Omaha daily bee., 1921-01-16
Hangover
Is Rapidly
Vanishing
Liquor Drinkers Tapering Off
As First Year of National
Prohibition Ends, Commits.
sinner Kramer Says


year OF national prohibition ended
Prohibition Commissioner Kramer
declared the American people were
rapidly recovering from their "hang.
J over" He believes they have begur
to taper off their liquor drinking.
Although liquor, some of it good
but much of it bad, still is obtain
able in large quantities, the head OF
the prohibition enforcement corps
believes the first years work has
! brought large measure OF success
He had expected it to be hardest
both for the law enforcing staff and
those who were deprived OF their
beverages,
In the future, the commits sioner
said, enforcement of the law should
become increasingly easier, while
those who used to put foot on the
brass rail should gradually become
! reconciled to the saloonless era.
See Changes for Better.
"ln our first year said Mr..
Kramer. I'VE have seen the private
stocks absorbed like lakes in the
desert. We have raided and prosecu-
ted. We believe we have made life
unpleasant for the bootlegger and
other trafficer in whisky. 1t has
been a difficult and sometimes dam
gcrous job. yet those of us who
have been on the Job itself can see
changes for the better.
But there remains much to do,
the commissioner declared. He told
of whisky rings" and combinations
and Of how the bureau had gathered
evidence indicating rebirth OF the
business of bootlegging in some
places. On the other hand, however,
Mr.. Kramer is convinced that there
is an increasing sentiment favorable
to prohibition which will eventually
compel many bootleggers to give
up
Records OF the prohibition bureau
show that fewer dealers are seeking
permits to engage legitimately in
the business Of handling liquor next
year. Many of them, Mr.. Kramer
said, knew in advance they would be
refused because they had taken a
chance" with the law. There were
more than 10000 permits in exist
ence 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 "unde-
sirables' for, several months and the
new list will be held to the Fstrictcst
minimum, the commissioner de-
clared.
Withdrawals Large.
During the iirst 10 months Of con.
stitutional prohibition, 5,569,OOO
gallons of distilled spirits were with
drawn from bonded warehouses. On
this basis, it was officially estimated
that Withdrawals for the year ending
tonight would excce. 43,00O,0O0
gallons.
Such Withdrawals are permitted
for non-beverabe purposes and pro-
hibition officials are unable to check
directly on the amount which finally
is diverted to beverage use. Mr..
Kramer said, however, that large
quantities are thus c ,umed and it
is one of the problems of the bureau
to restrain this transfer.
One of the principal problems en-
countered in the enforcement work
Mr.. Kramer said. is the variation in
the points Of view of federal attor-
neys and courts. 1t has been diff
cult to obtain interpretations of the
law that are similar. he continued
while the infliction of penalties like
wise has varied. United States at.
torneys have differed as to the
powers and duties of agents and
where there has not been majority
of citizens favoring prohibition, fed.
eral courts have dealt lightly with
offenders.
Mr.. Kramer believes. however
that the second year will show i'm
proveme<t in this connection also
He said uniform plans of cour'
procedure were certain to come anc
that as result prosecutions woult
be better handled.