Evening star., 1923-02-20
Smuggling First Liquor Leak
U. S. Must Plug to Enforce Lao
Change in Permit System, Cuts Do,Or,
Illegal Warehouse Withdrawals to
MISUNDERSTANDING Small Part.

League thinks the entire power of
tho Army and Navy should be mar
shaled, II necessary, to uphold the
majesty Of the law. Canada and
to help stop smuggling on the inter
national boundary. Unquestionably
those sources will eventually be re-
stricted. What can be done on the
coast line remains an open question
The investigating branch of the
government hopes to perfect it's ma
chinery to the point where distribu-
tion will be difficult, If not impossi-
Die, and violations reduced to the
same proportion as other crimes. NJ
Logging and Illicit distribution o.
liquor can be stopped. It's entirel.
a matter Of degree.
Entirely Behind Law.
Whatever impression the public ma,
have that the Harding administration
itself VIII wink at law violations
can be ernphaticaliy denied. Their.
never was greater misconception
of what is going on in Washington
The President is heart and soul for
law enforcement. Prohibition Com
missioner Haynes Is an energetic and
capable Individual, whose fervor on
the prohibition question is unsur-
passed by Wayne Wheeler himself
And he Is gradually eliminating the
corruption in the prohibition forces.
He gave me some interesting stats
tics.
For example, there were $4,000. 900
gallons of red liquor consumed an
nuaily before the federal amendment
was adopted. This was the amount
on which taxes were paid so 1t wa
possible to compile the data. The
exports from Great Britain and other
European countries since 1920 show
a marked falling off in liquor trade.
While much is being smuggled, it
isn't anywhere near the amount that
used to be imported from abroad.
Little Gosd whisky Imported.
! The impression of all officials is
that very little good whisky is being
brought into America. Nearly all OF
| dilution. The "bootleggers' want to
make as much money as possible. Sc
| they dilute the good with the bad
and have more cases to sell. When
approximately $4,000. 900 gallons were
stored in government warehouses to
4, be withdrawn only on permits for
| medicinal or other legitimate pur-
poses In 1920. approximately 49,
100000 gallons were withdrawn. Un-
forged. In 1921. with q new permi,
system and with only those employees
retained who believe in the enforce
| ment Of the law, the total in the frs,
six months was reduced to 3,500,0OG
gallons. and now. in the year 1927
Just ended. the aggregate withdraw
ais were 1900, 900 gallons.
Twenty-Five Years. Supply.
This Is by no means the minimum
/ that officials think can be reached
| but II 1t is. then America has in sotr-
age warehouses enough for abou,
T, twenty-five years more. These fig.
ures some day will be the basis fol
new legislation limiting the manu-
facture to a specified amount an.
nually.
OF the 10000 physicians in tn,
United States. only 10000 to o,o0t
have applied for permits to prescribe
liquor. Some who believe in it fol
medicinal purposes do not like to bs
pestered with prescriptions. They le
their patients get 1t through tn,
bootleg" route. Others do not thinl
medicine. A group Of 800 doctors /.
fighting in the courts against tn,
right of the federal government t
interfere with the practice of medi
, cine in any way. But prohibition Off
Gals are counting on the aid of th'
cutting down the wrongful use O.
permits.
| Leaky Permits Sealed.
The campaign Of the government
against the "bootlegger" has beel
twofold-to reduce the amount o
liquor at the source Of supply and t,
prevent distribution.
The first source Of supply was th
almost entirely closed up. Good liquo
with bonded warehouse labels 4
scarcer than 1t used to be. Thre
hundred bonded warehouses are be