The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-04
COLD WATER FACTS FOR sOLONs
Suppression of the Liquor Trafnc Would
save to the State About s4OO, 900 "A Year.


Editor OF The Times;
Slr,-The Legislature Is in session strug-
Cling with the question OF retrenchment
and reform. The columns Of your paper
show that many OF the best and most
thoughtful citizens of the Commonwealth
| outside OF the Legislature are struggling
with the same question and that they are
dead in earnest about H. with such una
nimty of purpose and such able minds
graphing this question. something sub
stantial ought 10 be accomplished. The
issue is wei styled "retrenchment and
REFORM" and II the struggle IS MAIN
tanned with singleness or purpose and
willingness TO follow wherever truth may
lead, happy will be the outcome for the
Old DmOnion.
The retrenChment is not more urgently
needed than the reform. and proper re-
forms IN governmental policy will surely
bring about all the retrenchment needed.
Under the present system the expenses
arc constantly increaslng-as IS also tho
deficiency in the revenues needed 10 meet
these expenses Certain state expenses
cannot be reduce1-such as those for pub
lie schools purposes and intcrest on our
funded debt. other expenses can be very
materially decreased, not only to tho
great relief of the taxpayers, bat TO the
general good Of an people in the State.
A glance at he site Trelsurar's report
shows that the state paid out for Grim nal
charges last year 1912 l569; for lunatics
and insane ASYLUM expens ss, s3ll 2GL5J.
for penltentiaros anil prison expenses.
Sl47 0l5.2S-a to-al for these three items of
s7Gl lGS.52.
TOW, right here is wh-re .eform can
begin that will be followed by very grail
F..ts. H.,
public official need suffer single cent Of
reduction in he salary Of his Office.
Stltishcians of such high character.
such opportunities for accurate investi-
gallon aud Of such imparCliiEy Of .em-
permanent as 10 render their statements
proof against all contradiction have esu-
mated that from % TO 80 per cent Of all
our criminal expenses and expenses of
maintaining lunatics and paupers are
caused by the sale OF liquor for beverage
purposes. and so accomplished and accu-
rate statist,an as Carroll ID. Wright,
late commissioner of Statistics and la
Dor. estimated the percentage Of crimi-
nal, pauper and lunauc expenses caused
by the crime and unacy arising from
liquor drinking as high as S. per cent. OF
all tho mercy spent for these purposes.
/ do not mean 10 overlook the fact that
n certain amount OF revenue is derived
by the State from saloon licenses and
from the renitcntlaiy-in which the fin
ished products Of the saloon are incarce-
rated-but viii cre0it the criminal ey-
penses account with the 1851 1926 re-
ceived from liquor licenses and the Sl5i-
1886 received from the labor Of convicts,
the total or these items being 1912 9692
which leaves the account az follows:
TrtaI criminal and lfunqr
penses o. OIL. o. B.. ..................$i6l,l jos D.
Received from liquor licenses and
convict labor ............... ...-.. 5l2,0JJs3
Balance paid out by State above
receipts OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. fN5lJD
OF this amount paid out by the State
for criminal and lundcy expenses over and
above the amounts received from these
sources We have seen that 50 per cent.
must be charged TO the saloon, which
leaves that very destructive institution
debtor 10 the State TO the amount OK
S3s0.2S5.S6
These figures are not the product Of an
excited Imagination, but are cold facts,
verified by the treasurer's report and
many years Of painstaklng observation.
Thus IL can be easily seen that the
money lost by the State on its saloon
transactions would settle the whole mat
ter OF retrenchment. and the reform that
would be brought about by the eimina-
ton OF the saloon from our political and
financial affairs would bring the milleni-
UNI about as near as the average man
over expects 30 see IT..
Not only would the suppression OF the
liquor traffic save TO the State about
$4,000 a year. but Il would have a very
marked influence for the better upon our
people. IN many rural communities
where nearly oil surplus money is spent
FOR liquor. and where habits OF ioains
anu idleness are increasing. the money
formerly spent for liquor would be spent
for household necessities for farm ma
chinery. for better stock. and habits OF
thrift ana industry would take the place
Of drii hing. quarroling, and idleness.
There are In the state Of Virginia not
less than 23OO saloons At n very low
estimate these take in an average OF
81 zoo each, yearly This makes lat least
s. 10.00) spent for that which is worse
than nothing. Think what an effect NJ
would have on honest business If this
$3.50 000 could 90 into the channels OF hon
est trade. VIVA. comforts. what Joys.
what increased prosperity and happiness
IL would bring I 6arc venture the pre-
diction that If saloons and liquor drink
ing were abolished in Virginia. tax rate
Of % cents on the 800 would soon be
found sufficient for all State purposes
and the happiness. intelligence, and COM
fort Of our people would increase at least
100 per cent
The State has the right TO abolish the
saloon-nay It is the imneratlve moral
duty Of the state 20 abolish the saloon
Every principle Of public policy calls for
this action on the part Of our Legisla-
ture and Executive
Gentlemen. will YOU seize the opportuni-
~ and begin a real work OF retrenchment
and reform? j. O. ATWOOD.
Richmond. Va. Feb. l. lsss.