The sun., 1895-01-04
BARRooMs IN NORWAY
Observations or the Workings OF what Il
Known ne the Gothenburx System.

| TfOue the Springfield Republican.
DIR. Moxom explained the Gothenburg or Nor
wegan system in detail, giving as its vital prin-
ciple that tho state shall make the llquor busi-
ness an absolute monopoly, and put It into tho
control OF responsible men, whose motive is 10
reduce. instead Of Increasing. the per capita
consumption. The effect Is also TO reduce tho
number OF saloons 10 marked degree. The
profits accrue not 10 the company, but to the
people, in the, shape Of public institutions
~ saw something Of the workings Of tho sys-
tenn IN Sweden and Norway" said Dr. MoxOm.
81 vislted more saloons last summer than lad
carefully, found out what kinds were sold, and
how many glasses a man can buy, In Bergen
whore liquor is sold by the glass or bottle. Each
is plain room, PERFECTLY clean, without even
the room except a stool behind the counter for
the official In charge. He Is u respectable man,
probably a, member Of the church. on the walls
are printed the rules OF the company, which
all must obey. II a man asks for aqua vita
he lays down his coin--there is no credit-and
no allowed rsmsh IN tho pSs hoT ana h
he wants another glass, he is told to come back
In three hours. The glass Ia 60 small that no
might take glass every three hours in the day
and not get drunk. workingman cannot take
open iii eight, nor at noon, for the saloons close
from ~ to $50 o'clock. The hour for closing
m wne K bdp av sS, and bdd"v III inner
workingmen are paid of.
The man behind the counter Ia employed for his
personal character. lie gets a fairly good SAL
deviates from the. rules OF the company he is
S bounced @ at in Gnse; He Il Rrom9ted& & fer making Ing
Whole system % tsp op
of alcohol. In 1876 the per capita consumption
%Ss ss in iseS i was REDUCED TO s
drunken countries in Europe; now Norway is
three times as sober as the United States. 1t
der, which the licensed rs dealers stimulSte
trade as much as possible TO get back
think It would be better to Of have wei free whisiey
than such licenses as VIC have In American cities.
The cd diligence between that and this Is as great
Norwegian system eliminates politics entirely.
II has been argued that it makes drunk tnness
public spirit and array 1t against drunkenness
The system has been recognized, as working
less respectable to patronize n saloon.
Many people maintain, DIR. Moxom contin-
aS %tS qaPof a
way vp,s is @ sin The position is absolutely unten.
pher is no basis In ethics h that viii
sin. 1t certainly is sin to take 1t in excess.
but the abstract question cannot by any possi- |
the ev % on blows the part Of rRR
eousness to conquer It by degrees. II men will |
SSs arg ss 0ss
the ,,I welfare OF the community. II Is also
that S it, Bu.
ance sentiments are not always a guar |
antee OF wisdom. There are many temper
ance people whose sentiments we respect. but
whose ideas are puerile. 1t is also true that peo-
pie who derive gain from liquor are o Io,osed to
the law. and we had the spectacle of the liquor
ance Union fighting side by side to defeat
the measure. II was thing to make an
sense of humor that they could laugh
1t is also objected that the system is not
ple we wish oI To sppIy and The prnepe inc ns een
be applied anywhere: Norway and America
are not SO unlike but that they can be applied
cannot do it." At the close of his lecture DR..
Moxom gave q brief question box, answering
doubts and difficulties In the practical applica-
tton of the system as they We're suggested by
bis hearers. The Chaplin Literary Society has
tian Workers to debate the question. RE
solved. That the Norwegian liquor system de-
serves the support Of the Christian Church"