Evening star., 1937-09-04

eHeCtlNe IL some FeQeTal agency were
empowered to make social studies of
the liquor traffic. This would seem to
be necessary for the guidance OF fu-
ture legislation. The Federal Alcohol
Administration is uatchful of the So
cial trends OF the liquor traffic. and
where it can, within the law. direct
these trends. into more wholesome
channels, it is doing so. The ideal
system, of course would be Federal
State cooperation, for most of the
social evils are located in nature. sub
ject to municipal laws of control. 1t
is only when they are Jumped together,
as in the case of crime and poverty and
drunken driving, that they become a
national problem. Viewing it as such.
the F. A. A. has co-operated with
study groups and with State liquor
control authorities in graphing with
the problem
The system for regulation of the
trafflc was ideal. as planned in
the opinion OF the administrator,
with the Federal Government play
ing more prominent role than ever
before in regulating inter State traf-
flc, and the States, which must deal
with the social problems arising from
retail distribution, taking up the bur-
den of local regulation"
But, unhapplly, he adds, the svs-
tenn is not working out as it should
This is due in large measure, he
believes. to lack of proper CO.
| ordination between the State and
Federal agencies charged with con-
trolling the traffic.
1T seems to me-" he says. that if
ever there was an opportunity and a
crying demand for unity of action
! between the Federal Government and
the State it exists in the field of
liquor control. OF course, I realize
that it would be impossible for every
State in the Union to operate under
an Identical liquor control system.
Some States have found that the
monopoly system of liquor distribution
is the best method Of controlling the
liquor traffic, while others have
chosen to operate under a license
system under which rigid supervision
Is exercised over the license I am
satisfied. however. that. no matter
| what system of distribution NAV be
chosen for a particular State. there
are certain minimum standards
which may well be adopted by every
State to bring State control into
closer coordination with Federal con-
troll. and incidentally to protect the
general public from the social evils
which have always been associated
with liquor traffic.
Certainly no State should permit
within its boundaries the exercise of
any practice which is recognized TO
be pernlclous under Federal law and
In which the interstate operator is
precluded from indulging. I believe
| the F. A. A. act should be taken BY
every State in the Union as the min
lmum standard of good conduct for
every branch of this industry"
A MOTHER trend which he charac-
terized as personally verv dis
tresslng and an unfortunate develop
ment In the control of the alcoholic
beverage industry" is the increasing
presence of measures which dis
crlmlnate against the products Of
other States-a matter which directly
concerns the States themselves and
does not infringe upon Federal juris-
diction"
Il have noticed" states the admin
istrator. that, inspired by such
measures in recent legislation. there
now appear provisions which I believe
to be even more dangerous. Some of
the, State Legislatures have empow-
cred their liquor control boards or
taxing authorities to prescribe re-
taliatory regulations or taxes directed
against the Importation of alcoholic
beverages from any State which ap-
pears to discriminate against their
products Such measures. in the long
run. will be productive of conditions
which tend toward chaos and will
give rise to further and more violent
measures on the part Of other States
affected. It was the adoption of dis
criminatory legislation of this nature
by the original 13 States which, in
large part, made necessary the adop-
ton Of a Federal Constitution and
caused the control over interstate COM
merce to be lodged in the Federal Gov
ernment. The twenty-f1rst amend
ment has returned to the States part
OF the power to restrict or impede
interstate commerce in liquor. / urge
that this power be used in moderation
and not abused, lest the chaotic con-
ditions of pre-constitutional days ap-
pear again in the control of the
liquor traffic.
After almost four years Of repeal,
1t is time for the industry to ex-
anime carefully its policies and per-
formances to see whether or not it
Is sailing on the true course set by
the beacon lights OF experience-the
only course that will avoid the reefs
and shoals that brought disaster on a
previous voyage. And it is also time
for all liquor administrators. Federal
and State, to bring into actuality that
unity of regulatory practice that is
acknowledged by all practical students
Of this great question as most desirable
and necessary"