The New York herald., 1921-01-16
KRAMER FINDS U. S.
LEARNING TO GO DRY
Review Of First Year Under
Prohibition Predicts End
Of National Thirst.
BOOTLEGGER rs PASSING
Value Of Illegally Imported
Liquor Put Above All Other
Struggled Goods.
BOOTLEGGER rs PASSING

idly recovering from their hang over"
He believes they have begun to taper off
their liquor drinking.
I'm our first year." said Mr.. Kramer,
we have seen the private stocks alb
sorbed like lakes in the desert. We have
raided and prosecuted. We believe we
have made life unpleasant for the boot
logger and other trafficker in whiskey.
1t has been difficult and sometimes
dangerous job. yet those of us who have
been on the job itself can see changes
for the better"
But there remains much 10 do, the
Commissioner declared. He told OF
whiskey rings" and combinations, and
Of how the bureau had gathered evi-
dence indicating a rebirth Of the busi-
ness of bootlegging in some places. On
the other hand. however. Mr.. Kramer
Is convinced that there Is an increasing
sentiment favorable to prohibition which
eventually will compel many bootleggers
to give up
Records Of the prohibition bureau
show that fewer dealers are seeking
business of handling liquor next year.
Many Of them, Mr.. Kramer said, knew
In advance they would be refused be-
cause they had taken a chance" with
the law. There were more than 10000
OF the permits In existence in the past
year, but there will be perhaps not
more than half as many next year. The
bureau has been busy culling out the
undesirables for several months and
the new list will be held to the strictest
minimum, the commissioner declared.
43,OOO,OOO Gallons in Year.
During the first ten months OF con-
stitutional prohibition g. .569. 900 gallons
of distilled spirits were withdrawn tax
paid from bonded warehouses. On this
basis 1t was officially estimated that
Withdrawals for the year ending to-
night would exceed 1900 900 gallons.
Such Withdrawals are permitted for
non-beverage purposes and prohibition
officials are unable to check directly on
the amount which finally Is diverted to
beverage use. Mr.. Kramer said, how
ever, that large quantities are thus con-
sumed and II is one of the problems
Of the bureau TO restrain this transfer.
Internal revenue records show that
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1s1?
the last full year before prohibition.
Withdrawals for all purposes aggre-
gated s1.6Oo.0o0 gallons. The records
also show that Withdrawals for nom
beverage uses during the months OF
that year averaged only about one
fourth of the amount taken out Of
bonded storage for drinking purposes
One Of the principal problems encoun-
tered in the enforcement work, Mr..
Kramer said, Is the variation in the
points of view of Federal attorneys
and courts. 1t has been difficult to
obtain interpretations OF the law that
are similar, he continued. while the
infliction of penalties likewise has
varied. United States attorneys have
differed as to the powers and duties Of
agents, and where there has not been
a majority OF citizens favoring prohi-
bition Federal courts have dealt lightly
with offenders.
Mr.. Kramer believes, however, that
the second year will show improvement
in this connection also. He said uni
form plans of court procedure were
certain to come and that as a result
prosecutions would be better handled.
Trouble over Raw Alcohol.
Enforcement officials have struck q
snag and continually are confronted
with problems concerning the Inanufac-
ture and sale OF Industrial alcohol 1t
has been a source of daily trouble for
the agents, the commissioner declared.
Rules and regulations governing Its
production and handling have been pro-
muIgated from time to time. but in every
instance, according to the bureau head,
there comes a new flood Of complaints
These always require new determina-
ton Of what Is or what Is not product
that can be used as a beverage.
THE bureau fully comprehends tire
importance of industrial alcohol" Mr..
Kramer asserted ''It does not desire
to hamper or hinder its legitimate use
but there are so many persons who vii,
drink any concoction that has kick
that we just have to be strict"
Mr.. Kramer said many manufacturers
Of patent medicines refuse to believe
their product hns become a popular pro-
hibitlon beverage. They attribute the
Increase In sales TO an awakening or
the people to the formulae's medicinal
value.
But we know differently here" the
Commissioner declares THE alcohol
and not the medical potion contained In
those bottles Is the reason for their pop
ularity. So the kick must be tsken out
Of such preparations or they must be
medicated to a point where the taste will
not be pleasant
"Our men have compelled manufactur-
ers of some such medicines to correct
their products already and the others
i, II be taken care OF as fast as we can
get TO them"
The consumption Of patent medicines
with "kicls" In them. however, has con-
vinced enforcement officials. Mr.. Kramer
said. that the drinking done now Is sim
ply the satisfaction Of the hangover
appetite. He believes II Is proof that So
cial drinking. the have another one on
me kind OF consumption. has definitely
passed forever into oblivion.
"Of course" the Commissioners con-
tinued, there is still the social drinking
IN the homes wherever there is private
supply. But the nightly party drinking
Is gone.
1T have heard men say they would
take n drink now when they never
thought of swallowing drop while
the saloons were all about them. The
cause FOR that Is found In the spirit OF
adventure born In most Americans. 1t
will continue 70 cause some trouble,
rather indirectly, for a while, but IL
will gradually disappear"
Disappearance of the appetite or
tho steady drinker also Is predicted by
Mr.. Kramer. who foresees In that con-
nection practically the end OF the boot
logger. He asserted that while there
always would be some demand for
hard liquor" prohibition enforcement
In a few years would have resolved
Itself into simple problem OF vigilance.
guarding against the production OF
moonshne and the patrolling OF the
border and coasts against smuggling.