Evening star., 1934-04-29
CHOATE D|SCL0SES
BOOTLEGG|NC GAIN
Demands Real Enforcement
to Halt Crimes Supply
as Drinking Grows.
(Continued From First Page.)

Gin ii6 hours day, ESQ days ooo
Brandy ssHi 40 hours day. io4 800 wv
Rum G5 hours a day, $50
days year) ........... 4'41o''lS
This does not take into account the
large capacity of the industrial alcohol
plants for the production of neutral
spirits, used by rectif1ers in making
blended whiskies, gin and cordials, be-
cause only a relatively small and now
indeterminable part of that capacity
is ever so used, the major part of it
going into industrial (denatured) alco-
hol. Moreover, the operations of those
rectifiers who buy neutral spirits from
alcohol producers are still on very
small scale. The bulk of the country S
beverage spirits have always been pro-
duced by the beverage distillers, and
their capacity furnishes the only avail
able basis for comparison.
Appeared Adequate.
This initial legal capacity appeared
adequate to meet the probable demand,
which, taking into consideration on
the one hand the present low buying
power and on the other the increased
population, was expected to be some
what below the average for the years
before prohibition. In those days. the
real consumption could be estimated.
In the five fiscal years from 1912 to
1916, inclusive. the tax-paid with
drawals of whisky, gin. brandy and
l.
Ions. The tax-paid Withdrawals Of
neutral spirits, during the same period
averaged 57435,018 gallons. Some of
this, possibly 10 per cent, was used
for pharmaceuticals, perfumes, and
other industrial purposes for which de-
natured alcohol would not serve, but
the bulk of it went into blended
whisky and other beverages. All told,
the tax-paid Withdrawals Of spirits
actually used for beverage purposes
averaged about 13O 200, 900 gallons, and
this, since the illicit production was
then negligible. was doubtless approx
imately the quantity consumed. These
figures take. no account of imports in
the comparison which we are making
between the legal and the illicit ca
pacities, because pre-prohibition i'm
ports were negligible in comparison
to the domestic production.
The legal capacity above stated,
while it represented theoretical max
imum not likely to be approached in
practice, was thought capable of pro-
viding both for current consumption
at this rate. and for storing fair guam
titles to build up the exhausted stocks
normally held for ageing. The Federal
Alcohol Control Administration, never
theless. after study based on hearing
held February S, 1884, permitted in
creases in capacity for the production
of certain types and kinds of spirits,
which, when in operation, will add
another 10000 Oe0 gallons or SO to the
total legal possible production. AS thus
increased. the industry will probably
be able to supply, not only as much
as it can sell under present taxes and
against the present bootleg competi-
ton, but as much as we used to drink
before prohibition, as well as some
storage for ageing.
Seizures Reveal Status.
The facts which indicate that the
illegal capacity exceeds this legal ca
pacity are those of the seizures OF
illicit distilleries made by the alcoholic
beverage unit of the Department OF
Justice. The number of these seizures
has, for years, been staggering. In
1892 more than 10000 and in the first
half of 1888, 10.125 more were seized.
On June 80, 1888. large cut in the
enforcement personnel was made, fol-
lowed by further cut of so per cent
in August AS result, seizures i'm
mediately dropped off to about third
of their former numbers, and for the
second half of 1888 amounted to only
save the mark!-3,627, averaging for
the last quarter of 1888 little under
500 a month.
The fact that the decrease in seiz-
ures exactly conceded in time with
the decrease in the enforcement forces
shows that it was not due to any
diminution in the number Of illegal
plants.
Since the beginning of 1884, with
no increase in the crippled enforce
ment unit, the seizures have actually
increased. In January. 1872; in Feb
ruary, 582, and in March, 674 were
seized, total for the quarter of 1898.
These figures are. under the circum-
stances. astounding, and particularly
so when it is realized that they in
clude only the Federal seizures, and
not the substantial numbers made in
addition by some of the States: but
the numbers are not as disquieting as
the capacity involved.
Let no one imagine that the things
seized were all trifiing moonshiners
teakettle makeShifts. 1t was not mere
stills that were seized, but active dis
tilleries. Many were large plants of
the most modern description with stills
tall enough to extend through three
or four stories of well equipped build
ings. A careful computation of the
annual capacity of those seized in
the first quarter of 1884 has been
made on the same basis as was used
in computing the legal capacity, and
it shows the almost incredible figure
of 67,905,770.
The increase since the last quarter
OF 1888 indicates that seizures will
continue at this rate, and obviously
from the experience of 1892 and 1888
they would continue at a vastly
greater rate II the enforcement forces
were adequate. If they merely hold,
however, at the present average, they
will amount for the year 1884 to a
total of 1882 illicit plants with a
combined annual capacity of 271 ,623,-
080 gallons, or 1,343,046 more than
that of all the legitimate plants be-
fore the increase recently permitted
by the F. A. c. A., and only about
IL per cent less than the legitimate
total will be after that increase takes
effect. This capacity, if operated, as
distilleries used to be, on an eight
hour-a-day basis, would turn out 1O8,-
649,232 gallons of liquor each year.
Others Undetected.
This, remember, is the capacity of
the seized distilleries alone, or rather
of those which will presumably be
seized during 1884. Those unseized
continue in operation, pouring out
bootleg LIQUOR. The long continued