The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-04-06

gard to the D1SpenSary bill now
under consideration in that body. In
connection with that memorial the
committee prepared the following state
ment of approval and recommendation
for the consideration of the public:
We wish to be fully understood as be
llieving with all our hearts in total alb
stinence from the use of Intoxicating
liquors as a beverage. We hope that
the time may come to these Islands
when the money which is wasted in
liquor will be used to make happy
homes. We hope that the minds and
souls of our Island friends of all ma
tfonalities will be freed entirely from
the degradation always accompanying
the habit of using intoxicating drinks
and that all mental and spiritual ener-
gies will thus have their high and noble
development under total abstinence.
! Nevertheless, while we thus place
Yourselves on record, we recognize that
Improvement can be made upon the
present condition of the liquor traffic
in the Hawaiian Islands. Therefore we
welcome the Dispensary bill as a hope
full step far in advance of the present
saloon system.
| ID We endorse most earnestly the
Limitations which this bill places around
the traffic in intoxicating liquors. 1t
takes away the personal and selfish
elements which are inseparably con-
nected with the sale of liquors in sa-
looms The saloonkeeper is put in such
a position that his living depends upon
his sales. The salary of the keeper of
a dispenser ywill not be affected if he
makes not single sale day. Indeed
f,,J
worth the higher salary, must be the
man who persuades his neighbors to
purchase nothing at all.
| CD We are glad to note that your bill
provides for the prohibition of all dis
play of attractions and inducements
toward arousing the passionate oesire
for drink. Our saloons are notorious
for placing temptations in the way of
the man who has acquired an appetite
for liquor.
90 We welcome the abolition of the
custom of treating as provided in this
bill. Nothing Of the kind can be car
ried on in the dispensary.
| (D We realize that idleness and the
drink habit are almost inseparable.
Saloons welcome customers who hang
around until their money is gone. The
dispensary is forbidden to provide
Seats or other accommodations for
customers"
! 60 We.are glad to note that the Gov
eminent is not to be a large profit
sharer in the proceeds of the sales of
the intoxicants. 1t is not sentimental
ism, but common sense, which declares
that a noble Government, like a noble
man, cannot afford to make money out
of the heart-blood of its subjects. The
aim of the bill is simply to use the
receipts to meet the expenses.
| CO. We welcome the provisions for a
carefully kept record of names of pur-
chasers not for public use, but for the
purpose of aiding the dispenser in re-
Ifusing sales Ito any minor, intoxicated
lperson or habitual drunkard.''
! CD We heartily endorse the princi-
pie of local option as the right which
belongs to the very founda ton of Amer
lean independence, viz. that questions
affecting the welfare of the people shall
be determined by the vote of the peo-
pie.
80 We are exceedingly pleased with
the provisions in section 25 that no dis
titled liquors can be purchased for re-
sale, and that outside of hotels and
restaurant no vinous or malt liquors
can be re-sold.
DANGER.
We would call attention. however, to
the wide-open door for small restau-
rants and the large number of methods
which can be used in evading the pro-
visions and intent of this act and the
hotel or restaurant keeper still fulfill
the conditions of this act as it now
stands. The liquors can be sold at the
exact price paid at the dispensary and
yet high prices charged for other goods
and thus a good profit realized in the
handling of the liquors. We would be
ready to favor the passage of the bill
as whole with the following amend
Iments:
AMENDMENT.
To section 25 line 8, inserting after
the words "hotel or restaurant" the
words sin precincts only where dispen-
lsaries are established" and to section
25, line Is, inserting after the word
violating the words cor in any way
evading," and after the word "provi-
sions' the words "or intent" and af-
ter the word section the words cor
act" making the sentence read as fol-
lows:"If at any time the dispenser be-
or restaurant is repeatedly violating or
in any way evading the provisions, or
intent of this section, or act, he shall
refuse to SELL" etc.
We should be pleased, of course, If
other restrictive amendments, which
seem to us advantageous could be
made, but we understand the Difficult
ties surrounding the Inauguration of a
Of To- {
contemplated in this bill
One other item which is simply unfair
to the women OF the Territory, whether
they vote for or against the dispensar-
les, is found in section 49, line 6. and can
be easily changed by cutting out the
words the wife and daughters, of age,
of each elector" and inserting amy wo-
man over twenty-one years of age who
is citizen of the United States and of
the Territory of Hawaii and a resident
of the precinct Interested" etc.
We would like the question proposed
Tor ballot so presented that a straight
vote can he 1,nor +ho