Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-20

MASSACHUSETTS, HIGH LICENSE.
Massachusetts,, whose people few
months ago defeated constitutional pro-
hibtion by an overwh Ginning majority,
adds its testimony TO the good results
OF the operation OF high license. The
Massachusetts local option, restrictive
high license law went into effect MAY
/, and in its general provisions 1T is
one OF the most rigid acts Of the kind
in the United States. 1t has been
strictly enforced, and the results
in sixteen license cities are in
tcresting and instructive. 1t is
shown by official figures that
the aggregate number of saloons in
these cities has decreased nearly sixty
per cent, while the revenue obtained
has very materially increased. Last
year the sixteen cities contained few
more than three thousand saloons,
about one-half OF which were in Boston,
and they paid into the public treasures
little over one million dollars. At
present these cities have but a few more
than twelve hundred saloons, which
have contributed to tho public revenues
million and half dollars.
The significance of Boston's exper-
fence with the new law is especially
striking. 1t is stated that since the
law went into operation whole streets in
Boston have changed their character
for the better, and places which were
formerly the refuge of the worst ele-
ments of the city's population no longer
exist. In this and the other cities the
licensed liquor sellers very generally
carefully conform to the requirements
OF the law as to selling to intoxicated
persons and minors, closing at the spec
| fled hour, and on Sunday, and other inn
| portant provisions, and the effect is
| that there is far less drunken
ness seen than formerly. Except
| in two or three of these cities,
where the temperance sentiment is at
its lowest point in the state, the police
| concur in stating that it has never be-
fore been so easy a matter to keep ef-
| fective watch of the saloons. The law
is evaded by some of the least reputable
hotel keepers, but the better class have
| for two or three months refused to serve
| liquors or wines except to actual guests,
and then only in their rooms. The sec
retary Of the Boston law and order
league states that 1T is now impossible
to find a saloon open in that city on
Sunday, and the same is true OF all but
two or three OF the other cities.
The Boston Advertiser says the law is
proving the most successful experiment
ever entered upon by the people OF
Massachusetts in their endeavors to
cope with the liquor traffic. Statistics
relative to the increase or decrease OF
drunkenness it is impossible to obtain
at present, but it has been clearly
demonstrated that the law has greatly
restricted the sale OF liquor and worked
a most important reform in the conduct
of licensed saloons. A noteworthy fact
is that no actual opposition to the law
is developed anywhere, even the ex-
treme temperance leaders showing q
disposition to give the law fair trial
in this respect, setting commendable
example to such leaders in other states
having high license. In all respects
the testimony supplied by the three
months experience OF Massachusett:
with its local option, high license law
will be in the highest degree satisfac
tory to the friends everywhere of that
policy, and is a very striking and sub
stantial argument in its support.