Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-09-08
THE 4. GoTHENBURG SYSTEM.
Gothenburg System Of Liquor Traffic
as Observed BY Former
N Mayor Johnson.
Some Interesting Details in Paper
Presented to League Of Amer
ican Municipalities.
Some of the Restrictions and Regula
tions Under Which the sys-
tenn is Operated.

EX-Mayor Johnson of Fargo pre-
sented paper before the League of
American municipalities on the Gothen-
berg system of liquor traffic. Some of
his observations as gathered from per-
sonal investigation last year, are as
follows: y
On a petition signed by some of the
leading men Of the city of Gothenburg,
among the .signels being Julius Lin
strom, S. Renstrom & Co.. Jas. Dick
son & Co., David Carnegie & Co., Ech-
man & Co., the municipal council
granted the petition for charter to
be- known as .'The Goth enburg Public
House Licensing Co., and on August
r., 1850, the same was approved by
Charles XIV, King of Sweden. 4
Paragraph of the charter provides
that the capital stock shall not exceed
100000 knoners t$56,OOO).
Paragraph 10 reads as follows:
AS the object of the company is to
promote the general welfare, it follows
that the members thereof lay no claim
to its profits, which, when the expense
of mana cement, together with 6 per
cent annual interest on the capital in
vested by the shareholders, have been
paid, shall annually be made over to
the treasurer of the city of Gothen-
burg ;;y j.
Paragraph 16 Of the charter reads as
follows: j.. ~ ST ss.
F'.The directors are authorized to ap-
point managers for the company's pub
lie house traffic, as we'll as agents for
the retail traffic, such persons to pos
sess the requisite qualifications. The
managers. SO appointed are personally
responsible for the strict observance of
all the rules and regulations made for
the government of the public house and
retail traffic in liquors, wines, etc.
They must also obey such Instructions
as the directors may from time to time
issue, which rules and regulations will
also be binding on all other officials
or agents whom the company may en-
gage in their service
"A The contract between the company
and it's managers, among other things,
provides as follows:
4. ''The manager is bound to supply the
public with well cooked food, either
warm or cold, as may be demanded, as
we'll as coffee, tea, cocoa, small beer,
aerated waters and cigars, all ON his
own account.
He, binds himself to, sell liquors,
beer and stout for cash, only, Ito be paid
at5the time OF sale. TO keep polite
and attentive assistants To keep the
premises clear, airy, well lighted and
well heated, according to the seasons.
The manager is expressly forbidden
TO sell Intoxicating drinks to persons
who show the effects OF drinking, or
TO persons who are under age, or to
persons who pay renewed visits within
short intervals for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning drinks.
3 The manager is absolutely bound to
sell the company's liquors at the price
fixed by the company Of which a sched-
1lle " is posted UP in such public place,
and is bound to- sell the same as re-
5eeiveda from the company, and is pro-
Inhibited ElI 81, from dding any ingredient or
otherwise altering the quality.
M Once every three months the direct
ors w meet and fix the expenses Of each
of the managers, taking into consider
alton the numbers sof servants employed,
their food, maintenance and wages,
and such other expenses as heat, light,
janitor work, damage to furniture and,
finally, to fix such Remuneration as the
directors may deem just for the per-
sonal services OF the manager.
The last clause provides that either
party may cancel the contract by Civ
ing notice Of their intention to do so.
i also provides that the company can
smiss the manager without notice
q. comp pensation, If any Of the rules o1.
regulations of the company have been.
violated. "a
All wines and Nquol's are furnished
by the company and they are Of the
purest quality that can be obtained, ali
are Inspected by inspectors appointed
by the city authorities, and the goods
must % be sold from the original pack
ages.
While the company was organized