New-York tribune., 1907-12-30
DAY NEAR END
Prohibition Lac in Georgia, Hosc-
eUer, WiU Be Fou ght IN Court.

Atlanta, Dec 29.-With the advent Of the new
year the law prohibiting the manufacture and sale
OF intoxicating liquor passed by the last session of
the Legislature. becomes effective. making Georgia
the first OF the Southern States to be placed in the
prohibition column. The law is very drastic 1t
PROMPTS the keeping giving away of liquor in
puohc places and imposes a OF $500 on clubs
whose members allowed TO keep drinks of an
intoxicating nature in their individual lockers
Agitation is under way try TO have the law
declared unconstitutional. A prominent firm of
lawyers has been asked to test the merits of the
legislation This action may be brought the
United States courts next month. 1t is asserted
the suit will be based the that constitu-
ton of Georgia specifically provides that all rove
nue. from liquor licenses shall be used for the school
fund.
Several million dollars are involved in property
loss In the state by the operation the prohibition
law. 1t is estimated that Atlanta alone will lose
soo2 IN license taxes, and that the property value
of saloons and breweries here which will go out of
business on January is from 81 100000 s.. 1.5o0U00
For the rest Of the state the property values in
volved about S5.0ooGO0. Ten thousand persons
in the state are affected in the way of employment
Atlanta alone has fifteen hundred who will lose
their work when January l rings its bell on the
sale of Intoxicating liquors.
There is question that the prohibition law will
be enforced This is not the country of the 'speak
easy" and the police enforce the laws to the limit
Governor Smith and the city court officials have
been frank in their statements that no fines will
be imposed for the Illegal sale of liquor. but that
prison sentences will follow the violation of any
part Of the prohibition act.
One peculiar feature the law is that not even
the incorporated clubs allowed provide in
toxicatng drinks for their members either with or
without food man may have a locker in club
and keep whatever he peases in this locker, but
club having such lockers is subject excise
tax OF 500 a year. Several clubs are providing
lockers, but many others have declared they will
prohibit the keeping of liquors within their doors.
The question now arises where the funds for the
maintenance of the public schools Will come from.
It is said considerable increase in the tax rate
may result
Previous TO the passage OF the prohibition bill
only seventeen Of the 14S mites in the state al
lowed the sale of liquor under license Four or five
others did SO through dispensaries controlled by
the counties.
Some Of the hotels have reconstructed their bar
rooms into ladies tea rooms and soft drink
establishments. Many saloon have posted
notices that they will move TO Chattanooga
some other city within a reasonable distance,
where prohibition has not laid its hands.
The fight for prohibition led by the Anti
Saloon League. While the bill finally passed by an
overwhelming majority 1t only after the
hardest kind Of contest. It Immediately received
the approval Of Governor Smith. who made this
statement tonight:
hibition law of the provision the con-
stituton appropriating special liquor taxes to
school purposes. The constitution authorizes. but
does not require. a special liquor tax.
THE properties which quit the liquor business are
not lost. The breweries prepared to manu-
facture ice and soft drinks. With these they can
pay fair profit their Investments. There is
plenty of work in Georgia for those who go out of
the liquor business
THE state school fund was increased $3.50 600 for
next year, and there is doubt about the revenue
of the state being ample without the liquor
meet all appropriations. The overwhelming senti-
ment of the white people of Georgia is for pro-
hibition and the law will be enforced"