The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-07-08
The Liquor Question.

thoughts for some time as to how
the evils of the liquor traffic could
be lessened and how the business
itself could be made in some degree
% undo It's own evils.
There is no doubt that if prohibi-
ton could be carried out it would
result in much general good, but at
present it does not seem to be a
practical plan of work for each
consumer feels that he has the
right 10 be his Own Judge as to
whether it is best for him TO use
liquor or not, and the mass of con-
sumers do not yet feel that they
wish to be deprived of this privilege
even if il may be for the public
good. The object here is, while
cutting off no ones privilege of use,
10 reduce consumption, with its at
Uendant crime The following,
therefore, Is presented as a possible
settlement of this great evil:
Let the Government take the
whole business into its own hands,
purchasing from present dealers
their saloons, unless they prefer TO
keep them, paying their owners
full value for them. assuming also
any obligations of rent, etc, they
may have put themselves under in
carrying on their business.
As the interests of the liquor
dealers and the good of the public
are Of necessity at variance, the
duty Of the Legislature in carrying
out laws for the good of the major
ity will bring upon them a temper
airy burden.
1t seems to me Just, therefore,
that besides buying their saloons a
reasonable sum of money be al
lowed TO each dealer as a bonus so
As 70 avoid any possible distress
while finding new employment.
This the Government could soon
recover from the large profits of
Ihe business.
Let the liquors imported pay the
same duties as they do at present,
The proceeds going as they now do
70 the general fund Of the Govern
ment.
An liquors to be tested by Gov
eminent officers TO see that nothing
but pure liquors are put upon the
public, this would be decidedly a
benefit for consumers.
Let there be then in Honolulu
one place of selling, the hours of
business being the same as other
kinds of business. from 6 A. NJ. till
NJ No sale TO be made in guam
Titles less than a quart bottle, not
allowed 10 be drunk on the pre-
misses, and the store where liquor
Is sold 10 be without screens, being
IS public as dry goods or grocery
store.
The entire liquor business Of the
Stands TO be carried on by agents
OF the Government, and the agen-
cies 10 be located in certain places
designated on the different islands,
from where people on the other
islands will purchase their sup
plies, no liquors being sent from
Honolulu, excepting in quantity, to
the various Government agents.
Il being an offense punishable by
law for any persons besides Gov
eminent agents to sell liquors, and
no vessels being allowed to carry
liquors 10 private parties, this lat
ter would stop the liquor trade that
Is said TO be carried on at present
BY employees of vessels plying be-
tween the islands; another advant-
age of carrying the liquor in a
lump on the vessel and to one
party is that it can better be
watched and will produce fewer
drunken sailors.
All agents to be paid by salary
only, so that there will be no OBJ
Iect for them to press sales or sell
20 forbidden persons.
Agents also to be under bonds
for the honest and faithful carrying
out their duties.
The Government to keep in one
weekly of each of three languages,
English, Hawaiian and Portuguese.
q printed price list showing kinds
Of liquors kept and prices per bot
tie at which agents are instructed
10 sell, making returns to Govern
ment at same figures, no difference
being made between the price of
one or many bottles; this is to pre-
vent agents from getting ahead of
the Government by returning Gin
case Of wholesale and retail prices)
50 many dozen of an article at
dozen rates, when perhaps a large
part has been sold at bottle rates.
All Louors RI he cash with no