Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-01-25
SIX MONTHS OF LICENSE.

church, NJ ontpe Ter, recently
the pastor, Rev. Lucius F. Reed,
speaking on the subject of license, in
the light of six months expert
ence under the new law regulating
the sale of liquors. Subjoined is
synopsis of Mr.. Reeds remarks:
Mr.. Reed said that since license is
but an experiment in the community
it Lehooves US to carefully observe
every fact for or against. We need
beware lest, becoming used to condi-
tions, we become oblivious to their
significance. He said his talk was not
to disclose new facts but rather to
call to mind such things as have been
observed commonly. Attention was
called to the enforcement Of the pres
ent law, which, on the whole, has
been good. Since the law became
operative two places with bad repu-
tations have been closed.
Speaking of these favorable things,
the speaker took up a consideration
of "Six Months of License" more in
detail-first on the financial side. He
said in substance that the city treas
urer's books show that IN intOxication
cases tried in the city court 1913
above the receipts for fines has been
paid out. If the present rate of
drunkenness continues, the city will
be short nearly 81, 900 at the end of
the year of license. To balance this
there are the license fees, S2,315.
This will not balance the account, for,
according to the overseer Of the poor,
there will be spent in care of families
coming on the town through drink
about as much as is received for the
licenses. Accordingly there will be a
loss to the city from the license
experiment.
In regard to the effect upon bust
ness, Mr.. Reed said that almost with
out exception those with whom he
consulted reported loss in sales and
poorer collections, which can be
traced directly to the increased
drinking. Many cases were cited, by
way of illustration, of families who
had been fairly good customers who
now buy much less and pay more
slowly. The financial loss, however,
has not been heaviest upon the mer-
chants. The families which have
been compelled to get on with less
have to bear the heaviest burden.
Their loss is often the means to buy
the necessaries of life. According to
conservative estimates, from $500 to
$500 is being spent daily for liquor, or
nearly twice as much as formerly.
The moral results can not be tabu-
lated or measured, but there are many
indications. The most evident is the
record of the city court. The same
months in three years show the fol-
lowing number of arrests for drunk
enness: 1901, IS; 1902, 40; 1908, 217
These figures do not mean simply that
the police have been more vigilant
for common observation shows quite
the contrary. The policy of the police
is not to arrest man who is in fail
way to get out of the way, providing
he is not creating disturbance.
is almost the universal testimon.
that there are more tipsy an,
drunken men on the streets. 1t
considered by many unsafe 70
women to walk on the streets a
night. Notwithstanding the oath @
the police officers, we are forced t
believe, from testimony gathere
from many sources, that condition
are much worse. Some one shout
explain, to satisfy public curiosity
just what the police meant by the oat
they took.
The moral results among drinker
are sad, but not SO sad as the result
in families and upon the boys of th
city. Families have been force
against their wishes to look to Chart
for aid. Children have been cor
taminated by disgusting .spectaclel
not so often seen before. Crime ha
increased, and some results are TO
sad to talk over so publicly. Til
restrictions against selling to drunk
ards and boys are made useless b
the places holding second elias
licenses. These places unite ever
knot that was made to prohibit tn
sale to certt in persons.
In closing the speaker again urge
a careful observation of facts for c
against the saloons, so that when W
vote in March we may vote intell1
gently, having the facts before u
He called attention to the Organize
ton of liquor men to promote bus
ness and work to. retain the hcens
law. Such an organization NEAR
that those who decide against ccr