The Portland daily press., 1896-10-17
NoRwAy's LIQUOR PROBLEM.
The Gothenburg Sy stem Is Not warsr,n~
as Its Adv COATES Expected.
fFrom the London Tina. ,

From the London Times.,
The British Vice Consul at Skiens ford
in his latest report states that during
the past year the time expired for which
two of the towns in his district-Sk; an
and Brevig-had the right of having the
Gothenburg system of Bolags, OF sam
Lays, for the sale Of spirits as a mo-
noply. According to the new liquor Law.
tho inhabitants Of towns have the right
of vetoing the further existence of any
Roleg in their town. Both Skien and
Brevig voted by large majoritiss against
it, SO that they have no longer those
Bolags, which were SO warmly advocated
by the Norwegian press when the oues-
ton of the Gothenburg system was fully
ventilated short time ago.
The.f fact Of the Bolags having been
voted down IN several other towns In
Norway besides Skien and Brevig shows
that they are not so popular as might
be supposed. But Ii should be stated
that it is mainly owing to the perseyer-
ing agitation of the teetotal elem emit,
aided by the women's votes, that the
Samlags are being custed. In towns
| where these institutions are thus abol-
ished, and where NO privileges for the
sale Of spirits are still held by private
individuals from former days, spirits
cannot now be bought In smaller guam
titles than $50 litres. which practically
means the non-sale Of spirits in such
towns. But in some towns privileges
are still held by private individuals.
This is the oase In Skien, where the spir-
1t traffic fourishss undiminishsd, to the
great chagrin of those whose zeal has
secured the abolition Of the Samlag.
But no sooner are the Sanlags abol-
ished. which is generally effected by
agitation. and gives rise to considerable
Ill feeling, than the press complains that
large sources Of income have thus been
lost to the communities. The profits
from the Bamlags were always utilized
for the support 70 charitable Institutions
and objects to general local interest,
which must now be maintained by tar
Ing the ratspayers or else DO totally
abandoned.
"The new Norwegian liquor law may
| have it's advantages, says the Vice
Consul, "but when it contains clauses
prohibiting the sale. even in the best no.
tells, of any kind of spirits from Satur-
day noon to Monday morning, the law
becomes inexpedisnt and onerous. This
II proved by the fact that the Christiania
police authorities have found 1T wise to
make representations to the Governm ent
to obtain the relaxation of the above
named clause.
'The liquor question in Norway seems
to be undergoing crisis Of alteration.
No doubt public opinion and the good
sense of pratieal nation will eventually
settle 1T in such manner that both the
State and the communities will rear
their Just share of the profits acoruine
from the properly regulated sale OF spir.
its In some form or another. It is highly
improbable that the ultra testotal ole.
ment will be able at last to absolutely
prohibit the sale and use OF spirits In
Norway.
Willing as the Norwegians ueem to be
to reduce the sale Of sparits TO- a mini
mum, they are scarcely likely to allow
of such far-reaohing enoroachsnAata or
the personal liberties Of free citizens OF ]
free country. The prohibition alssso5
existing against the sale of spisiSs has
already led to evA results In the shAps
of the excessive use Of naphtha by ia,
lower classy, and the Introduction Of Z
GLASS of liquor called 'laddevin, which
on analysis quite lately has been feu Cd
to contain highly injurious ingredients
and the sa lie Of which Is now strictly t3s.
hidden. -
The British Consular agert ss-Tons
bars also mentions In his report that the
Ssmlag in that town was abolished BIZ
public vote, SO that for ave years brandy
cannot be obtained In the town.