Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-12


The Brooks high license liquor law Of Penn
sylvania has been in operation for a little more
than two years. The first effect of raising the
cost OF license from $50 to $500, as was the
case in most of the larger cities, or to $500 in
the smaller ones and $3.50 in boroughs, and of
the requirement. that the bondsmen of no
dramseller shall be themselves engaged in the
manufacture Of liquors, was to cut down the
number OF licenses. In nine populous counties
not one was issued, and in three others only q
very few. The number in the whole state de-
clined from Il, $50 to 7,724 But in spite Of this
the revenue from licenses nearly doubled in
one year. In Philadelphia the number of
licenses fell off in the same period more than
three-quarters. In Allegheny county, where
Pittsburg and Allegheny are both situated,
there are only about one-tenth as many retail
licenses in force now as two years ago.
The effect Of the change has been scarcely
less striking in other directions. The bar-room,
strictly so-called, has disappeared. The limi-
tation Of licenses to those houses Of refresh
ment which seemed to be needed in any COM
munity has operated to throw the liquor bust
ness into the hands Of the restaurants, where
spirits, wine and beer are furnished like any
other form Of sustenance. As regards the in
fuence Of the law for or against popular habits
of temperance, there is a wide difference OF
opinion The statistics of the police courts in
Philadelphia, for instance, show a heavy de-
cline In the aggregate Of arrests and commit
ments for drunkenness, while in Pittsburg
there has been an increase sufficient. to Offset
this. The discrepancy is in great measure
explained, probably, by the fact that the police
force in the latter city has been lately strength
ened and patrol system instituted, making it
easier for the officers to do their duty and run
in drunken men and women. Another thing
which operates to Pittsburg's detriment is
that 1t has fallen under control Of q
law and order association which has made war
upon every species Of activity and amusement
on Sunday. When left with an idle day on
their hands and with no places of rational enter
tainment to go to, many persons lay in a supply
Of liquor or beer on Saturday night and carry
1t home for convivial purposes. Their friends
drop in on them the next day and hospitality
demands that nothing shall be left when bed
time arrives. The result can easily be fore
seen. Moreover, in a community of working
people, crowded together in close and not
especially cleanly neighborhoods, the facilities
for carrying on a secret and unlic ensed BUSH
are known as speak easies," do a fourishing
business till the police pounce upon them, and
add their full share TO the city's quota of
drunkenness because run by men with no
scruples as to the amount 10 be consumed by
any one customer.
Owing to conflicting decisions by the various
courts which have had phases of the Brooks
law before them for adjudication, the present
condition OF things is not wholly satisfactory.
1t Is, however, generally admitted to be far in
advance Of the slack system, or lack of system,
which preceded it. The vote of last month
conciusively proved that Pennsylvania will
have nothing to do with constitutional pro-
hibition- 1t is therefore evident that, By the
patient application of amendments here and
there the high-license Law must be made the
basis Of all future work for temperance and
good order in the state