The New York herald., 1921-04-01
$7,5O0,0OO FUND
ASKED DBY KRAMER
That Sum Needed to Make the
Country Dry, Says En-
fOrcement Chief.
HARD FIGHT is AHEAD
Concentration of All Liquors
in Bonded Warehouses Is
Also Urged.
Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
KakhinRtOn, ID. c.. March 81.


| Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, d. c., March 81.
Concentration in a few large and
we'll constructed bonded warehouses Of
whiskey now stored in scattered and
out OF the way places was recon-
mended by Prohibition Commissioner
Congress should provide for more COM
plete enforcement Of prohibition. This
was brought out in a letter from Mr..
Kramer to Senator Capper (Kan.),
made public by the latter to-day.
The letter was in reply to Senator
Capper's inquiry as to the accuracy
of a news despatch which said among
other things that there were nearly
four hundred places in New York city
alone where intoxicating liquor is sold
openly and that prohibition is not be-
ing well enforced. The Commissioner
admitted defiance Of the law to some
extent. at the same time predicting 1t
would decrease, though expecting a
/ ioh5 HohI - PdDhN
must be an important factor If pro-
hibition is to become generally ef-
fective. He suggested an annual ap-
preparation of $500, 900 would be suf-
ficient to build up an enforcement per-
sonnel.
Obstacles Are Lated.
| Here is a summary OF the obstacles
mentioned by the Commissioner mill
tating against prohibition enforcement
in the order given by Senator Capper:
Lack of dry sentiment in large
! local communities not only against
| prohibition itself, but against law en-
forcement. this sentiment being re-
fiected through courts, officials and
| violators of the law.
Smuggling OF liquor along extended
borders near wet territory like
| Canada, Mexico and islands near the
Florida coast.
Improper standards regulating pro-
| prietary medicines. insufficient to
make them unfit for beverage pur-
poses, coupled with the issuance OF
too many permits-problems which
| are being met by increasing medica-
| tion in first instance, and taking some
| preparations OF the market in the
second.
Manufacture of industrial alcohol
| not denatured. which can be made
1 potable by adding little water and
\ brown sugar" 1t is said this is
being overcome by refusing permits
| for .llegitimate handling and BY in
! sisting upon denaturing.
Widespread prevalence of home
| brewing" On this point the Com
1 missioner says: There Is no ques-
| ton in my mind that quite good
many families have been manufactur-
ing home brew. This is a fad, an
adventure. Men engaged in 1t have
already ceased, and. as ! view It, 1t
! will die from its own results. We
/ have not devoted so much attention
! TO this question, being somewhat
afraid to do so lest we create re-
action against the law. To invade a
mans home Is a serious matter,
especially in those communities where
sentiment for prohibition Is not
1 strong
Lack Of cooperating by State ana
local officials with Federal prohipi-
ton enforcement officers.
Uncertainty In the minds OF brew
cry and distilling interests about a
possible future market. on the theory
| that the law might be modified. lead
\ ing them 10 commune HlanulaStuit.
Kramer Claims Progress.
I'm view of all these conditions" the
Commissioner says. Il believe we have
made remarkable progress, but have
much work to do. You cannot turn the
current OF history over night l believe
the failures of the past year we're due
! TO the administration of the law more
than to the law itself. ana in this as
sumo my share of responsibility"
Mr.. Kramer closes by saying that
while il is seen there are some un-
certainties in the law Il mas had hardly
a thorough enough trial to warrant
Congress In making any radical changes
at this time.
Commissioner OF Internal Revenue
williams issued new regulations to-day
Withdrawing in substance the recent
limit on sales OF whiskey and other
spirits to retail druggists
Notice has been sent out that here
after druggists can withdraw all OF the
spirits needed to meet demands on pre-
Scriptions. There is nominal limit OF
100 gallons of whiskey and 100 gallons
OF wine In each quarter. but stores need
ing more for legitimate requirements
can obtain It by furnishing satisfactory
proof.
Tho new orders modify the order OF
January %, limiting druggists to fve