-
tonal legislation was caused by rulings
OF Attorney General Palmer that beer
could be prescribed as medicine and
that the prohibition authorities have no
power to limit the number Of liquor
permits.
In response to question by Repre-
sentative Dominick (S. CD he declined
20 say whether MIR. Palmer was a con-
sistent prohibitionist"
Too many permits to prescribe liquor
tand to manufacture 1t were allowed
during the year, but thousands of these
are now being cancelled. the Commits
sioner said.
I'VE are getting whiskey pretty well
under control. but as we do that more
people turn to diverting pure alcohol tc
beverage purposes. After alcohol Il
once taken out on a permit 1t IL difficult
TO tell whether it Is used for medicine
or for bootleg purposes. We issued thou
sands OF permits to men who used them
illegitimately. but we are taking more
caution now The revocation OF the per-
mits. however. Is difficult task.
Labels Mean Nothing.
'"rhe bootleggers are now coloring
alcohol and then selling II as bonded
whiskey BY forging brands. stamps and
bottles Bottled in bond whiskey labels
now amount to nothing.
I'VE absolutely had TO limit the
number OF doctors prescriptions" saic
Mr. Kramer. 1T takes only four ol
i've doctors to break down the whol'
law in one community. Unless we have
this power. we might as well quit. Th'
best doctors have urged a limit. Oul
order that no doctor may Issue NOR,
than 100 prescriptions in three months
except under special permission, ha
worked well We. have not had NOR
than "A dozen complaint and thos,
doctors need watching"
Don't you think the i~-nber shoul'
be redroed to 50?'' asked Mr.. Volstead
well. maybe we have been to
liberal One doctor in Chicago wrot
400 liquor prescriptions in a few days
while the total OF all his other prescrip
tions amounted to only hfteen."
Mr.. Kramer was preceded by Fran
Stout Of Portland, Conn, who appearin
as 4 citizen Informed the committe
that the Eighteenh Amendment woul
be repealed this year.
we are going to shut Off bee
whether you like il or not" Chalrma
volstead said.
"Well. then. we must go to the peo
pie" Stout replied.
The only person to speak in opposi
tion TO the bill to-day was Levi Cooke
counsel for several distilleries
Although the prohibitonists on tn
committee seemed rather intolerar
toward him. Mr. Cooke insisted that III
theory on which the Nolstead law
written is wrong The law does NJ
state In clear terms just what a Grim
is said Mr. Cooke. Instead. IL give
discretionary powers to prohibition of
ciais to make the law by all sorts
rulings. This will invariably lead
favoritism. fraud and corruption. VIII
not make the law clear and distinct,
amy man will know when he violates II
Establish tho statute clearly and the
put any man In Jail who violates"