Evening star., 1933-12-26
FRAUD IS CHARGED
T0L|QUOR MAKERS
William p. Emo Fears Condi-
tionS Will Result in Pro.
hibitiOn'S Return.

William P. Emo. author Of a leafiet
entitled Control of Alcoholic Bever-
ages" today submitted the following
letter to The Star:
AN examination of Federal and
State regulations for the control of
alcoholic beverages so far published
cannot fail to convince any one with
unbiased interest in the welfare of our
country that special interests in I'M
portation. manufacture and sale, unless
curbed right now, will result in present
and future misfortune and a possible
return to prohibition.
The liquor business brought on pro-
hibition and no sane person can want
1t to do it again. AS proof OF my
statement, the whisky diStillers want
whisky taxed at so much per gallon.
Why? Because they will cut the whis-
ky with raw alcohol and water to
cheaper it to them without regard to
the health of the consumer. This kind
Of whisky is injurious to the digestion
and otherwise harmful. 1t is fraud,
pure ard simple, for the purpose OF
financial gain.
Cites Synthetic Gin.
$50 with made or synthetic gin
commonly known as bathtub gin; the
difference between it and distilled gin
Is that it is made by diluting alcohol
with about so per cent water, adding
Juniper berry extract and glycerine in
stead of all being distilled together
Again fraud for profit without regard
to health.
why do the American champagne
makers want such an unreasonable
%ol Cl,o fr,,Q q
They say because it is luxury'-but
Is it not also a most valuable medicine?
1t contains about the same alcoholic
content as claret or white wine. Should
we tax the water in 1t, or the gas. or
for that matter anything but the alco-
holic content?
THE keynote of liquor regulation Is
taxation, because if this is not properly
handled, the other things to be desired
will be defeated and We shall continue
to remain in the hands of profiteers
racketeerS ana bootleggerS.
Certain taxes are appropriate for the
Federal Government, others for the
State governments, but they should not
overlap one another. Federal revenue
should be limited to excise and import
taxes, based on the per-volume amount
of alcohol contained in beverages II
Whatever COHDlIldIlOI- lie Ouly Ol
the Federal Government is to prevent
smuggling collect taxes and if called
upon by any dry State to assist it tc
prevent transportation OF liquor from
an adjoining State.
States Free Agents.
THE Federal Government also has
power over the District of Columbia
the territories and the inSular possess
ions, all of which it can regulate as il
deems wise, or preferably, transfer this
power OF the Governors of each of these
localities.
The States are free agents and car
do what they please about the liquor
question. The Federal Government has
no right nor should it have any desire
to interfere with States rights. The
States % should not levy any excise
or import taxes on liquor. Their reve-
hue should be limited to receipts from
licenses although a retail luxury tax
in addition is worth consideration
(2) The profit on sales in sealed pack
ages made by individuals, companies OF
organizations authorized to sell should
be limited to a certain percentage, the
balance going to the State govern.
mentS.
This question is Of greater impor.
tance at the present time than any
other the Government has to cope with
and if it is not tackled promptly We
fore. beware the lobbyists for special
irtereStSI'