Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-19
Government Faced With Problem of
The Control of Marketing of Liquors

charge than much bootleg whisky Of
quality. The cheaper whisky, cut
for /, Is expected to sell as low as
S14.60 a case and may retail at 81
a quart, after taxes and profit.
The Interstate Commission on Con-
fiicting Taxation, meeting here. has
recommended that taxes on liquor
made on a gallonage basis, should be
levied and collected only by the Fed
eral Government. Then. after collec-
ton, the Government would retain half
Of the tax for its own uses and dis
| tribute to the wet States the other half
In proportion to their population.
However, a number of wet States
already are prepared to impose taxes.
1t is the conclusion of the Interstate
Commission on Conflicting Taxation
that If the tax on hard or spurious
liquors should exceed So it would tend
to drive business to bootleggers and
would not promote temperance. The
Federal Government is talking of a
$3.50 tax for its own use. to yield a
revenue variously estimated from $780,
900, 900 to $500,0o0o0o a year. depend
ing on consumption. The tax on wine
would add to this total.
The plan for a single tax, to be COL
lected by the Federal Government, is
believed to be looked upon with favor
| by President Roosevelt. 1t would BE a
step in the direction of uniform State
and Federal tax system, designed to
prevent duplication-sn objective the
President has frequently Endorsed.
State governments are taking widely
different actions in their search for a
form of liquor sale control that will sat-
isfy the voters. Two general methods
or hoiv1n fNI1Orual NNyaa &C. fry<I
of manufacturers and distributors. The
other is for creation of State monop-
oily in distribution.
Pennsylvania, Washington, Montana,
Delaware and Iowa are toying with the
monopoly idea. Montana would require
its citizens to obtain permits before
they could buy liquor from State
stores. Pennsylvania would operate
State stores selling packaged liquor
Only licensed places would be permitted
to sell intoxicants for consumption on
the premises Delaware Is to start with
private sale, but holds in reserve a
system of State distribution. Wisconsin
plans to permit municipalities to OPP
crate liquor stores.
In Massachusetts, they are talking of
modified saloon" as the retail outlet
for liquor. A modified saloon is not
defined. Nevada after December 5 will
be vide open, unless the State officials
change their minds. New York would
require that drinkers of hard liquor be
seated when they drink Indiana has
a system Of regulated sale in package
only, except for sale in restaurants or
hotels.
The whole problem has come forward
so suddenly that the State and Ma
tional Governments are scarcely pre-
pared to meet the new conditions that
VIII be presented, President Roosevelt
is giving much attention to creation
of a system of control-at the same
time he is concerned with monetary
policies, Russian recognition, farm re-
volts and multitude of other matters
through the busy hours of his day.
The instrument for control and for
reform of the whole business in intoxi-
cants is believed by officials to exist
in the agricultural adjustment act.
Through its use the Government can
impose upon the industry some OF the
responsibility for policing itself.
Copyright, 1880