The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-02-25
No 'Whitewashing' On Liquor This


Helena Billings storage and ware
houses stored similar quantities of
whisky for the Turf of Billings.
Strange to say, the Mint and the
Turf were under the same control.
A bank at Lewistown accommodated
one of its customers in like man
ner. A witness freely admitted that
under the arrangements set for him
and others they were able to buy,
control and distribute good whisky
in large quantities, when it was I'M
obtainable at the state liquor ware
house. 1t was illegal, of course, but
no one worried - least of all the
Montana liquor control board"
The Daniels Trucking Operations
Chilly Daniels owned truck line.
He hauled liquor for the state con-
troll board over a period of years
On numerous occasions liquor was
missing at the end of the Journey.
Billy paid for the missing liquor and
the board was satisfied. 1t didn't
worry where the missing liquor went.
Neither did Billy He just kept haul
ing liquor and losing it.
September 7, 1915, Billy's truck
appeared at the warehouse with an
order for ITO cases of whisky for
Lawrence Bar & Associates, Butte.
Billy's men turned over a cashiers
check in the amount of S27.92O in
payment. The whisky never reached
the Lawrence bar. Indeed, Law
renee knew nothing of the transac-
ton. Billy delivered the truckload
of whisky to one Brinck, an unli-
censed person, in Butte. Where it
went from there one can only sur
mise"
Store or Department A
Department A of the state ware
house originally was set up as an
accommodation to employees and for
distribution of medicinal alcohol.
When rationing came, however, its
activities expanded. The committee
found:
at delivered good liquor in case
lots to favored customers and per-
sons of influence upon verbal in
from officers of the
board. Out of IL, 200 bottles of Old
Granddad on hand and received dur
ing the rationing period, SO percent
was sold out of store A. Some ord
ers were signed but no permit num-
bers were placed thereon. In other
instances no orders were signed
"a witness employed by local
liquor dealer backed his station
wagon up to store A and took three
loads of whisky to three different
cases of Brinck-Daniels whisky came
,013 cases of whisky left store A
oc+a hIx1 fnI. fhn T
Butte. 1t wound up in the hands of
L. Sasich in care of the Midland
National bank, Billings. Sasich was
not licensed dealer How or why
the liquor was delivered to him can
not be ascertained.
"The Officers club in Great Falls
vas a steady customer of store A.
It purchased by the truckload and
;astes of its members ran largely to
bonded bourbon and imported
Scotch.
"Six cases of whisky simply van
shed into thin air from the floor of
tore A. When an employee re-
ported the incident, he was told to
mind his own business. Mr.. Wallace
lad 27 cases of imported wine set
side for him but delayed making
,ayment until the price had been
educed from over So bottle to IS
ents."
Excise Tax Collections
In 1899 law was passed impos-
ng an percent excise tax on the
etail price of liquor. The commit
ee charges the board collected this
ak on the cost price instead until
lay, 1915, when someone awoke
rom long sleep and an attempt
yas made to conform to the law
At this time retail prices could
OF be raised because of OPA regu-
atoms so the board retained it's old
lethod of assessing the tax and paid
ne balance due to the state out of
profits" until May 1, 1947. Ac-
Ountants estimate actual loss to the
tate at nearly 100000 but the
gure may never be known because
he board for time also was paying
tax on the excise tax as it made
S accountings to the state treas
rer.
Liquor Stamps
The committee reported testimony
lat Leo Kroetch, warehouse man
rar renOrtad Lose Of . 000 l;o,,ow