Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-03-05
TEN BREW{R|ES
SEIZED IN RAID
Federal Agents Close Plants
In Philadel-
phia
1000 LOSE JOBS
Charged Cereal Beverage Tax Paid on
Beer Above Alcoholic Content
Brewers Are Surprised by Raid
1000 LOSE JOBS

, Philadelphia, March 5.--Ten brew
cries in this city were seized ycster-
lay by internal revenue agents who
descended upon them while they were
in operation, placed guards around
the rlants and seized their books.
The hrewerics closed are:
The Philadelphia Brewing Gem
pany, Sixth and Clearficld streets;
American Brewing Company, Thirty
first and Master streets; Bergncr &
Engal Brewing Comany, Thirty-sec-
ond .nd Master streets; Class and
Nachod Rrewin" Company, Tenth
street and Montgomery avenue;
Prospect, Brewing Comsany, Eleventh
and Oxford streets: Weger Bros. !,
Thirty-second and Thompson streets;
Finkenauer Brewing Company. 100
Germantown Avenue; John Jacob
Wolf. Fifth and Poplar streets, John
Rcehrl Brewing Company, 2433
North Broad street, anA Hohcn-Adel
Brewery, Qaecn lane and Norris
town Railroad.
These brcwclies represent invest
ments of more than $l0.000.000 ant
Employ more than 5000 persons, who
were forced out Ct work by the seiz-
IRE. The raids yesterday brought
rhe number CT brewer:es seized here
~ thr Federal agents TO a total of
eleven, as another was closed sev-
eral days ago. Seven others in VAT
ious PARTS of the State were also
seized.
According TO Ephraim Lederer,
Collector of Internal Revenue, the
b1ewclies were closed for failure to
comply with the Internal Revenue act
'.The real reason Mr.. Lcderer said,
twas 10 aid the enforcement Of the
Vclstead act. These hrewe!7cs have
been paying the tax required on &C.
real beverages and they have been
making and selling alcoholic drinks.
ANALYSIS of the near beer have
proven this. The alcoholic content
was ever half sef one per cent. It
will lie almost impossible fer the saF
looms in this city to get this So
called near beer row.
Following the seizure Of the plants
here, Prohibition Commissioner
Kramer. at Washington, notified the
local prohibition authorities that a
date should be set for hearing in
the near future. at which time the
owners would be allowed to show
why they should not be closed.
This form Of prohibition enforce
ment was introduced to Philadelphia
several days ago by Federal agents
when the John F. Betz and Sons
|. brewery was seized and closed by the
! agents. who placed guards around
+he rlart and seized the books of the
company. It was said that orders
| for the raiding and closing Of the
| brewcries we're issued by Internal
Revenue Commissioner W. w. VII
liams. in Washington
Officials Of the seized brewerles had
not completely recovered from Their
/! surprise last night and were unable
| to make known what action they VIII
take. Several said they world wa''
| % see what steps the government
| takes before they outline their plans
I Most of the companies have large
i quantities of beer on hand and many
| have contracted with saloons to sup
i ply them for lengthy periods.
! TIL. news of the seizures was re-
:; ceivcl in Brewery Town with cen
sternat:on. Four of the plants arc
! 'ocate in this section Of the CITY
Since prohibition became eHectiVS
non. of the companies have beer
working with full force OF n'cr
| and, IS a consequence, many no"
are out Of work.