Evening star., 1933-04-02

art Of keeping speakeasy lies in know
ing who must be "seen" and who can
be ignored. When the beer law becomes
operative, the emphasis Of Federal con-
troll will shift from prohibition to reve-
nue. The authorities at Washington win
be raiding, padlocking and prosecuting
not because the offender has violated q
law which has q moral basis, but be-
cause he is evading taxation. However,
to alter the ponderous course Of Gov
ernment operations takes time.
Further, the optimistic bootlegger be-
lieves that the Federal authorities viii
make no undue effort to enforce the
beer law in all its aspects. Every one
realizes that it is sop, pending settlement
of the larger liquor question by repeal
of the eighteenth amendment. In these
circumstances, the bootlegger believes
that he can cross of from his budget
the very considerable item for Federal
protection. OF course, this cannot last
forever. The big boys know that, If the
small fry do not. Eventually, driven by
the need for ready cash, the Govern
ment viii get round to harrying and
prosecuting evaders of the revenue law.
Further, up to now the illicit liquor
business has met no organized opposition
from legitimate business But as the
new 80 brew gets its stride, the big
brewers will exert powerful pressure for
law enforcement. Meantime, the retail
ers and distributors intend cheerfully to
carry on. They are already discussing
tricks and devices. This, for instance:
A prosperous restaurant, now dealing in
beer manufactured in its own convenient
cellar, with flourish and display, will
buy two barrels a day of legal brew. But
it uses, in the ordinary course of busi-
ness, five barrels day. The other three
will come from its cellar-as usual. Any
one who knows the workings Of the pro-
hibition law knows how difficult 1t will
be to detect or prosecute such violations.
AS for the big fellows: In the third
week Of President Roosevelt's admin-
istration most Of them had made up
their minds-barring the unforeseen-to
go on for awhile and at least try out
the new conditions. Their product, Of
course, Is inferior In, all but alcoholic
content to that Of the legitimate brew-
ers. Therefore, the manufacturing cost
is rather lower. They win pay, Of course.
no taxes or license fees; they win meet
no overhead advertising. Check that
against protection money and the ex-
penses OF devices for furtive distribution
and the items stand at about q balance.
In case they are disagreeably deceiv-
ing themselves, they hope that the poll
ticians and general grafters to whom
they pay their overhead win listen to
reason, appreciate the danger Of killing
the goose that lays the golden eggs and
60 little lighter on them. Undoubtedly,
when national prohibition passes into
the discard the new State law win not
limit the alcoholic content of legal beer.
That will be the notice to quit Mean
time, there are probably few scrapings
left in the barrel. It is at least worth
trying.
Repeal Of national prohibition-th that Is
another story. Then comes the real job
of lquidating prohibition. Whatever
regulations we adopt in this State or In
other States, we cannot stop bootlegging
for long, long time, if for no other
reason, because the habit has become so
firmly fixed. The legitimate and sane
toned product, whether it be controlled
by the States or by private business, win
pay heavy taxes and viii be held to cer-
tain standards. The bootlegger, dodg-
;v,o cko
and will undersell. That is happening
now in some Canadian provinces.
However, this may prove only minor