Washington sentinel., 1898-08-06
The Spirit Monopoly In Russia.

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oily system, which was introduced
as an experiment four years age
into four provinces. Evidently
the Russians find the drink ques
ton very difficult one to deaI
with. They have tried first one
system and then another, and they
are still experimenting. ''For the
last 200 years." says Mr.. Carnegie,
"the production and sale Of spirit
uous liquors in Russia have been
the subject Of repeated legislation.
In dealing with this question two
objects have been kept in view
throughout: firstly, to obtain for
the benefit OF the State the largest
possible amount of revenue from
this trade; secondly, to diminish
drunkenness. These two objects
must be necessarily somewhat an
tagonistic, and. until lately, it can.
not be denied that more attention
has been directed to the former
than to the latter" We need not
follow Mr.. Carnegie in his descrip-
ton of past legislation for the con-
troll of the spirit trade, but come at
once to that form of it which is now
being gradually enforced through
out the empire. This is che mon
opolY system introduced primer
pally to check the increasing
drunkenness Of the Russian lower
classes, but also wisely framed for
the increase of revenue. 1t is Off
cially described as 4"
system by means oil which the Min
istry OF Finance hopes to put an
end to the grievous influence OF
the retailers OF spirits on the moral
and economic condition OF the
people" In framing their meas
ure, the Government have kept in
view the necessity for improving
the quality of spirits-often Of a
very deleterious nature-supplied
to the lower classes, and this has
been effected by all spirits intended
for consumption being submitted
to a rectifYing process in Govern
ment establishments. The princi
pal features OF the monopoly, as
given by Mr.. Carnegie, are as fol-
lows: The monopoly is limited to
the sale of spirituous liquors, and
is not extended to fermented bev-
erages, such as wine, beer, &c.
In principle, each province (or
group of provinces) should pro-
duce, as far as possible. the amount
OF spirits necessary for the con-
sumption of the district. But
henceforth no distillery may pro
duLe in one year more than the
greatest amount distilled by it in
any one of the three years previous
to the introduction OF the monop-
oily in that region. The local ad-
ministration OF indirect taxation
prepares a report respecting the
sale of spirituous liquors in the
district. By this report is deter
mined the amount OF spirits to be
supplied tor consumption, which
has to receive the sanction of the
Minister OF Finance. Two thirds
ofthe spirits required are furnished
by the local distilIeries, the price
OF which is fixed each year by the
Minister of Finance, in accordance
with the cost OF the raw materials
and the expenses Of production.
The remainder Zone third OF the
spirits needed for the local supply
is acquired by means OF contracts,
but should no tenders be made, or
should they be too high, the Min
lister Of Finance buys the spirit
through the ordinary commercial
channels. All importations of
spirits into the monopoly districts
is forbidden, with the exception OF
small quantity (about two
pints) intended for the consump-
ton OF travellers.
1t must be remembered that this
legislation is designed principally
to regulate the drink OF the lower
classes. The upper classes are not
brought within its operation, and
thus, with the travelling public
combined, there still remains a
large amount of custom for foreign
spirits. The keepers OF restaurants
and buffets in towns and at railway
stations may sell spirits Of any
kind, native Or foreign. Wine
merchants and keepers OF wine
shops are also permitted to trade
in foreign spirits. A" "The
comments IN the press on the mon
opoly have, by no means, been
uniformly favorable. 1t is, how
ever, most natural that a reform Of
such a drastic nature and Of such