New-York tribune., 1875-10-13
TEMPERANCE la VS..
EXPERIENCE OF MICHIGAN.

FAILURE OF THE PIouIDITOIY POHcY-ApOPrioN
OF A IIcENsr LAw-rTs OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
or ISTIMrERANCE.
iFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rhibush''
UErRoIr Oct 1.-The State of Michigan has been
fortunate in at least one experiment which egisla-
tors have always been afraid of. The abohtioh oi
capital punishment was apparently great risk ior
any Commonwealth to assume. Nothihg put an
actpal experience of its workings could test
the question whether the law that ceased
to hang the murderer would increase or
diminish the number of murders. Mlchigah
was willing to make the trial. The result as Is well
known. has been that there arc fewer murders Ill
that State than before. Michigan is entitled to
credit for the nerve necessary To make experiments
in social problems. Among these must he men
toned her efforts for the suppression OF intemper-
apce A law was passed declaring the whoie puSi-
ness of selling liquors illegal. Tire Supreme Court
affirmed and reaGirned the constitutiOnality OF the
law II was fully tried in practice. AS net result,
the United States Revenue Department reported
GAIA places in that State engaged IN violating the
law The receipts for liquor thus illegally soiu were
estimated TO amount to $Is,OO0,OOO per annuin' ~
was evident that prohibition law could not he
enforced because public sentiment did not sustain it,
The liauor question became a Formidable element
IN the State canvass of 1871. Gov. Bagley, then
candidate for reflection would give pledges neither
to the Eduor interest nor to the PrOhbionists. The
latter ran separate ticket and he also opposed
by the advocates of q license law. his majority oil
Gq92 too per cent in 1S72 reduced in 1874 to
jO4G,Oo in his message after election he expounded
his theory of license law and bill embodylng IL
was introduced in the Legislature. Ihis bill was
fought over till the close OF the session. ana
passed at length by % votes, 81 being required IL
draws distinction between sellers of fdistled and of
malt liquors. the former, If wholesale dealers, being
required to pay an annual license fee of $500;
if retail dealers $3.50; while dealers IN matt
or brewed beverages pay, wholesale PlOO, re'aii
$40. Distlers of spirituous liquors also pay TjOo,
while brewers of malt liquor pay from $50 to $500,
depending on the amount of their product. No tax
is imposed on the sale of wine cider made from
the fruits of the State. The of each town
ship. ward, &C. makes the roll of those who shall
nav the license and turns this over to the county
treasurer This plan is found better than that OF
intrustirg the matter to the township officers, who
were some times it is believed, themselves the pro-
prie;o.s of ruu-hoes. The Governor holds his power
Of appointment the sherifs as means ot COM
pcllng due attention TO the assessments. The law
closes LIQUOR saloons between IL y. H. ana H. H.
and on SUNDAYS, unless the authorities OF city or
town decree otherwise.
prominent feature in the law is The requirement
that n0uor dealers shall give bonds Ot not less tl
81 900 cach 10 DO approved by the local authorities
IN writing This il deemed of greater efficacy than
the license tax in closing the vler rum-holes aud
making it difficult to open new ones The effect
durirq the few weeks that The law has been in ore
ration is very marked. 1t is already ascertained
that the number of places where liquor il sold has
largely diminished The tax from license fees IS ex-
ncctcd 20 amount 10 u considerable sum- that from
Wayne County alone being estimated to amount
TO from $4,000 to 100000. The quiet OF tho
LARGER cities at late hours and Sunday seems to
have been etccually secured. The total number of
arrests for crimes is much smaller than i'll CORE
sponding months for previous years. 1t only re-
mains to be said that, first, this law proves practi-
cable: second il il thoroughly enforced.
Alta recent session of the Assembly Committee OF
the Nev-York Legislature for the Investigation of
Crime. Dr. Kitchen, Chief of tho Medical stan on
Bacl,welrs Island testified concerning the prisoners
there In the course of his evidence he stated that
the urinary cause of most OF the crimes that led 10
iIpurisonrcnt on that island the incorporate use
of lqnors lie also said that he regarded their bad
ouolitv as having much to do with the worst effects
of ntc,npegance Tob bring about an Improvement he
Thought il would he advisable 70 increase the license
fee TO $500 1t is questioned here in Michigan
whether h, would prove clfectnal as the system
above described. SO hcayy license fee, it is
thought world of arouse a spirited Opposi-
tion. Tie efforts to eyadc the regulation might
prove more successful than the attempts TO en-
| & 4