Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-25

from what classes of society aud in what man.
ner this revenue is derived.
II is important for the people to know the in
nuenco OF this traffic upon morals It's relation
to crime and criminals its relation TO paupers
and panpersm its relation to industry and
political economy, and It's relation to health aud
length Of life.
II such a commission should find, as a result
of their lahors, as your committee apprehend
they may find that the sixty millions of reye.
hue collected from the liquor traffic and put
into the United States Treasury actually cost
the people Of the nation, in industry in health,
In length Of life in taxes, in the maintenance
Of law, in provision for ponitcntiaries and poor
houses and hospitals, many times that amount,
il may well be asked whether this is a wise
economy, and whether there may not be a bit
ter iody to supply the public purse.
II such commission should find as your com
mittee apprehend they may find, that the traffic
in intoxicating liquors is destructive Of morals,
makes men bad citizens, unreliable and unpro-
ductiyc members Of society and demoraliziug
IN their influence, makes bad husbands, bad
fathers and bad sons, breaks M families, pro-
yokcs quarrcls and generates crime, is IL not
important that these facts should be known to
the people?
II these facts should be established, no in
diyidual OF class could complain il local lepis.
lation should cut of gains derived from traffic
which saps the foundations of the State which
undermines the moral character OF the people
which makes needful expensive safeguards
against crime and expensive appliances for it,
punishment If these facts should not be es-
tablished, no man g occupation is threatened or
put in jeopardy By the inquiry.
II has been suggested against the authoriz-
ing Of this commission that the evil complained
OF is already well-known and well understood,
and that report Of such a commission could
add nothing
II Is true that every person knows individual
instances, but very few know anything Of the
vast aggregate OF the cost crime, and suffering
0ccasl0nod by u, and would he appalled, by it,
presentation. IL has been said too that the
Information can be collected by State ngencie.
and by associations Of private individuals who
are interested in the reform To certain ex
tent this is true but the State agency Is too
narrow in its scope, and the reports and Stats.
ties gathered by individual associations have no
authoritative voice, and are always open to the
charge that they are the partial judgment Of
oyer-2ell0us and lauatcal relormers. The evil
is national In extent and magnitude, and the
whole truth Of the subject ought 10 DO shown
with the guarantees Of official responsibility
aud authority, 50 that, 10 whatever remedy IL
may point, no doubt shall exist as 20 the ground.
upon which action is taken.
II, as your committee believe. the question
% ordering ihis Investigation is not one 0f Joe
risdiction, bat Of pr1priety and expediency
merely, we may well compare its importance
and necessity with the numerous Investigations
which have been made within few years. un-
der the sanction Of Congress, and at an expense
many times that proposed to be authorized for
this one. Extensive and expensive inycstiga-
tions have been made to enhance the safety of
passengers on steamboats, o. ascertain whether
lreghts on merchandise and the products Of
the country cannot be cheapeued to ascertain
the causes Of political disturbances and viola.
tions OF law and order in certain localities
and numbclc-s ones, almost, into the conduct
OF official persons and departments Of the gov.
eminent
Your committee DO not intend to disparage
any Of these or 10 say they we're not necessary
but how trivial were the evil. Tor which
remedy was sought in Oh those when compared
with the one against which this j. aimed
The bill reported hy the committee will. as
they believe. ensure not ouly thoroughness, but
entire fairness in the examination and concu.
si0ns Of thi. commission The bill limits the
expense 90 the commission % very triaing
sum and il the results Of the commission shall
be o. benihccnt as yIur committee believe. it
will De returned manifold