Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-02-02

STILL LIVING,
SINKS SLOWLY
Friends Who Love Him Best
Do Most to Make His
Shadow Small.
TAX OFFICIALS REPORT
By FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.


WASHINGTON-John Barleycorn, as
you may possibly have noticed. is not
yet entirely dead In this country, but
he is dwindling in bulk day by day
like a hunger striker. And the tragic
part Of it is that the very ones who love
him best are doing the most to make
his shadow small. Some little nourish-
ment they manage to bring him once
in while, but for the most part it is
with him a case OF much going out and
little coming in.
This is confirmed by some facts and
figures we just got exclusively from the
Internal Revenue Department. The Reve-
nue. Department recognizes four chief re-
sources by which John Barleycorn Is
kept alive In this country. The first OF
these is the liquor, mostly whisky, held
in bonded warehouses in this country j;
the second is the pure ethyl alcohol which
Is manufactured in large quantities Os
tcnsibly for industrial purposes; the
third IS the importation of liquor across
the Canadian and Mexican borders and
at seaports, and the fourth is the max
Ing Of various kinds Of alcoholic bever-
ages in the homes of citizens.
With this latter phase Of the problem
most Of those entrusted with the enforce
ment Of the law seem o-think they have
nothing to do.
THE law never intended US to enter
a mans home said one lawyer connect
ed with the enforcement Of prohibition.
/ This was not an official statement, nol
one made for quotation, but it seems to
represent the view taken by most Of the
Government lawyers. They consider that
the law is designed to prevent the com
mercial traffic in alcoholic beverages, and
It's manufacture for use In that traffic.
1t is to the enforcement Of this that they
are bending their energies.
Take first the case Of the whisky IN
bonded warehouses. In 1915 there were
about 232OOO,00O gallons Of distilled
spirits other than fruit brandies in our
bonded warehouses. The end of 1920 sees
but 100000 gallons left in the ware
houses. Furthermore, during 1920, there
were 2300O00O gallons OF tax-paid with
Grawals-t that Is. that amount was with
drawn for use in this country. During
the same year 100000 gallons were
Withdrawn for export. At that rate, an
other year would see all Of the whisky
in bonded warehouses either distributed
in this country or exported. II is evil
/
long be with us
1t will be with us longer than the 1920
withdrawal figures would indicate, how
ever. The striking thing about those
figures is that 100000 gallons were
drawn for consumption in this country.
That is nearly 100000 gallons a month.
/ 1t is about fourth as much whisky as
we were consuming before prohibition
went into effect. OF course, 1t was all
used on doctors Prescriptions. There Ger
t4inly was a lot Of sickness last year.
But that easy flow Of whisky from the
bonded warehouses has met with a check.
1t has been checked by the simple method
of ruling from the Internal Revenue
Department that transfers Of liquors from
one wholesaler to another will no longer
| be approved. The wholesaler must now
dispose Of his. liquor direct to the drug
gist, or other authorized retailer or user.