The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-02
SALOON REFORMS AS
CARRIED ON IN ENGLAND

~ SixNNlLD YIN AlN ~ ALlNNAlAtAD
In conncctitv with the subway saloon
in New York city, about which so much
las been said, Lord Grey, founder OF the
Public House Trust Movement, he's Just
written an Instructive article bearing on
It's operation IN England. He says In
the beginning that under tho liquor law
or the United Kingdom no now house Gu II
be licensed for tho retail sale Of alco-
holic liquors unless the licensing ragls-
trates think tho requirements Of tho dis
trict call for an additional saloon. It
has been tho policy of these n,agistrates
to refuse all applications for new licenses
u,lless the absolute necessity for new
saloon Is clearly established. III THIS
way every saloon has a monopoly and n
new license In a growing district Is very
valuable. sometimes worth as much as
800, 900.
realized by the liquor saloons OF the
United Kingdom are about LOCO 900 per
annun, not Including tho wholesale
profit made by brewers ana distillers TO
whom the majority OF the saloons be.
long. Between seventy and eighty per
cent OF the luior saroons are tied"
to the brewers and distilers who pay
der that they may obtain All outlet tor
their stuff. AS further evidence OF the
power and Importance OF the LIQUOR
trade Lord Grey says that for every
primary day school In England ana
Wales, there nro more than six licensed
houses for the sale Of liquors. 1t is
plain from this that the LIQUOR sellers
In England exert q powerful political
Influence, and the first object OF the
Public Trust Movement was to build
what Lord Grey calls "ringed fence"
n
United Kingdom, and thus prevent the
further growth OF an ganization which.
II unchecked, threatens to control the
State. sis y s$a w i W.
Accordingly few individuals resolved.
only three years ago, to take advantage
OF the opportunities which the law af-
forded them, and have succeeded In es-
tabllshing in nearly every county IN Eng
land powerful Public House Trust
Company, directed by gentlemen who
stand high in the esteem and confidcncc
OF the public, who, 8 at3-much personal
self sacrifice. are cndeavorinE to arrange
that every new license in their respec-
tive counties SHALL wherever possible be
brought under the management Of those
who have no interest wha tsoevcr IN pros
noting the consumption Of alcoholic IL
Quors. a IS.
The men In this movement DO not ask
the magistrates TO grant new liccnses,
but simply, IL a. new license is granted.
that it be given to them rather than
to the brewers and distillers. The prn-
ciple underlying this reform is the elm
nation Of tho element OF personal profit
from the sale OF alcoholic liquors, and
SO the dividend payable on the capital
subscribed is limited to five per cent.
per annum, all surplus profits being
handed to the council to be applied to OBJ
jects of public benefit. The admtnistra-
ton Of trust compa ny is In the hands
Of directors who are responsible to the
shareholders for the conduct Of Its bust
ness. The houses under trust manage
ment are conducted = as refreshments
houses rather than as mere drinking
bars, food and soft drinks as well as
alcoholic liquors being sold. and food
and drinks, supplied are OF tho best
quality obtanablc. The managers are
paid fixed salary so that they have no
incentive to urge men to drink; on tho
other hand, they are encouraged to pro-
mote the sale OF food and n6n-intoxl-
ca nts.
Lord Grey says in passing that Il
the 'ringei fence" policy started three
years ago by the Central Public House
Trust Association, over which he presides,
had been started thirty or forty years
ago, and all the new licenses established
since that date had been brought under
trust management, millions Of dollars
which have enriched the owners OF
monopoly saloons would have been avail
able for providing the country wit h
counter attractions to the saloon. For
this reason .he and his associates ask
that all new licenses should be given
to them on the ground that they will
administer them as a trust IN - in-
terest Of tho community. 1t is also the
object OF the trust companies to pur-
chase or become the lessees OF existing
licenses whenever q. good opportunity
offers. and in some instances they have
thus converted dlsreput ia Bile saloons into
respectable refrcshment houses.
Lord Grey declares that there IS album
dant evidence to show that under the
altered management the character OF the
house is improved to the great benefit Of
the neighborhood. No liquor advcrtise-
ments are allowed In the house. but at
tractivc pictures, plants and flowers take
their place and every effort Is made to
convert the saloon into a comfortable
refreshment house.
The following evidence Of the Influence
exercised In favor Of the higher temper
ance by trust houses will DO regarded
as satisfactory by all who recognize In
T.
pie a source OF national impoverishment
immortality and crime: s
Referring TO the Trentham Hotel, Trent
ham. staffordshire,t Colonel Crawford, who
was appointed by the Central Pubic
House Trust Association to Inspect and
report upon the management Of trust
houses, writes 5F5
Before the installation Of reformed man.
agement in March. 1903, the manager
only cared to sell drink-n trade which
gave less trouble and more profit, lne
non alcoholic trade was at first only g
few pence a day; now It often reaches
e3 aay,Bexclusye OF sales to the parties
catered for. sI-9f
or the Darleston Inn, Darleston, stone
Staffordshire, he said:
The manager considers that the mair
object Of the trust is to wean the work
Ing man from drinking habits. Working
men come now for tea and non-alcoholics
A certain moral cowa rdtce prevents then
4. ,,,,,,r.8 for NON. a lcohoiics when the hal