The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-01-18
Want SURVEY
OF DISTILLED
SPIRTTSI IN NC.
Extent of Federal Aid in
Enforcing Law in State
Still a Question
BY J. c. Baskerville
IA" tIiur> -r."u- Wurrnu
Sir Waiter Hotel

Z
the federal government going t.
do about taxing and regulating
! liquor made in North Carolina
Is it going to ignore the state pro
hibition law and license moonshin,
erS and not modest those who Sc!
liquor if they pay the government
tax of 81 a gallon, or will the fed
eral government cooperate with
the state in trying to prevent it,
manufacture?
The office of the internal reve,
nue. bureau here has already re-
ceived general order from Wash,
ingtOn to require an inventory OF
all dealers in distilled spirits
wines, brandy. alcohol and SC
forth showing stocks on hand as
of January - and to collect the
government tax of SO gallon or
spirits Of 100 proof. But no de-
tailed instructions were received
as 10 how this law shall be admin
iStered in states where no liquor
is supposed to be made or sold.
So Collector of Internal Revenue
Charles II. Robertson has gone to
Washington to try to find out what
he is supposed to do. He is eX-
pected to come back the. latter
part of the week. But it is re-
garded as doubtful if ne will knew
even then just what he and mis-
internal revenue collectors are
supposed to do.
At the present time there IS no
federal law prohibiting either the
manufacture or sale of intoXicat-
ing liquor in North Car Jliua. with
the result that no federal officers
have been making any arrests for
manufacturing or selling whiskey
since the 18th Amendment was re-
pealed. The old law requiring all
those making whiskey to obtain a
federal license and also to pay
the tax on the liquor has been in
effect. but no instructions were
~"eived here from the bureau Of
rnal revenue in Washington
invoke this old law. so that no
TT to enforce it has been made,
as learned yesterday.
is understood that a bill has
prepared for introduction
congress to provide for fed
cooperation in the enforce
of the state prohibition laws
orth and South Carolina, but
by no means certain that this
will be enacted. since indica-
are that there is not much
)athv in congress for these
states.
jnless some additional legisla-
is enacted with particular
'ence to the dry states, it is
= to be difficult for us to
what we will be expected to
said U. S. Marshal Ford s.
thy here today. "At the pres
time we are not able to do
hing since we do not know
to do as far as liquor laws
concerned"
II is not likely that any new
legislation can be enacted within
less than 60 days. All U. S. mar
shals and deputies, however, may
be ordered at any time to seize
any and all liquor on which the
government tax has not been
paid. If this is done, it is agreed
that boOtleggers, blockaders and
speakeasy proprietors could then
pay the government tax of 81 a
gallon and be immune from any
federal interference. They would
then have to take their chances
with state OFFICERS. But most of
them have been doing this for
years with great success and
could probably continue to do so.
BEFORE national prohibition
went into effect, it is well known
that a great many of the larger
blockaders paid their taxes to the
federal government. in order not
to be molested by U. 5. revenue
agents and thus continue to manu-
facture and sell their liquor with
out being bothered. despite the
fact that the state law prohibited
it. Unless congress enacts some
special legislation for North and
South Carolina, it is believed that
the moonshiners. bootleggers and
rum runners can adopt this same
plan and thus stay in business
Indefinitely, since at the present
time the only thing the govern
ment seems interested in is get
ting the tax of So a gallon. Some
of the bootleggers, of course, will
seek to evade the payment of this
tax. But a good many are expect
ed to prefer to pay this tax ra'
guest of Mr.. and Mrs. A. F. Fin
lay. Sunday.
V. T. Jones made bushes;
trip to town Monday.
. Mrs. A. F. Finley and Mrs. V
T. Jones and V. T.. Jr., and Mis-:
Irene Cox called at the home Of
Mrs. John Summey recently.
A. D. Hill. of Hendersonville
visited his sister. Mrs. A. F. Fin
lay. Tuesday.
Mrs. Will Ownsby and daugh
ter, Mary Lou, visited Mr.. ant
Mrs. Fred Summey, Sunday.
Phoenix Weese visited his sis
ter. Mrs. C. C. Cantrell. recently
Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Jones ar
visiting Mr.. and Mrs. Elmer Jone
for awhile.
Mrs. Betty Blackwell and Mis-
Rachael Fay Nelson visited MI
and Mrs. J. T. Jones recently.
Rev. E. A. Edney filled his reg
ular appointment Sunday at Jone
Gap.