The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-04-08
REGISTRATION Of CH|NESERU yAY[PLAGARISN
OF MAJORITY REPORT ON THE
DISPENSARY BILL.
Was Taken From the Report of the
Canadian and United States Liquor
Dealers Convention of 1895.

The main features of DR.. Russel's
report, presented in the Senate
this morning, are as follows:
While the largest part of the objec-
lions of the majority constitute but
haphazard assertions devoiu OF any
foundation and may be passed over
without notice, there are some, due
to ignorance of the subject or misun-
derstandng that are worth refuting.
l begin with the objections coming
from the business quarters, and espe-
cially from the capitalists, who have in
vested their capital in the liquor trade,
and challenge the majority of your com
mittee to show where and how the pro-
visions of the bill, in any manner tres
pass upon vested rights. There is not
a trace of such infringement, since:
LIST. All licenses issued until the pas
sage of the bill are allowed to run their
natural term.
End. All stocks of liquors, that are
not injurious to the public health, and
which remain on hand after the ex-
piration of the license, are taken over
by the Territory at cost price. AS for
those liquors, that on account of in
furious and poisonous ingredients, will
have to be exported, the Territory can
not admit their sale here under any
conditions, if the Board of Health is do
ing it's duty. Were not certain brands
of beer condemned and the right to
sell refused by the Board of Health not
long ago on account of the adultera-
ton with salyclic acid? Not only in
law, but in equity, there is no infrac-
ton whatever, just the reverse. While
shutting off relatively small private in
vestment in the liquor trade, Bill No
AZ, opens a wide field for the produce
ton of liquors. Vini-culture, brewing
distilling and a large number of new
industries depending upon cheap alco-
hol such as manufacture of varnishes
extracts, perfumery and fruit preserv-
ing which would furnish employment
to the people.
At present, Germany controls the al
cohol market and nine-tenths of the
alcohol manufactured is used in the
above named new industries and eX-
ported in the shape of new goods. Why
could not we follow their example?
For whatever useful purposes the
government may see fit to apply these
new resources it will relieve, by so
much, the burden of taxation.
1t lies with the people to make the
bill a temperance measure If they see
fit to do so. The bill is advanced only
as a public health and public morality
measure, ana as SuCn II Will CeIldlniy
be very effective.
1t is different thing, whether a man
consumes his pint of beer or wine
every day at dinner or whether he fills
himself on Saturday evening with the
whole weekly ration at once. 1t pro-
duces different results although it
might not materially alter the annual
consumption.
The statement of the majority of
your committee, that the amount of
consumption of liquor in South Caro-
lima since the introduction of the Dis
pensary tystem has increased is not
correct, as it does not take into consid
Grafton the increase of population
and other circumstances. But even il
it were correct, it would only prove
that the irregular consumption has civ.
en- place to the regular and inoffensive
one.
1t is said, that reform in the liquor
traffic was not mentioned i'm the party
platforms. / contend that it was a
part of the principle of self government
All the parties pledged themselves tC
provide local lf-goVernment. This
bill, by putting the whole question OF
the sale of liquors in the hands of the
voters of each precinct gives the PEG.
pie the right of self-gOVernment in one
of the important domains of their eco
nomic and moral life, which is ever
more important than the political one
and goes as far as to confer the RICH
to vote to their wives and daughters
BY this provision it fills the most essen
tial part of the program of self-govern
ment, which is exactly the reverse o
"Paternal Legislation"
In regard to this 'Paternal Legisla
ton" of which many old-time RESIDENT
of Hawaii have so recently become
alarmed, and which has prompted s,
much patriotic resistance on the par
of my honorable colleagues on the com
mittee. However, l desire to remint
them that the state control of the man
ufacture and sale of liquors has beel
for years adopted by such ultra-d demo
cratic countries as Norway and Swift
zerland.
From the point of view of publ
morality, a view entirely distinct iron
that of temperance, I will state, tina
the very existence of such a trad
which brings $40 per cent profits, |
dangerous for the community, especial
ly when ii concerns liquors. Such enor
! nous profits necessarily result in pub
lie corruption. The saloon people as
sert themselves as Estate within tn
State" debating the state policy. Sine
there cannot be two managers in tn
, same concern, the question of state con
troll of liquors is merely a question q
, an alternative, whether it is the Stat
/ that will own the saloon, or, whethe
the saloon will own the State?
Any further procrastination to as
sert the rights of the state is danger
GUS because the power of the saloo
will soon outgrow the power of IN
State and no Legislature will be abb