The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-01-16
First Year Of Prohibition En-
forcement Act Has Been
Busy One.
tey As.oeIateo press.,

WASHINGTON, d. c. Jan. 15.-As
tho first year Of national prohibition
ended tonight, Prohibition Commits
sioner Kramer declared the Ameri-
can people were rapidly recovering
from their "hang- over. He believes
they have begun to taper off their
liquor drinking.
Although liquor, some of it good but
much of it bad. still is obtainable in
large quantities, the head of the pro-
hibition enforcement corps believes
the first years work has brought a
large measure of success. He had
expected II to be hardest both for the
law enforcing staff and those who
were deprived OF their beverages.
In the future. the commissioner said
enforcement of the law should become
increasingly easier while those who
used TO put a foot on the brass rail
should gradually become reconciled 10
tho saloonless era.
: in our first year" said Mr.. Kra-
mer. I'VE have seen the private stocks
absorbed like lakes in the desert We
have raided and prosecuted. We be-
lieve we have made life unpleasant
for the bootlegger and other trafficer
in whiskey. IL has been a difficult
and sometimes dangerous job vet
those of us who have been on the
job itself can see changes for the bet
ter"
But there remains much to do. the
commissioner declared. He told of
whiskey rings" and combinations and
OF how the bureau had gathered evil
6ence indicating a rebirth of the bus
mess OF Bookkeeping In some places.
on the other hand, however. Mr.. Kra-
mer Is convinced that there is an in
creasing sentiment favorable to prohi-
bition which will eventually Will
compel many bootleggers to give up"
Records Of the prohibition bureau
show that fewer dealers are seeking
permits ITO engage legitimately in the
business OF handling liquor next year.
Many of them, Mr.. Kramer said, knew
In advance they would be refused be-
cause they had taken q 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 "undesira bles" for ieveral months
and the new list viii be held to the
strictest minimum, the commissioner
declared
During the first ten months of con-
stitutional prohibition, 1860 900 gal
Ions OF distilled spirits were with
drawn tax paid from bonded ware
houses. On this basis, 1t was Off
cially estimated that Withdrawals for
the year ending tonight would exceed
80, 100000 gallons.
Such Withdrawals are permitted for
non beverage purposes and prohibi-
ton officials are unable to check di-
rectly on the amount which finally
IS diverted to beverage use Mr.. Kra-
ner said. however, that large quanti-
ties are thus consumed and 1t Is one
of the problems OF the bureau to re-
strain this transfer.
Internal revenue records show that
FOR the fiscal year ended June 30,
1919, the last full year before prohi-
oition. Withdrawals for all purposes
aggregated 81 100000 gallons. The
also show that Withdrawals
FOR beverage uses during the
Of that year averaged only
about one fourth of the amount taken
cut of bonded storage for drinking
purposes.
One OF the principal problems en-
,ountered in tho enforcement work
Mr.. Kramer said, is the variation in
The points of view of federal attor-
leys and courts 1t has been difficult
to obtain iuterpretationsof the law
that are similar, he continued. while
he infliction of penalties likewise has
varied. United States attorneys have
differed as 10 the powers and duties
&c agents and where there has not
been a majority of citizens favoring
federal courts have dealt
lightly with offenders.
Mr.. Kramer believes, however. that
The second year will show improve
ment in this connection also He said
uniform plans of court procedure were
certain TO come and that as a result
would be better handled.
Enforcement officials have struck a
snag and continually are confronted
with problems concerning the manu-
'acture and sale of industrial alcohol.
Il has been source OF daily trouble
FOR tho agents, the commissioner de-
rlared. Rules and regulations gov
erRing It's production and handling
have been promulgated from time 10
lime. but In every instance, accord
ing to the bureau head, there comes
1 new flood OF complaints. These al ,
ways require a new determination of
what is or what is not product that
Fan be used as a beverage.
"The bureau fully comprehends the
Importance of Industrial alcohol" Mr.. !
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