The New York herald., 1922-01-23
WHISKY BARREL,
EMPTY, Brings $35
e. s. Revenue Seal Must Be
OH Them for Bootleg
gers Use.
FLAVOR HOOCH ALSO
COncOctions Put Into Old
Charred Barrels Get Some
Real Aroma.
DRUGGISTS HAVE A TRICK
Dilute withdrawn Liquor to
Use for Prescriptions;
Sell Surplus.

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There was time when whisky
barrels could be bought for 81 apiece.
Bootleggers nowadays pay os much
as $50 each for them-empty-pro-
vided each bears tho revenue seal that
stamped the former contents OF the
barrel as bonded whisky. What the
bootleggers fill them with is another
matter, and so is the price they de-
mand for their liquor when they are
able to point to barrel bearing the
Government imprint. proclaiming the
contents TO be TIE real stuff.
Liquor dealers who are doing q
legitimate business. so far as their
own sales OF liquor are concerned, ac-
lcording to prohibition agents, not in
frequently take advantage of the
profitable sideline opened up to tEem
by the bootlcggcr's eagerness to lay
his hands on whisky barrels stamped
by the Government. The sale is pure
velvet, and the chances OF detection
are small.
The more the barrels have been used.
the longer liquor has aged in them and
the thicker the Char with which the
insides OF the barrels are lined the BET
ter prices they bring. When the boot
legger's raw product has remained in one
OF these old barrels for some time Il
gains some superficial likeness TO real
whisky.
Side Line of Drusgfsts.
Then the retail druggists who sell
liquor on physicians prescriptions have
their own side line---those Of them whose
consciences do not work overtime where
the chance OF Governmental Interference
Is small. They draw of a part Of the
liquor which they secure through legal
channels and sell Il to bootieggers. They
then dilute the remainder so that their
records Of retail sales tally with the
records Of the amount OF liquor they are
permitted to have in stock.
Little OF the whisky to be had in
New York to-day. even when il is OF
good quality. according TO the Federal
agents. is Of full strength. Every handler
who has a chance TO dilute It does so.
Occasionally cases of excellent pre-
prohibition stun is bought, of which half
the battles may be filed with something
little better than water.
William II. Anderson. State Superin.
tendent OF the Anti-Saloon League, an
rounced yesterday that the league had
received from David III. Blair. Commits
sioner OF Internal Revenue. assurance
that he approves the leagues local en-
forcement program. Mr.. Anderson had
written TO Commissioner Blair, asking
him 70 state his position. The Commits
sioner replied as follows:
Blair Praises League.
II am very much surprised at your let
ter of December 80. My contention all
along has been. and is now, that we
must look TO outside organizations to
create public sentiment in favor of the
enforcement OF the prohibition law and
all other laws. The prohibition law par
ticularly cannot be enforced to q satis-
factory degree until public sentiment IA
vors its enforcement
"As / view Il. the duties OF this bureau
are 10 carry out tho provisions OF the
law, and | would be very glad II your or
ganizatior or any other organization
Ntt4Q MOih uV PuOtiC 10 tnt
point that we could enforce Il 100 per
cent. We should also have the coopera-
ton OF the local authorities. both State
and municipal. and I have tried at all
times TO Impress that on our prohibition
directors and agents.
Every right minded citizen favcrs a
sentiment for the enforcement OF all
laws, and I have expressed no opinion
that could be construed otherwise. did
state that doubted the authority OF this
bureau 20 use doilar-a-yenr men as pro-
hibltion agents. and that II we had the
authority I doubted the wisdom of using
these volunteer people. J am stili OF
that opinion I believe that the ultimate
result of II would be to hurt instead OF
help the enforcement OF the law.
II most heartily approve any outside
agency which creates sentiment In IA
vor OF law and order. and we must d.
pend upon the people 'outsde 20 create
the proper sentiment and 20 give us the
right kind Of support
Two Reports Are Denied.
II was reported yesterday. bu. denied
by Director Day. that several moro
clerks were 10 be dropped from the STAFF
at prohibition headquarters. II was
stated by William n. Anderson that
Director Day would he introduced az
the meeting IN the Madison Avenue Bap-
tlst Church that IL 20 be addressed by
Prohibition Commissioner Haynes, but
Nh Day denied this report also. The
Commissioner arrived In New York yes
ter1ay.
Mr.. Anderson said last nizht that al.
though the present staff Of enforcement
agents ore not arch-angels they are far
more honest than the old staff
The police OF the upper West side
are wondering when the Government
will find time 20 take of their hands
tho large quantities Of whiskey. liquors
and wines that have been confiscnted
In that district In the last few months.
The hooch. valued az about $4,000. i~
stored in the basement OF the old La
Sale police station. &c Ia Sale street
and three policemen are kept busy
guarding Il. The news has spread
throughout tho section. and the police
fcPr that boatleegers will try 20 get
hold OF tho liquor.
nnN.r.