Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-10

most eloquent in favor of this system
1t is a humiliating confession that the
prohibition system, while in vogue III
Maine, Vermont, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas or
the Dakotas, suffers tremendously in
comparison:
The system has also been introduced
into Norway and Finland. where IT has
met with equal success. The police OIL
Gals In all three of the Scandinavian
countries give their unqualified testimo-
ny in it's support. There is no question
that Sweden, Norway and Finland have
improved in an extraordinary manner SO
far as drunkenness. poverty and crime
are concerned since the adoption of the
Gothenburg system, and the opponents
of that system generally admit that II
is responsible for the Improvement. For
example, in Sweden during the five
years before the Gothenburg system was
adopted there was an average of 5,392
persons in the prisons under sentence, or
an average of 1922 per 1000 inhabitants.
During the last five years the average
has been only S,159 annually in a popu-
lation of 100000. or 6.31 per 1000 inhabi-
tants. Similar statistics are furnished
by the officials in charge of the poor.
Before the adoption of the system
there was an average of ZIG saloons for
every 100000 inhabitants in Sweden. in
Guiding both the cities and the country.
Now there is an average of eighty -four
places where liquor can be purchased
for every 100000 inhabitants.
The profits from the sale OF liquor
were at first employed in public works,
especially those that directly benefited
the working classes. but of late they
have been turned directly into the gen.
leral treasury and used for the payment
of ordinary municipal expenses. In some
of the cities and towns they are still
used as fund for the relief of the poor,
The total revenue annually derived from
the sale OF liquor under the Gothenburg
system in Sweden is about 100000 kro-
ner Ga krone being IS cents). The gov
eminent tax upon distilleries amounts
annually to about 10000 COO kroner, and
the duties collected upon imported
wines, liquors and beers will average
annually 9,300000 kroner, making total
revenue of nearly 100000 kroner from
the liquor traffic"
In another letter Mr.. Curtis says:
THE Norwegian method OF dealing
with the liquor traffic is the Gothenburg
eystem modified. The Samlag, as the,
monopoly Is called in Norway. is the
same as the Bolag in Sweden-a society
composed of benevolent people who con-
troll the trade in the interest of temper
ance, without profit to themselves. In
Norway they are allowed 5 per cent of
the net proceeds for distribution among
the shareholders instead OF per cent,
as in Sweden, and the surplus profits,
instead Of going into the general fund
Of the municipal treasures. as in Swed-
en-which some people think induces the.
taxpayers to encourage Incompetence
Is distributed among benevolent institu-
tons and objects of public utility which
are entirely dependent upon private
support. Any charity or institution
which accepts aid from the municipal or
state government, however small, is dis
qualified from participating in the PEE
cuniary benefits Of the Norwegian plan
of local option. This, its advocates ar
que. removes one serious objection adj
yanced by prohibitionists against the