Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-10-10
MONOPOLY IN LIQUOR.
Modified Gothenburs System Is in
Successful Operation in Norway.

STOCKHOLM, Sept, 5.-(William
b. Curtis in the Chicago Record-Her
add Norwegian method of
deahng with the liquor traffic is the
lGothenburg system modified. The
Samlag, as the monopoly is called in
Norway, is the same as the Bolag in
sweden-a society composed of be-
nevolent people who control the trade
IN the interest of temperance. with
out profit for themselves. In Norway
they are allowed per cent of the
net proceeds for distribution among
the shareholders, instead of 6 per
cent, as in Sweden, and the surplus
profits, instead of going into the gen
eral fund of the municipal treasures.
as in Sweden-which some people
think induces the taxpayers to en-
courage intemperance-is distri-
buted among benevolent institutions
and objects of public utility which
are entirely dependent upon private
support. Any charity or institution
which accepts aid from the munich
pal or state government. however
small. is disqualified from participant
Ing in the pecuniary benefits of the
Norwegian plan of local option. This,
| its advocates argue. removes one ser
| ious objection advanced by prohibi-
| tionists against the Gothenburg sys-
tenn and establishes purity of motive
on the part of the directors of the
| monopoly.
Under the Norwegian plan. the
municipal council has more to do with
ha4 sFsTstt1
The sites selected for selling aeen-
cies must receive its sanction. The
appointment of all managers. stew
ards and other officials must he rati-
fed. and any changes in the regllla.
lions must have its approveal. The
books and accounts of the society are
always open to the inspection of
members of the council. and are aud
tied annually by official accountants.
portion of the board of directors is
elected by the vote of the council
and can be removed in the same
manner.
The popularity of the system is SO
great that it has already been adopt
ed in iifty-one out of ffty-tour towns
and cities in Norway In the other
three prohibition is enforced. I'm
der the general law local option pre-
walls and all men and women over
25 years of age are allowed to vote on
questions relating to the liquor trafiic.
Public sentiment has thus sanctioned
the notified GCtltenburg system. al
though the prohibitionists c"ntinuc
their attacks with great encrgy and
a 81 ;,,
The Norwegian Total Abstinence
Society, which is the basis of the pro
hibition movement has l,020 associa-
lions throughout the kingdom, with
l29.259 members. There are 352
lodges of Good Templars. with l7,735
members and 5000 children. TIE
grand lodge numbers 4,200. The Wo-
mems Total Abstinence Society has
u $50 and the Blue Ribbon Society
about 2500. All these organizations
are actively engaged in opposition
o the existing system. and occasion
ally win a victory and secure the pas
sage of prohibition laws in some of
the towns and villages. They use
the same arguments against the
Gothenburg system that are advanced
in Sweden and We're enumerated in
a recent letter. But the great mass
of the thinking people, supported by
the police authorities, the judges of
the courts and the keepers of reform
atory institutions. agree as to the eff
fectiveness of the Gothenburg system
in decreasing drunkness, poverty and
crime and in promoting temperance
and order.
Formerly distilling was free in
Norway as in Sweden, and drunk
ness prevailed to a fearful extent. In
1859 there were 1101 distilleries,
while today there are only twenty-five
in the kingdom, which produce about
3 900 900 liters, or 100000 gallons of
brandy and whiskey while about
25O0OO gallons are imported. Since
the present system of regulation
went into effect twenty-eght years
ago the number of places at which
liquor can be purchased has been re-
duced from 5O1 to 1870 throughout the
entire kingdom or an average of one
to every 10000 inhabitants. and the
annual consumption has been reduced
from 3 quarts per capita to IL quarts.
At the same time the consumption of
beer has increased nearly elght-fold,
from 25 to 1862 quarts per capita an
uually. which, however, is compara-
lively small. The Norwegian beer Is
light and shows only 3 per cent alco-
hol by analysts. The consumption OF
all forms of drinks, including distilled
liquors. beer and wine. is less in Nor
way than in any other country ex-
cept Finland.
The following table. taken from the
official reports of the Norwegian gov
ernment. shows the average annual
consumption of all forms of alcoholic
liquors, including beer. in the coun-
| tries. named:
Finland .... l.SlGermany. ..... S.6
| Norway ... 2.2lItaly .,......... 80
Sweden ..... 43lDenmark . .10.1
During the ten years preceding