Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19

and runs the GAnut from ammunition;
artificial fioweiS and aspirin to billiard
balls, corn remedy. dye, embalming
fluid, fireworks, glass, hats. imitation
ivory, jewelry, leather substitutes. mir
rors, optical goods, Photographic films.
rouge, soap, INT, varnish remover and
water colors.
While last years production OF COM
mercial alcohol was Il, $50 900 wine gall
Ions more than the total Of 92,418,000
gallons in 1928. it was only 1880 900
gallons higher than In 1927 and 500.
600 gallons above the output OF
los, 375. 1856 gallons in 1925.
In view of the greatly increased pro-
duction of automobiles and the exclu-
Sive use of lacQuers instead OF palnt
by that industry, and In view OF the
huge advances made in the manutac-
ture of artificial silk and other prod
nets using large allotments of alcohol
Federal officials do not feel at all con-
cerned by last years increase in the use
of industrial alcohol.
Permits Issued Carefully.
Permits for obtaining industrial AL
cohol are issued only after searching
investigation of the character. repu-
tation and financial responsibility OF
the applicants, the Prohibition Bureau
points out. Inspection OF the appll-
cant's premises is made and bonds are
required to cover the alcohol to be
withdrawn. Samples and formulas OF
all preparations to be manufactured are
carefully scrutinized and must meet
Government requirements.
After permits are granted records
must be kept showing the disposition
of the alcohol withdrawn and to whom
the products are sold. Frequent IN
spections are made and inspectors often
are stationed on the premises of the
permittees to watch operations.
Remarkable progress has been made
during the last nine months in elm
mating questionable and undesirable
permittees, so that the permit situation
at the present time is in better condi-
ton than has existed since passage OF
the national prohibition act, officials de-
clare. Seven hundred and sixty-five
permits were revoked over a six-month
period, including 165 permits of manu-
featuring concerns.
Close administrative attention has
resulted in practically putting the in
dependent denaturing plants out of
business, 1t is stated. During the months
of October and November no alcohol
was withdrawn by an Independent de-
maturing plant in the metropolitan dis
trict for the first time since 1920. Reg
ulations have been issued insuring the
disposition of ethylacetate solvents and
lacquer thinners in legitimate channels.
A large number of permits for manu-
facture Of toilet articles have been re-
voked. Hundreds of toilet formulas
have b<en revised.
Moreover, q Is per cent reduction
has been ordered in alcohol production
for the next calendar year, with view
to holding production within legal de-
mands.
Law Protects Cover up" Houses.
Mrs. wlllebrandt has referred to the
"cover-up houses" in connection with
the industrial alcohol problem. These
houses still exist, but not because of
any laxity in enforcement of industrial
alcohol regulations, 1t Is explained. The
law itself Is at fault, in that it restraints
the Government from tracing the flow
of commercial alcohol beyond the first
purchaser of articles manufactured by
permittees.
In short, the Government can control
the use to which commercial alcohol Is
put by the manufacturers licensed to
use 1t. and can require the manufac-
turer to give the name and address of
the dealer to whom his products are
consigned The Government cannot,
however, compel the dealer to tell what
he did with his consignment of shellac
thinner or hair tonic or whatever the
product may be.
Having learned of this immunity
under the law. some of the illicit users
of industrial alcohol have established
so-called "cover-up houses" which are
nothing more nor less than bootleg
establishments operating under the
glliSe of wholesale firms. Some OF these
dealers" have only a corporate name,
a room, a desk and a telephone. There
is no existing provision of law to COM
pei these dealers to obtain permits to
operate. and only when they are &C
tually detected in the act of violating
definite sections of the dry law can they
be dealt with.
AS long as the Government Is thus
restricted in keeping its eye on the
course of alcohol from the licensed dis
tilling plant to the ultimate consumer
there will continue to be some diversion
of the supply into Illicit fields, 1t Is be-
lieved. There is doubt as to the wisdom
of Government control of the flow be-
You'd the first purchaser of the manu-
featured product The task would be
a herculean one, for it would mean ex-
tending Federal scrutiny to every corner
drug store, every hardware store, and
countless other dealers in alcohol
derivatives.
The Bureau of Prohibition feels that
1t is doing a difficult job well, and IT. is
convinced it's honest critics will feel the
same way when they come into posses
sion of all the facts.