The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-01-26
sherman's Liquor Law

SheTman's Liquor Law.
Our Senator Sherman seems to be en-
dowed above all men with a talent for
blundering. He has been the author of
more futile and impracticable laws, and
bills proposed for laws, than any other
Senator living or dead. There is moth
ing that be does not drive at, and moth.
ing that he does not blunder at. His re-
sumption ''sham" is only one Of many
such abortlons. ---4
He has now volunteered to stand a. ~
godfather to bill prop osed as a law on
the subject of the liquor business, that
presents all the features of utter i'm
practicability that have heretofore char
acterized all his other legislative off
spring. This present bill provides:
y "That there shall be appointed by the Presi-
dert nv and with the advi and consent OF tic
Senate. commission OF i've persons, neither OF
WHOM Shall be the holder of any office OF profit
or trust in the General or State Government,
and all Of whom shall not be advocates OF pro-
hibitory Legislation or total abstinence In rela-
tion to alcoholic or, fermented liquors. Ihe
said commissioners shall be selected solely with
reference to personal fitness and capacity for
an honest, Impartial, and thorough lnvestiga-
tiou, and shall hold office until their
duties shall be accomplished, but not to ex-
ceed one year. 1t shall be their duty to inves-
tigate the alcoholic and fermented liquor tra1nc
and manufacture, having special reference 70
revenue and taxation, distinguishing as far as
possible in the conclusions they arrive at Pc
tween the enccts prouuced ny the use OF dis
titled or spIrituous liquors and the use OF 1er-
mented or malt liquors, in their economic,
criminal moral and scientific aspects, In con-
nection with pauperism, crime, social vice, the
public health, and general welfare OF the
people; and also inquire ana TAKE tesCi-
mony as to the practical results OF license
and restrictive legislation Tor the pre-,
vention Of intemperance in the several
States, and the effect produced by such legls-
lation upon the consumption OF distilled or
spirituous liquors and fermented or malt
liquors; also to ascertain whether the evils OF
drunkenness have been increased or decreased;
and whether public morals nave Deen improved
thereby. 1t shall also be the duty OF said Com
missieners 10 gather information and take tcs-
tlmony as to whether the evil OF drunkenness
exists to the same extent or more SO IN otner
civilized countries and whether those 1ofelgn
nations that are considered the most temperate
in the use of stimulants are SO through promo
itory laws, and also to what degree prohlDltory
legislation has affected the consumption anu
manufacture OF malt and splrltuous liquors ID
this country; that the said Commissioners snail
serve without salary; shall be authorized 70
employ secretary at reasonable .compensa-
tion, not to exceed $2,0O0 per annum, whlch
with the necessary expenses incidental to said
investigation, IN all not exceeding $l0,0oo OF
both the Secretary and Commissioners, shall bt
paid out OF any money IN the treasury MOI
approved by the Fifth Auditor Of the Treasury
It,shall be the further duty OF said Commits
soners to report the result OF their inyestlga'
tion and the expenses attending the same e
the President. TO be by him TRANSMITTED K
Congress-"
Now, there is fine little job for. ont
years work to be accomplished by five
men, to be "selected solely with refer
ence to personal fitness and capacity
for an honest, impartial and thorough
investigation" Of the whole liquor bust
ness of the United States and "othcl
civilized countries" They are to inves
tigate both the alcoholic and termente(
liquor traffic and manufacture, will
especial reference to revenue and taxa
ti0n.n They must not stop there; bu
are directed likewise to consider ant
report their conclusions in relation Il
"their economic, criminal, moral, AM
scientific aspects, in connection wit
pauperfsm, crime, social vice, the pub
lie health, and general welfare OF tn
people" $50 ~%'F.
Even all that is not sufficient; bu
these "five persons" are furthermore t
take testimony concerning the Stat
license systems; 'salso to ascertai
whether the evils OF drunkenness hav
been increased or decreased thereby.
And, having finished up that little ma
Ter SO far as this country is concerned
then they are to push their inquire
into "other civilized COUNTRIES" and el
anime into the temperance legislation
s.foreigu nations" and its effect upo
drunkenness and intemperance anon
theirspeople. 1t strikes US as maryelou
that the all-seeing Senator did not il
eIude in his subjects of Investigation th
practice Of opium smoking among tn
Chinese, and the use Of sans-sha amor
the South Sea lslandets.
All this is TO be done by ''fve person
neither of whom shall be the holder
any ofice.of proftor trust In the Ge
eral or State Governments" and shi
Ill be done by the selected five wit
out pay or the hope OF any pecuniary
ward. Mr.. Sherman however, very co
siderately appropriates the modest /
tie sum OF SIC, 600 for their expenses.
M Now who can be SO sanguine as
presume that any five men, whose OPT
9 ions would be worth one single jae
straw, are going to sctto work for Q
year. without salary, - make such such