Herbert Hoover to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Herbert Hoover to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964
Identifier
WWP19169
Date
1917 August 28
Description
Herbert Hoover clarifies the Food Administration regulations that had been sent to Woodrow Wilson for approval at an earlier date.
Source
Hoover-Wilson Correspondence, Hoover Institution, Hoover Institution Archives, Stanford, California
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964--Correspondence
Language
English
Text
(Copy)
1-H/RWT
Dear Mr. President
In respect to the regulations sent you on August 25th for approval, the following is the situation:
Section 15 of the Food Control Act prohibits the use of food materials in the production of distilled spirits for beverage purposes after September 9, 1917, but provides that such materials may be used in the production of distilled spirits exclusively for other than beverage purposes, or for the fortification of pure sweet wines after that date “under such rules, regulations and bonds as the President may prescribe”. The counsel of the Food Administration have conferred with the Acting Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and have formulated the rules and regulations enclosed, for your approval, with his assistance. The Commissioner has prepared additional regulations, administrative in nature, for the guidance of the Internal Revenue officers in enforcing the Act. The Act, however, only makes criminal the production of distilled spirits for beverage purposes, and without additional regulations it would be quite possible for distillers to manufacture spirits in good faith for non-beverage purposes, and yet have those spirits used by subsequent purchasers for the manufacture of beverages, without infringing the terms of the law. I have therefore considered it necessary to issue regulations which will first identify all spirits manufactured after September 9, 1917 (Regulations II and IV), second, forbid the use of any such spirits in the manufacturing or preparing beverages, and, third, prohibit the sale of any such spirits for beverage purposees (Regulation V). Regulation III is designed to provide a complete record of sales, so that violations of the law may be traced. As it may be necessary in the future to institute criminal proceedings under the Act, I am advised that the regulations under the terms of Section 15, require your approval.
I remain,
Your obedient servant,
[Herbert Hoover]
1-H/RWT
Dear Mr. President
In respect to the regulations sent you on August 25th for approval, the following is the situation:
Section 15 of the Food Control Act prohibits the use of food materials in the production of distilled spirits for beverage purposes after September 9, 1917, but provides that such materials may be used in the production of distilled spirits exclusively for other than beverage purposes, or for the fortification of pure sweet wines after that date “under such rules, regulations and bonds as the President may prescribe”. The counsel of the Food Administration have conferred with the Acting Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and have formulated the rules and regulations enclosed, for your approval, with his assistance. The Commissioner has prepared additional regulations, administrative in nature, for the guidance of the Internal Revenue officers in enforcing the Act. The Act, however, only makes criminal the production of distilled spirits for beverage purposes, and without additional regulations it would be quite possible for distillers to manufacture spirits in good faith for non-beverage purposes, and yet have those spirits used by subsequent purchasers for the manufacture of beverages, without infringing the terms of the law. I have therefore considered it necessary to issue regulations which will first identify all spirits manufactured after September 9, 1917 (Regulations II and IV), second, forbid the use of any such spirits in the manufacturing or preparing beverages, and, third, prohibit the sale of any such spirits for beverage purposees (Regulation V). Regulation III is designed to provide a complete record of sales, so that violations of the law may be traced. As it may be necessary in the future to institute criminal proceedings under the Act, I am advised that the regulations under the terms of Section 15, require your approval.
I remain,
Your obedient servant,
[Herbert Hoover]
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Citation
Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964, “Herbert Hoover to Woodrow Wilson,” 1917 August 28, WWP19169, Hoover Institute at Stanford University Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.