Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-09-30

The Liquor Problem.

A correspondence writes; Government
control is soon to be adopted by the United
States in the selling of opium upon the re-
commentator of the Philippine commission,
and this action upon the part of the national
government points toward the plan advocated
by the leading temperance people of the
world-that such gigantic monopolies must
eventually come under government control
and that the enormous profits now going to
private individuals be made source of reve-
nue. for the reduction of taxation.
"The commission, finding that the use of
opium was spreading to an alarming extent
among the Filipinos, decided that measures
must be taken to check the traffic, and after
considering five methods of action: high
license, local option, farming, prohibition and
a monopoly, decided to recommend the prac-
teal and logical method Of government con-
troll of the drug. Now, with the opium traffic
in the hands of the government, revenue Of
thousands OF dollars will be received annually,
which heretofore has gone to private parties,
and yet only the legitimate demand for the
drug will be supplied.
"What better argument need be brought
forward in favor Of the sale Of liquor by State
control than this proposed action Of the ma
tonal government as regards the traffic in this
dangerous commodity Of opium, which, in its
injurious effects is but degree removed from
spirituous hquor'
'rThe total retail cost Of alcoholic beverages
consumed in this country for the year ending
June so, 1908, was SG,295,9o&35S, and with
population OF S2,572.oOo the per capita
drink bill for 1908 was SIS.I5 or S9o.75 for
every family OF five persons.
"At four per cent the amount expended for
alcoholic beverages in 1908 would show a
profit Of over S5o,OOO,oOO. Now, we well
know, that to he perfectly conservative, ten
per cent Of the amount received in 1908 by
the sellers of liquor was clear profit, and
doubtless twice that amount but taking ter
per cent as the minimum OF profit derived by
the retailers of liquor, we have the stipend
Gus figure Of nearly SI5O,ooO,ooo, or nearly
S3O.ooO,Ooo more than the gold reserve o.
the United States treasury.
"From 1880 to 1905, p years there ha
been steady increase in the quantity o
alcoholic stimulents used per capita. In 1856
the amount consumed per capita was 10. &
gallons while the figures OF 1908 show pc
capita consumption Of 1895 gallons, or nearl,
100 per cent increase, with the increase il
population by no means keeping pace Will
the drinking propensities of the people,
We think that nearly all the reader
of the Register and indeed the great ma
jority of the citizens of the State, will
agree to the suggestion that such gigan
tic monopoly as the sale of liquor mus
eventually come under government con
troll, and that the enormous profits nov
going to private individuals should b
made a source of revenue for the re
duction of taxation.
For it is the height of folly for tn
citizens of a State to give these enormou
profits to a few individuals.
In the first place, in order to prOteC
the people against the great evils of il
temperance, it is necessary to eliminat
now universally admitted by all UMPIRE
JUDGED persons whose attention ha
been called to this subject. We believ
that there is no one who will den
lnlS, excepting Illose VINO MAKE
expect to make, profit from the sale
liquors. Nor is it possible to conceive
any sound system of regulation of IL
liquor traffic, which does not rest upo
this foundation. And therefore is
most desirable that our Legislatul
amend the present law in this respect,
But it is practically impossible
eliminate private gain in the sale