New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-22
TEMPERANCE IN ENGLAND
Balfor's attempt to Hunt zcith the
Hounds and to Run zcith the Hare.
London, April 13.

niles practical pOllUclanS WITH DreteXlS Tor de-
se-fng the redemption OF their pledges. There
Vas a time when old age pensions were ad-
,ocared by the leaders OF Tory Democracy in
General election. as an Offset to Radical sym
-athy with the labor party. The Unionists
have never taken up the question since they
have occupied the stronghods CT political power,
and NJ Chamberlain has tersely explained the
reason for i1action: 1T was imDossibIe to see
erv source from which the money that would
he requisite could fairly and Justly come" The
licensing question is an equally conspicuous IL
r,stration Of the suspensory principle. Mr..
r2alfour has pledged the government TO redress
the grievances Of the liquor interest. and he
knovs-fcr the political managers have not
made a secret Of it-that it viii be most useful
sn the next general election TO have the public
houses recruiting agencies for Toryism- He is
also warned that the redemption Of his prom
,ses wiz ALLEVIATE political support and revive
temperance agitation. and he finds the deficit
IN the national balance sheet a plausible excuse
for disappointing the liquor trade. There is no
money available for carrying out any scheme OF
compensation for the losses OF the drink traffic
from The withdrawal Of licenses. and conse-
ouertly nothing can be done by the government
except TO produce a hypothetical measure Of
relief which may become operative II there be
e surplus in place OF deficit The precedent
for compensation may be established by some
ingenious compromise. and the discretionary
powers OF the magistrates in Withdrawing IL
censes may be temporarily suspended. but with
an artificial makeshift OF this kind the publicans
VII have 10 be content until deficits disappear
from the annual budgets.
TIE drink evil, as every Chancellor OF the
Exchequer is forced TO admit. is one Of the
chief sources. OF national and local revenue.
When the times are easy and worl1men are fully
employed and well paid intemperance increases.
and the estimated receipts are enlarged until
there is 6 comfortable surplus. When the times
are hard and small economies are generally en-
forced. the Chancellor has his traditional joke
about the gratifying evidences Of temperance.
and makes up the default in drink tolls as best
he nay. The local treasures also fatten or
grow Jess as there Is more drinking or less Of it.
The whfskev income OF the London County
Council exceeds 100000 and the provincial
county councils have four times as much. The
reforners may be untiring in their efforts 20
dislnfect the drinking places. II not 10 abolish
them altogether. and public house trusts may
strive TO compete openly with pubicans and
TO divert 10 public uses considerable portion
81 the profits Of the liquor traffic but the econ
orists know how fupracticable it would be TO
balance accounts, national or local, without the
recent Of heavy tribute from drink For this
reason tneE regard a. d lll1llNAaA
source as well as q necessary evil. and contend
that It ought 10 be regulated on business prin-
ciples Since the publicans, brewers and dis
tiIlers are heavily taxed. the Treasury expert is
disposed TO believe that their vested interests
require protection, and that there is ground for
compensation when the privilege OF selling
liquor for private profit IS withdrawn. The
temperance rerorner. on the other hand. de-
nounces every proposal for compensation for
the losses OF an unclean, demoraiizing trade,
and favors the most strenuous measures q
taxing public houses out Of existence
The failure Of restricted licensing q tenn
perance policy IS admitted by reformers as
frankly as by the experts Of the Civil Service
The public house interest has become q power
ful monopoly. with masses OF capital behind II,
with a compact organization and with vast re-
sources OF political influence. Restriction has
not diminished intemperance. as IS shown by
the police returns for arrests for drunkenness
IN towns where the number Of licenses has been
reduced, and Il has impaired additional value
70 every license which is annually renewed. The
licenses are controlled by the trade, which is en-
riched by the sale OF liquor. and their earning
capacity as working properties has been in
fated by the efforts OF he magistrates 20 re-
strict the traffic by the Withdrawal Of priv
neges Restriction in this way operates SO as
70 increase the valuation OF PRIVILEGES for which
coupensa lions are demanded by the liquor in
terest. and at the same time 10 reduce the num-
her CT publicans and 70 convert what was once
an unraauaCeable trade into a well organized
combination, which controls municipalities and
exerts tremendous influence in national politics.
on this account there is a prima ac.e case in
favor o. the suspension Of the discretionary
privileges OF the magistrates in Withholding
licenses. On the other hand. there is a natural
Hu~#e rFru-a
with the powers OF the magistrates. who have
the best facilities for determining the character
and influence OF liquor saloons in every COM
muniUy. The licensing courts Of magistrates
are competent tribunals Of the highest respec5a-
buty. and there are ample checks upon individ-
ual judgment OF prejudice, for there can be ap-
peals 10 a larger body OF county magistrates.
Not Only temperance fanatics but moderate men
Of sound Judgment IN both parties unite in dep
recating any measures for impairing the au-
thority OF the magistrates over public houses
Mr. Balfour skilled as he is in the art OF
deyising compromises and rnakeshifts. viii find
s. difficult 10 meet either demand Of the pub
hca1s' monopoly without arousng public opposi-
don Il he suspends the discretionary powers
o. the magistrates until there is a practical
method Of guaranteeing the trade against their
legal action Il viii be cons 5ered reckless sur
render o. historic rights OF local government at
the dlcJation % a powerful combination Of
brewers distillers and saloon owners II he
establishes any precedent for a trade right to
compensation at the expense OF taxpayers there
VII be revolt OF all the moral forces OF public
opinion. What now seems probable is a tenta-
tive measure, which VIII restrict the magisterial
privileges without abolishng them altogether
and create under more favorable financial condi-
tons a compensation fund nominaIly CT the ex-
pense OF the liquor trade. The ingenious brewer
q craal.ea WITH The irE-antlnn nf n LII r-hlch