Evening star., 1927-02-16
URGE BILL TO HALT
BOOTLEG MENACE"
Administration influences
Backing "MedicinaI Spirits
Act" Pending in House.

Full administration influence will he
= mt behind the Hawley medicinal
spirits act just unanimously reported
10 the House by the ways and means
committed Secretary Mellon and
Gen. Andrews. chief prohibition Off
Ger. believe the bill. which is to per-
nit private corporations under Gov
ernment supervision to distribute the
existing supply of whisky and manu-
facture fresh supplies for replenish-
nent purposes, is emergency ieg1sla-
ton of the most urgent kind The
Treasury Department is convinced
after exhaustive study. that the Haw-
ley measure provides the only effective
means available for conserving the
5000 900 or - 600, 900 gallons of medi-
cinal whisky now on hand and guar
anteeing its dispensation under legal
auspices and at fair prices.
Action on Bill Expected.
Action on the Hawley bill, despite
the legislative jam in which both
House and Senate are locked, is hoped
. for before Congress adjourns. The
Treasury has confidence on that score
because the measure now submitted is
devoid of the features found objection
able in the bill for which the Hawley
act is a substitute. The preceding
: half of the Treasury Department by
Representative Green, chairman Of the
ways and means committee, created
Federal corporation to take over by
purchase or condemnation the entire
existing stock of medicinal spirits.
The corporation thereupon was TO be-
come the sole manufacturer and seller
of medicinal liquors. subject to rigid
Treasury regulation.
Tl1n n fnn e. n
that project to pieces. Opposition was
based on the charge that the Green
bill would have established an un-
American monopoly and have pro-
voked criticism and attack certain to
make the schemes adoption by Con-
gress practically impossible. A sub
committee of ways and means mem
i hers was thereupon appointed to work
out the substitute proposition. which
completely does away with the monop-
oily feature. Instead of one Federal
corporation in exclusive possession of
the whisky traffic. the Hawley bill
provides for competition.
Creates Separate Corporations.
If enacted into law, the medicinal
spirits act will bring about the forma-
ton of not fewer than two and not
more than six whisky corporations.
These companies would concentrate
into not more than six warehouses the
existing stocks of bonded spirits now
distributed among 81 warehouses
throughout the country. The newly
licensed corporation would also be au-
thorized to begin the manufacture,
under close Government supervision,
of new whisky in not more than six
distilleries. Plants dormant since en-
actment of prohibition would be re-
stored to operation for this purpose.
The Hawkey plan carries enforcement
features corresponding to the Vol
stead law and provides severe pen.
alties for counterfeiting of labels and
packages.
Both drys and vets are on record
in favor of the medicinal spirits leg
islation now proposed. The bill in
particular disposes Of the charge
made by the Anti-Saloon League when
the Government some time ago was
considering scheme that would have
in effect put 1t into the liquor busi.
ness. On that occasion it was mainly
the allegation of Wayne B. Wheeler
that Uncle Sam will he the greatest
bartender in the world" which re-
suited in withdrawal of the plan.
Described as Constructive.
As now formulated the spirits bill
;, IL described as a constructive meas
ure, which places full responsibility
upon the Treasury to assure an ade-
Quate supply of pure whisky for legal
uses and prevent It's diversion and
adulteration from the source to the
consumer. All concerned in the work
ing out of the proposal are persuaded
fhat it will deal a staggering, If not
"a Knockout. blow to the bootleg in
dustry, which has notoriously been
tarnpering with. and richly profiting