Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09
DORIAN M|N|M|ZES
ALCOHOL DIVERSION
Commissioner Says Critics,
Lacking Facts, "Magnify"
Extent of Illicit Supply.

Striking back at his critics, Prohibi-
ton Commissioner James NJ. Doran, in
comprehensive monograph issued last
night, charges these critics, lacking
facts as basis for their fears, have
greatly magnified the extent and danger
of industrial alcohol diversions"
One OF the principal sources OF Illicit
alcohol In the hands of bootleggers to-
day, DR.. Doran said is corn sugar, the
production Of which increased from
150, 100000 in 1921 to $50 900 900 pounds
last year.
Alcohol Check Is Inadequate.
The chief handicap that faces Gov
eminent administrative officials in stop
ping diversions, DR.. Doran explained, Is
that under the law the Government
cannot trace industrial alcohol down the
line of its varied uses beyond the first
purchaser of alcoholic products manu-
featured by firms or individuals hold
ing Government permits.
True enough, the Government has
control over the use of alcohol by man.
ufacturers licensed to make certain
products with alcohol as a raw mate
rial, and does require such manufactur-
ers to furnish the Government with the
name and address of the wholesale
dealer or other dealer who buys his
products ostensibly for lawful sale"
Many original purchasers have cor
porate names and under the law can
not be compelled to show their books,
he explained. Many have been and are
suspected of not legally disposing of
their products. Many permittees selling
their products to first purchasers are
operating under permits restored by the
courts, which previously we're revoked
by prohibition administrators
Many diverters will be caught and
prosecuted" he declared. But the
Government lacking the power to re-
Quire them to open their books and
produce other records showing disposi-
the ultimate consumer, makes it almost
superhuman task to detect them In
violations. with abundant proof that
will stand the test in court, in prosecu-
tons for conspiracy or other violations
of the prohibition laws"
1T is clear, therefore" DR.. Doran
pointed out, that as long as the
Government Is thus restricted by the
explicit provisions of existing law,
against delving into dealers records be-
yond the original purchaser, certain
minor quantity of industrial alcohol
will continue to be classed as
questionable"
Diversions Held Small.
1ueIe PROBABLY always Will De some
diversions he admitted, land illicit
! manipulation of products, made from
denatured alcohol But the total volume
OF such diversions is small PERCENTAGE
OF the total production of alcohol man
ufactured lawfully for legitimate COM
! mercial use"
The monograph deals with all i'm
| portant phases of Government super
vision over manufacture, storage, dis
| tribution and sale of alcohol, for legiti-
| mate and lawful use in the arts,
sciences and industry and describes the
| system of control ito assure an ample
| supply OF alcohol for legitimate indus
try and to prevent unlawful uses"
Since the World War, Dr. Doran
said, there has been a remarkable de-
| velopment along chemical manufacture
! ing lines in the United States. Today
our industries consume more industrial
alcohol than those of any other coun-
try. There are now more than $4,000
users OF industrial alcohol engaged In
manufacturing
Referring TO the growth in use of in
dustrial alcohol, the prohibition COM
missioner declared the Government has
listed II as one of the Nations key in
dustries. There are more than $50 ,OOO
permittees using or handling alcohol
In some manner, including physicians
and druggists, 1t was explained, with 81
plants producing alcohol for CONNER
cial purposes. These plants produced
more than 100,000,000 wine gallons OF
! alcohol during the last fiscal year
There are " denaturing plants and rs
bonded warehouses.