Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-03-30
NOT BEING REPLACED

NOT BEING REPLACED
For this withdrawn liquor is not
being replaced by other producers,
despite the fact that the commits
sion was able 10 make available
10 The public during January and
February almost as much whisky
as last year
Because he wrote the Michigan
LIQUOR Control Act and has kept
close watch of its administration
since repeal, Judge Picard today
appealed 10 Brown 20 change fed
eral regulations so that this cheap
whisky can be replaced on the
local market
AS an example OF how Michigan's
consumption Of cheap whisky is
being cut, one company which sold
the state l60.541 cases last year
has assigned only $500 here for
1913. Another which sold los, 400
cases has Withdrawn altogether.
Also Withdrawn are about 20
brands which last year sold be-
tween 10000 and 10000 cases.
Yet Michigan is able 10 buy
from 70 10 50 per cent OF lSl2
consumption of the more expensive
b~nds.
Judge Picard explained the
Michigan Liquor Control Commits
sion has been designated by the
OPA As wholesaler, even though
II also is a retailer. This deSig-
nation limits the states price 10
the wholesale ceiling which is from
81 10 s. case less than the
ceiling applying 10 retailers.
TELLS OF OPEN STATES
"Now in open states like New
York and Illinois," Picard cX-
plaIncd. there are liquor stores
which do both wholesale and
n retail business. These privately
owned stores are permitted to
pay the retail price ceiling, which
il from 81 to s. more than
Michigan IL allowed 90 pay.
As result. some diStillerics
hesitate To supply Michigan at
"a lower price than they can get
for their product In the open
states.
This has also resulted I'm big
dIstilleries taking their cheap
brands off the market and using
the same whisky for their
higher priced brands.
II am informed that " costs
about = cents more 10 make
case OF the best whisky than IL
does for case OF ordinary
whisky-that the aging il the
one thing that adds to the merit
Of the whisky"
IN asking reimbursement Of
regulations 50 that Michigan can
buy AT the top ceiling. and thus
get rs much whisky ~ any other
purchaser. Judge Picard pointed
out that the state cannot cheat.
HINTS AT CHEATING
"But there are plenty Of
wholesalers and retailers i'm non
monopoly states who can and do
cheat by paying extra money
subrosa 10 the distiller." he
added. "And the federal gov
eminent has not enough inveSti-
gators To police them"
Picard told Brown that he be-
lievcS plenty of whisky is in Stor-
age 10 last al least four years. But
he said diStillers will not release
il IN adequate quantities under
present price ceilings.
As a remedy, the Judge pro-
4
Brown remove all price ceilings,
but with restrictions compelling
the diStiIlcrS 10 prorate both The
cheap and expensive brands equt-
ably among all states on a basis
Of 1912 consumption.
He said this may mean an in
crease IN price but that If the
price goes too high the experiment
can be withdrawn.
As an alternative, the Judge
said the administrators can aScer-
tain the cost of whisky now IN
warehouses and permit its sale at
q reasonable profit. again on a ra-
toned basis equitable TO all states.
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