The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-05
APATHY GREETS
LIQUOR RETURN
TO CITY TODAY
High Prices and Shortage
of WhiSkey, Wine
Are Blamed.
Continued From Page One

Continued From Page One
s175 a pint announced prices of
Sl85 and up.
One drug store operator forecast
a drop TO as low as SIPS a pint for
blended whisky by Christmas. Prices
on aged and full-bOdied whisky
ranged from 50 a pint upward.
L was reported no rectifled
whisky yet has reached Indianapo-
lis. but experienced drinkers char
acterized one popular brand OF
blended whisky as little different
from rectified whisky
officials Of one large wholesale
company said they had a limited
supply Of whisky on hand, but ex-
pected to receive a larger supply
soon.
Sc Tax Cuts Supply
They saw little chance for a sharp
decrease IN whisky prices before
1885. pointing to the memorable law
Of supply and demand.
An opposite view on prices has been
taken by officials Of another whole
sale company who saw prospects Tor
a slight decrease in prices soon.
Generally low whisky stocks are
Cue not only to inability Of distil-
leries to get into full production, but
also 10 the Sc a case whisky tax in
Pennsylvania, it was explained.
Large stocks Of whisky owned by
the SChenly DiStilling Company are
stored in Pennsylvania and much
of the whisky intended for Indian
apohs was ordered before Pennsyl-
vania applied the Sc tax last week.
Law FlOuted Early
With f1Outing of the nO-drink reg
UlatiOn already under way in In
dianapoIis and shouted defiance
from the northern, dripping wet
section of the state, there was 81
lence from the state administration
on how it planned to enforce its
regulations.
indianapolis police will be con-
cerned with only two aspects of the
liquor enforcement problem, accord
ing to Chief Mike Morrissey.
These are public intoXicatiOn and
drunken driving.
There is no city ordinance against
public drinking. although there is
a ban on drinking in city parks.
Public intoXication and drunken
driving carry fine and sentence pen
alties
61S Drug Stores Ready
No concerted rush for drug store
permits TO Handle whisky was ap-
parent today at the Office of Paul
Fry. state excise director, but there
was a noticeable pickup in applica-
tiOns.
only forty-eight permits have
been issued to drug stores in the last
two weeks in anticipation Of re-
peal and there are only 618 drug
stores in the entire state licensed to
handle whisky. There are 200 stores
in Indiana.
There was a sharp contrast be-
tween today when liquor came back
and fifteen years ago when BaCChuS
sang his swan song in Indiana and
hibernated for the long drought
Today was a hangover" from
early fall with the sun shining a
smiling benediction on early drink
ers who sought their favorite drug
stores.
Last Day Is Recalled
April ?. 1918. when prohibitions
debut in Indiana was only hours
away. was a gloomy, clustering day
and a guSty rain beat sullenly on
die-hard CelebrantS.
The crowds were small as drinkers
struggled into saloons and shook Of
the rain There was as much
hilarity missing on that last day as
there is today.
A commentator Of that day re-
cords that hundreds of Celebrants
were kept off the streets by the
storm and only the hardened who
must be in at the final gasp of John
BarleycOrn braved the elements
This writer observed an ominouS
portent IN the fact that $500 sa-
looms in Indiana and SAT in Indian
apOlis closed, possibly never to re-
open again.
The saloons themselves antici-
pated no eventful spree on that last
day before prohibition because
stocks gave out early
Court Order Awaited in Vain
Drinkers hopes for lavish hoSpi-
tally were dashed since prices re-
manned at the same levels. Many
Indiana cities were given ten days
to get rid of stocks and some deal
erS waited hopefully for the
supreme court to declare the
eighteenth amendment unconstitu-
tional.'
As history has recorded. this &C
ton was not forthcoming. Resigned
to their fate. the saloons i'll many
cases were transformed into soft
drink parlors.
The $500 stock of the SEVERN
was transferred to Dayton and
blaSphemy of blasphemies-a coffee
shop supplanted the scene of many
a bent elbow.
Legal whisky went out meekly in
indianapolis in much the same
manner as it returned today.