The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-02-23
Getting at Bottom Facts.

Getting at Bottom Facts.
The subject of temperance and the wide
spread and growing evil of intemperance is
attracting the attention of Congress Excess
i've use of ardent spirits has become natona
shame and crime, and it is healthy indica
ton that the representative men of the nation
should deem it of vital importance to examine
into its extent and its consequences, morally
physically and pecuniarily. THE house has a
select committee on the alcoholic liquor traffic
and motion IS pending in the Senate for the
appointment of committee on the same sub
ject in that body. The House committee
through Mr.. Dngley, has already made q ia
vorable report on Mr.. Joyce's bill for the ap-
pointment Of a commission to investigate the
whole subject This bill provides that the
| Commissioners shall be five in number, ap-
pointed in the USUAL way; that not all of them
shall be advocates of prohibitory liquor laws,
and that neither Of them shall be the holder OF
any office of profit or trust in the general
Government or in any State Government.
The bill imposes upon this commission large
amount of labor Its duty shall be, the bill.
says, to investigate the alcoholic, fermented,
and vinous liquor traffic and manufacture with
reference to revenue and taxation and the ef-
feet of each class of such liquors in their eco
nomical, criminal, moral, and scientific aspects
in connection with pauperism, crime, social
vice, the public health, and the general well
fare of the people, and also to inquire into the
practical results of taxation and license and of
restrictive legislation for the prevention of in
temperance of the several States, Territories,
and the District of Columbia The commits
sion is also required to ascertain the amount
of liquor annually consumed, the number sof
deaths caused by alcoholism, the number and
character Of crimes resulting from the use of
liquor, the diseases caused in the same way,
the cost of the liquor sold, the cost of caring
for the insane persons, criminals, idiots, and
paupers made such by the use of liquor, the
capital employed in manufacture, and many
other statistics. The committee holds that
Congress has power to obtain, through com
mission, information to guide legislation with
reference to the national revenue, one-fifth of
which is derived from the taxation of alcoholic
liquors 1t is also held that the investigation
may be made in the States for the guidance of
Congress in dealing with the subject in the
Territories, over the legislation of which it
exercises supervision. The creation of a COM
mission in the past is referred to as a prece-
dent. The committee asserts that the infor-
nation on this subject heretofore secured by
private effort has been too limited too dis
jointed, or too careessly collected, to furnish
a satisfactory basis for popular judgment and
official action. 1t directs attention to the larg-
est body of citizens that has ever petitioned
for the passage of any bill before the Ameri-
can Congress"
If this committee will refer to the speech of
Hon. H. W Blair, now of the Senate, delivered
in the House in 1876 on this subject, they will
find much to instruct them, and if they will
consider his resolution proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution affecting the dlstilla-
ton of ardent spirits, they will discover the
only remedy for the evil of ntemperance that
has yet been suggested.
The AMERICAN FARMER for February 1st is
a number of great merit, the articles which are
from numerous and most practical writers be-
ing peculiarly appropriate to the approaching
season of spring work. Questions connected
with fertilizers and home fade E.anures and
their application are always prominently dis
cussed in the columns of this tme-h onored
farm journal, while especial attention is paid
to improved livestock, fruit -growing, garden
ing, etc.
The publishers announce that they have
made an arrangement by which DR.. Thomas
Pollard, late Commissioner of Agriculture of
Virginia, becomes associated with The Farmer.
This gentleman is widely known for his abili-
ty and practical views, and his accession to
the editorial corps of the paper cannot but be
welcomed by its many readers 1t is an
nounced also that the prizes offered for essays
on various topics of great consequence to ag-
riculture will result in the presentation of
some very valuable papers in its columns. In
short, the solid attractions of the Old Pioneer
are such that it will return to every subscriber
many times it cost, which is 81 so year, or
81 90 to clubs of five or more. Valuable pre-
miums are offered to clubs Of subscribers
Samuel Sands s Son, Baltimore, are the pub
lishers