The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-18

THE DIsPENsARY LAW.
The Introduction OF bill In the house
OF representatives at Olympia for the
establishment In this state OF the dis
pensary system for the sale OF intoxicat-
Ing liquors was looked upon at the time
as being like hundreds of other bills
which have been introduced. merely an
expression OF Populistie freakishness.
Few anticipated that the matter would
ever be taken Up seriously, and still
fewer could have anticipated that 81 would
pass the house OF representatives by the
decisive majority which IL has received.
AS the matter stands now. the senate is
all which IS In the way OF the measure
becoming a law.
The proposition is hardly In line with
Populistic pretensions OF economy In
public expenditures. The bill as pre-
pared does not even contemplate a state
revenue TO be derived from the sale OF
liquors: IL Is simply designed to destroy
private traffic. and have the state mo-
nopollze II and sell to users at actual
cost. the profit feature being entirely
eliminated. How seriously and lnjuriously
the measure viii affect the taxpayers OF
this state may be judged from the fact
that the revenue derived from liquor
licenses issued by the city OF Seattle
amounts at present TO $4,000 per annum,
an amount about equal 10 the cost OF
maintaining the police department. Tn
der the dispensary system this income will
be entirely lost, while the running ex-
penses OF the city government viii not
be reduced one dollar. Every incorpo-
rated city and town in the state will
suIer a proportionate loss
As a matter ~ fact. the regulation OF
the sale OF intoxicating liquors in Seattle,
under the system now I'm operation. has
proven very satisfactory in its operations
As long as the sale OF liquors Is per-
mittsd az ali. IL Is doubtful whether a
more satisfactory system could be devised
There is probably not n seaport town in
the United States. OF the same rank.
where tho trsffic Is under more rigid su-
pervlslon.
Under present conditions. with a popu-
Iailon OF about $500 people. there are
los saloons. or places licensed 10 sell in
toxicsGng liquors. within the limits OF the
city OF Seattle. Not "a single license is
issued Tor any drinking place IN thu resi-
dance part Of town. and all existing
places are located in the business quarter.
where the largest number % police are
employed. and where. consequently. every
"a let b..
Ths license Zee Is a large one. vary much
hiNher thaa Is charged In most states.
being $3.50 per snnum ia al cases Saloon
keepers are under heavy bonds: and no
license IA ever granted without tAs con
sent Of the owner o. the premises leased
for saiecn purposs. Licenses are granted
RS the city council The sale % liquors
IS forbidden in dance halls. or IN places
whore any form u theatrical entertain
ment IS given: women are not allowed
90 he employed Ia any place where liquors
are sold. and there are lnnuwerab.e other
statutory regulations which. as rulc.
are rigidly enforced. Furthermore. al sa-
looms are required to, ara DO. close up
between the hours o. ! and s a. n.
TIE result - tA- system Is seen in the
fact that UIielt sales .: liquor are among
, the rarsst % cTenses: dives" % the kind
Goo often fouaa iu seaport cities % this
size ars scN ~ number. and not ~ aay
means q. TIE worst class. and iae saloon
problem eas ceased 90 - one which ex-
cites neeh cl aay interest. except among
tAe radical ssw who believe IN the total
exurratsoa o.. tas l51uov traf-c.
r may re curtGer stated that tAe liquor
men O. r5t. a. BODY. take any more
active interest in pol.;ics taan any es2er
class q citizens. and that anything Ike
concert e. sctisa Sgscng tlssn IL polstical
s@alrs = absolutely unknown. L is true
tAzt ~ tzr tAe greater number of those
engaged la the u1aor business In tA5s
clty we're supporters e tae fusion ticket
en- tae last election. and Contributes 10
ere s,ecglon % tAe legislators who save
voted f1r ere adoption % ths eEspensary
system. bas considering TIE CHARACTER %
tne proposed legislation. Sc IS hardly likely
fhst ere, Hgeor rnsa wers influenced In
81 So setIaa BY Aepe @. legislation rnors
fasaf2cls 20 thssr interests
As es1stssuts ror tAts system. which
IS working Vep the proposition Is 70 es-
pssye tse e.'ics * al revenue froa r.
eenses; close up Al exisung saloons. there
hy aeqrvsnS souls go mea IN Seattle
alone CO their present nae&As 81 support.