Evening star., 1932-08-14
HARTMAN FAVORS
DRY LAW CHANGE
High Taxation and ReguIa-
ton Seen Giving U. S.
Billion in Revenue.

Immediate changing of the Volstead
act to permit the manufacture and sale
of Intoxicating beer" and modifi-
cation or repeal of the eighteenth
Amendment was recommended last
night by Henry I. Hartman, president
of the Chamber Of Commerce OF the
United States.
In a radio address made public by
the chamber. Hartman said he most
heartily" welcomed the attitude of the
Democratic and Republican parties on
prohibition and looked upon their stand
as one that "foreshadows the doom OF
the eighteenth amendment"
II trust that its modification or re-
peal will come soon." he added. land
that We may adopt the British policy of
high taxation and strict regulation,
permitting such States as desire pro-
h.bition to continue it,"
Billion in Revenue Seen.
"This," he said, will advance the
cause of temperance and from a bill
lion to billion and a half dollars will
accrue to our various governmental
units. Pending the repeal or modifica-
tion we might, with advantage, imme-
diately change the Volstead act to per
NIT the manufacture. transportation
and sale of on-intoxicating beer, tax
ing it at the rate of Sc a barrel. This
would bring annually into the Federal
Treasury sum approximating $400,-
600, 600"
Hartman compared the British and
American policies toward liquor and
favored the former.
What are the results of our expert
ment?" he asked. Probably as much
liquor Is consumed today as in 1914.
Opr jails are crowded with prisoners
arrested for drunkenness Crime rings,
supported largely by bootlegging profits,
f1ourishes. Poisoned alcohol Is substi-
Of whisky and gin has been encour-
aged at the expense of drinking beer
and light Wines"
Business Upturn Begun.
Citing upward turns in farm, security
and bond prices and signs of renewed
business activity, Hartman said 1.-The
psychology of fear is slowly giving way
to the psychology of hope and return
ing confidence" and many funda-
mental factors appear in a better
light"
THE gravest immediate problem that
lies in the path of economic recovery
and stabilization is the excessive cost
VI SOFtIIlIIlcIlI, Ile SdlQ.
He urged a reduction of at least Is
per cent in all governmental budgets
and that the President be authorized to
veto single items in appropriation bills
to offset a Temptation to log-rolling"
in Congress.
Hartman recommended an over
hauling of "our whole system of taxa
tion," which he compared to IAN ill
adjusted pack-saddle."
Sales Taxes Needed.
'The time is at hand" he said. when
the national Government should give
consideration to the manufacturers
sales tax, and municipal governments
should weigh the possibilities of retail
sales tax"
Re-esta blishment Of employment as
the broad base for industrial and COM
mercial recovery should be the con-
Germ Of all of u.s." he said, adding: "If
we cannot adjust business to the neces-
sity for employment, we can at least
adjust employment to the requirements
of business"
Modification Of laws to encourage
formation Of trade associations, repeal
Of the section of the agricultural
marketing act permitting the Farm
Board to buy in the open market and
removal Of the Government from busi-
ness activities were among the things
he suggested to help business.