The New York herald., 1922-01-18

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Virginia, North Carolina. South Caro-
lima, Georgia and Florida, the rest OF
the coast States, are in wet territory,
with Georgia possibly the wettest OF
the lot.
The States along the Gulf and the
Mexican border are wet; those to the
eastward rather more so than the rest.
The Pacific coast States are also wet,
and along the Canadian border there
is varying degree Of disobedience Of
the law, with conditions at their worst
in the neighborhood Of the Great
Lakes and at their best in Vermont
and New Hampshire.
There Is notEtng geographical about
the situation generally. however; nor
Is the West greatly superior to the
East. Four Of the driest States are
in the East-vermont. New Hamp-
shire, Maine and Delaware. Two very
wet States-California and Oregon
are in the Far West. And Missouri,
very wet indeed, and centrally located,
is bordered by some Of the driest
States In the Union. q
Consumption Decreasing.
But the term "wet" is misleading at
best. 1t cannot mean that sections to
which It is applied are now consuming
as much liquor as they did before pro-
hibition. because almost every report
received is to tie contrary and the
very marked decrease in the arrests
for drunkenness shows that there has
been decreased consumption. To sub
stantiate this are the figures OF the
Governmcnt dealing with. the release
of intoxicants from bond and the hg-
ures as to imports.
The unknown factors are the smuS-
rIed goods and the home brew. IN
terested sources utilize these Factors
as they please. On the one rama
ho,re brewing is classed as fad; on
the other hand II is considered as Oh
vital and growing Importance ana the
sale Of malt and hops by the package
,s ouoted TO substantiate the conten-
ton.
The fact Is no one can accurately
o,ess how much liquor Is being car
rted into the country surreputousiy
nor how much is being made iiiciuy.
reports and Govern
nent figures on arrests and seizures
would indicate that the smuggling ac-
t,v,tv and the enterprise OF the moon
ebtner and the home brewer Is larseiy
a question of local conditions. Moon-
shining Is almost unknown In Kansas
because there is no demand for nquor.
Tn Georgia the moonshiner Is active
and prosperous.
This survey has shown that enforce
n,ant is poorest. as in Rhode Island,
where there is no state enforcement
law and no cooperation between iocai
and Federal authorities. II IS at i's
best where the State has passed law
which enables the local police authori-
ties 10 take a hand. New York city
furnishes one example OF the latter
state of affairs, but yet New York city
IL one of the wettest spots In the coun-
trv. Even what might be termed IN
tensive enforcement activity does not
seem necessarily to result In actual
enforcement of the prohibition law.
Cost May he staggerins.
What enforcement may hsve cost
the States and the cities there Is no
possible way of Judging. That the
cost has been high there Is no doubt.
The item. could II be calculated. should
be added TO the loss In revenue which
many OF the States have sustained as
result Of prohibition, so that an esti-
mate of the cost Of tho dry law by
states might be Appropriated. The
total OF such costs, added to the loss In
Federal revenue. which Is more than
$500 900 900 year plus the cost OF
Federal enforcement. would give
staggering total.
Some measure OF the cost OF Fed
eral enforcement is possible. Follow
ing Is a table prepared by the prohi-
bitlon unit in Washington showing
the amounts expended in the last As
cal year for prohibition enforcement:
Rent .................. *l26s4I.Oo
TeIephone ......... 17,40s.05
Supplies and equipment. 37,25S.45 |
Purchase of evidence and
miscellaneous ........ 157.e36.S9