Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-29
LIQUOR SMUGGLING
TO j. s. ENR|Ch|NG
BAHAMA ISLANDS

Washington, Jan. 2S.-Liquor is
now being smuggled into the United
States from the Bahama Islands at
the rate of 100000 gallons annually,
While the government and population
Of that British colony, getting ere
lativcly immense revenues from the
traffic" are absolutely indisposed to
sympathize with efforts to check it,
according to a statement issued to-
day by Representative Rogers. Re-
publican, Massachusetts, based. he
declared. on official data furnished
him by the State Department..
From the duties of whiskey alone,
Mr.. Rogers said, the islands are de-
irving an income three times as great
as their government revenues from
all sources in 1918. while the csti
mated profits of those interested in
the traffic. including members of the
elected legislative body, are said to
be cnriching.
Mr.. Rogers declared the State De-
partmcnt report read like book of
Fiction" in describing the mushroom
growth, still continuing of what he
classed as ''an established practice,
with great capital and organized
procedure" running liquor into the
United States through the screen
erected by prohibition enforcement
agents.
Up to 1919. Mr.. Rogers asserted.
the annual report of liquor to the
Bahamas We're $4,000 gallons, while
for 1922, they amounted to 100000
gallons.
THE to the last quart" he said,
Il am advised the liquors are ship
ped to the United States. All told,
100000 gallons have found their
way into the country. all the way
York. as far east as Boston.
"The vessels, nearly all flying the
British nag, will clear for the
French port of ST. Pierre, Miquelon,
or for Tampico. Mexico.
I'll may say in this connection that
SO vessels. of 4,S2S net tons. were
engaged in this traffic in the year
1922.
,, 1.-THE average annual shipments for
the last three years during which
period the United States has been
Dry were nearly 100000 gallons. The
shipments for 1922 amounted to
nearly 100000 gallons. Whether
this great increase will continue. is
not known, but even the islanders
believe the peak has been nearly
reached. I am advised that the rye
and bourbon Whiskies, shipped to
Europe when liquor was ordered eX-
ported from the United States on
January 20, 1920, and reimportcd in
to Nassau and marketed. have been
nearly exhausted. Befo>e this year
ends. shipments from Nassau will
consist of Scotch Whistles alone.
Most of this is of - proof. against
the American standard of 100. and is
new and inferior. 1t sells at Nassau
at about S21 a case of IL reputed
quarts. The freight to the American
coast is SO per case, usually paid
by the American buyer. and the price
over the ships rail off the Ameri-
can coast is from Sal to $50.
MY information is that serious
cooperation in checking the traffic
cannot be obtained from the Ba-
hannah government.
"Certainly the Bahaman govern
ment derives relatively immense
revenue from the traffic, as it allows
no drawbacks on liquor re-eXportcd
1t received a duty at current eX-
change equal to $500 per case Of one
! dozen bottles. Normal official reve-
MUGS from an sources did not exceed
$500, 600 per annum prior to 1918. In
1920 the duty on liquor alone
amounted to s6O5OO0. in 1921. to
s9S4.O00 and in 1922, to at least ST.
| 100000"