The Washington times., 1921-03-17
BAN L|F TED0N
.L|QUOR|NBOND
Williams Rules Retailer May
RepIenish Stocks for
Medicinal Use.
BY w. b. ATKINS,

Internal Revenue Commissioner
Williams today announced that the
ban upon withdrawal Of liquor from
bonded warehouses will be modified
on April to permit Withdrawals by
retail druggists. No Withdrawals
will be permitted wholesale drug
gists.
The Internal Revenue Commissioner
also announced that the order putting
wholesale LIQUOR dealers out of busi-
ness would be made effective on May
ID. Since the order was promulg ated
some weeks ago. the wholesale dealers
have been permitted to continue their
business to close out their stocks.
ONLY FOR RETAIL STOCKS.
Retail druggists will be allowed to
withdraw whiskey and other liquors
in such amounts as are deemed neces-
sary to meet their trade require
ments. Retailers stocks are practi-
cally exhausted and for some time
they have been unable to meet the
demand for medicinal liquor. A large
number of complaints reached the
prohibition bureau that retailers have
been unable to supply their trade
through wholesale druggists.
Lifting of the ban upon warehouses
will not permit wholesale druggists
to make Withdrawals. Commissioner
Williams stated that for a while
wholesalers must replenish their
stocks from those of the Wholesale
liquor dealers, recently put out Of
business, under a ruling Of the De-
partment of Justice. The wholesale
liquor dealers were allowed to con-
tinue for such time as was necessary
for them to sell their stocks on hand
to the wholesale druggists.
At Commissioner Kramer's office
today 1t was announced that records
show that 100000 gallons of mediei-
nal liquors withdrawn from bonded
warehouses prior to the closing OF
the storage places, have not been alb
sorbed. These stocks were withdrawn
mainly by the wholesale liquor deal
ers- Further time is now believed
necessary to allow these dealers TO
sell their remaining stocks. After
a reasonable period, prohibition off,
cials declared a time limit will be
fixed for them to sell out and close
their places permanently.
The whole question of new regula-
,tions affecting the manufacture, dis
tribution and sale Of non-beveragc
whiskey, wine and beer is to be left
ever for decision to new officials who
are to succeed Commissioners Will
Jams and Kramer.
A heavy demand for new permits
filed by retail and wholesale drug con-
Germs has followed the announcement
of former Attorney General Palmer's
ruling. holding that the Government
riust issue permits to persons in that
class when applications are filed and
7 ominal bond is given, as required by
the statute. Under the restrictive
policy of the bureau. the number OF
druggists permits was kept at q
minimum. Under the Palmer ruling.
prohibition officials have no authority
to limit the number of outstanding
permits. All persons, both in the re-
tell and wholesale drug trade, are en-
titled to permits to sell whiskey, wine
and beer for medicinal purposes, upon
the prescriptions of physicians.
Larger demand by retail druggists
for permits, officials said, has fol-
lowed the Department of Justice rul
ing. Officials had reports from Fed
eral supervising agents showing that
retailers all over the country are he
ing urged to supply new demands for
both beer and wine, under doctor3'
prescriptions. This demand. however,
cannot be met until the new reguls-
tions are drafted and necessary au-
thority is given for Withdrawals by
dealers.