New Britain herald., 1926-04-14
Gen. Andrews Admits Home Manufacture of Intoxicants Is Serious ly Injurious To Moral Fibre of Nation.
Opposed to Reopening of SaloOns-Thinks Buck ner's Figures on Divert ed Alcohol About 15 Mil lion Gallons Too High.

Washington, April ii P,- Frankly concedlng that home manufacture of iutoxicants is seriously injurious to the nations moral fibre. Assistant Secretary Andrews, in charge of pro- Aibition enforcement, told the sen- ate prohibition committee today that in his opinion enforcement would bo easier of government manufacture and sale of non-intoNicating liquors were legalizcd.
 Millions of Gallons
 Tcstifying as the last witness to be called by the sets, and using as an exhibit a large copper still, complete and ready for operation, the prohibi- 1ion chief said 1t was likely" that small stills operated in homes are producing millions of gallons of liquor.
 He said restricted government sala Of uou-intoxicating beverages for Use in the home would help remedy this situation, but he added that it would he disastrous to permit a return or the saloon When asked what he would consider "non-intoxicating' drinks and whether 12 per cent wine was intoxicating in fact, he declined to cypress an opinion. 6
 The prohibition chief expressed this opinion in q reply 10 a series of questions.
 Asked Numerous Questions
 Do you not believe that the legal sale of liouors non intoxicating ill fact, would bring about improved conditions?" was the first question of the series, asked by Julien Cod man, counsel for the vets.
 eve would have to know the con- ditions of manufacture and distribu. tion," Andrews replied.
 "Weu with government sale and distribution and no saloon, suggest ed Senator Reed, democrat, Missouri.
 Not to be drunk anywhere except Il. the homer" pueried Andrews.
 cor first-class hotels" added Reed.
 "My opinion is that it probably would aid in law enforcement An drews said.
 He added, however, that it would be "disastrous' to have the sale of beer in open saloons; that theso saloons would become blinds for hard liquor sales.
 On the question of 12 tper cent wine, General Andrews would nor commit himself. He declined to eX- press an opinion whether such wine was intoxicating in fact. 2
 Many Good Laughs
 The crowded committee room was treated to many laughs as Senator Reed, democrat, Missouri, the only vet on the committee, took General Andrews through an intricate dis Cussion Of stills and distilling. In the course of it, the senator took New England as an example and drew from the witness an estimate that government agents get one ill 1O of the stills that operate in that section.
 "The cold truth about this mat ter, CODlluucQ l(ttu, IS (IldI lAtlt was practically no manufacture of heers or whiskcy in the homes ol the people before prohibition but that the people have gone into the manufacture of intoXicantS in their homes. Doesn't this have a ten dency 10 bring the families and children of the American hom" into direct and intimate contact with Hquor?"
 General Andrews Agrees "Of course it does" replied Gen. eral Andrews. Isn't it promoting the ultimate destruction of the morals of the families when this goes on?' "It is seriously injurious 10 their morals" Andrews said.
 Would it not be much better" persisted Reed, If the parent could go out some place and get his Grog
 (Continupd on Paige 13l