Washington sentinel., 1900-07-14
TT, To SENTINEL
TRADE HINTS FROM our
CONSULS ABROAD.

The Russian Government has
for many years been labOring and
discussing means to diminish the
almost universal use OF liquor
among the labOriug classes, One
Of the first steps towards prevent
ing the unrestricted sale OF liquor
was to confine It's sale TO places
where food was requiredt to be tur-
nished with each order tor liquor,
in order TO prevent taking one
drink after another without food;
severe penalties we're also provided
tor selling on credit, for receiving
articles in pawn for drinks, or tor
bartering spirits for produce or
future labor, etc. The receiving
Of stolen property entailed the loss
Of license, and provision was made
for closing public houses that vlo-
lated or evaded the laws.
The Government established
number OF shops in various parts
of cities for the sale Of vodki,
brandy, and spirits in cOrked bot
ties. Il is not permitted to be
drunk on the premises, but thirsty
customers purchase small bottles
and step outside OF the door, draw
the cork, drink the contents and
return the empty bottle, for which
they receive a few kopecKs. The
number Of these shops is regulated
by the population. The license
was increased from ST to $500 for
public houses, which reduced the
nuuber one hall.
1t was FIRST proposed in 1885 that
the Government should assume
control of the sale OF liquor; but
the revenue from the sale OF liquor
amounted at that time to SI7A-
ooo, 900 per year, and it was argued
the Government MONOPOLY would
reduce this so materially as to
affect the revenues, Hence it was
delay ed until the famine Of 1891,
and the lamentable state Of things
il revealed hastened the reform,
since which time the new system
has been organized and Introduced
in halt Of the empire, including
thirtY-6ve provinces, covering
1890, 900 square miles, with a pop
ulation OF 6Iooo, 900, an area
greater than the United Kingdom,
France, Germany and the Neither.
lands.
Under the present system, the
Government dictates the quantity
and quality of spirits manufac-
tured, purchases a very large per-
centage Of the output, ami permits
the sale Of the surplus under
proper regulations, for manufac-
turing purposes, with the intention
oi furnishing the consumer with
pure spirits, thus mitigating and
preventing such abuses as are
directly attributable to the ex-
cessive use Of bad liquor and i'm
proving the morality and prosper
ity of the masses. The Minister
Of Finance has repeatedly dec ared
that the purpose Of the Cove n
ment in controlling the liquor bus
mess was nOc intended TO produce
any direct increase Of the revenue;
whatever increase there might be
would come in consequence of the
prevention of abuses which could
be avoided only by Government
control.
The Russian peasant classes
drink only vodki, which s distilled
from rye and is sold at the average
price Of SI.4o per gallon, whether
IN quantities Of I or &c, 900 gallons.
The Government requires that the
proof Of vodki and brandy shall be
20 deg. and that OF spirits and wine
from % 70 95 deg.
The off cial report for 1898 has
Just been made public and states
that the amount of capital en-
ployed during that year was SG48,-
zoo, 900. There were 1881 brady
distIlleries, z52 spirit disbilleries,
and z7I2o places were distilled
liquors we're sold. Besides this,
iermented liquor was sold at a.
69g saloons. The bottling was
carried on at557 storehouses. The
sales amounted TO 84oo5,75a gal
Ions. the gross receipts being
SIIT526,a7o, the expenses $780,
5gA87o, and the excise duty S64.-
1850. The net income 10 the
Government from sales was $40,
7315oo.
In governments where the sale
Of liquor Is controlled by the gov
eminent, temperance societies
have been organized, with Prince
Oldenburg, a disting guished phil
a1thropist Of ST. Petersburg, as
president. These have opened
reading rooms with Libraries and
restaurants near public gardens
and squares, where large numbers
OF working people congrepate, and
sell cheap and good food with such
TEN perance drinks as tea, milk and
kVass made from cranberries and
black bread. One Of these soci-
cites has constructed two floating
restaurants" one Of which will
seat six hundred people and the
other three hundred. These boats
are towed 70 points on the Neva
where workmen are employed or
cOngregate. An open theatre has
been established on PetroVsky Isl
and, where a good class Of plays is
given at nominal price. Some
OF the public parks are also sup
piled with apparatus 10 encourage
open air sports.
1t is expected that by the end Of
1903, every one Of the seventy.
eIght provinces Of Russia, includ.