The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-11-28
System of Regulating the Liquor
Traffic in Republic Of
4 Switzerland.
REBOUNDS TO NATIONS
MORALS AND PROSPERITY
Revenues are Expended for Edu-
cation and for Public
Highways.

Washington. Nov, 25.-7appy is
that nation which has no history! So
runs the proverb; for much that goes
under the name Of history is but tale
Of wars and public miseries.
The Ideal Republic.
One thinks of Switzerland. the
Ideal Republic as felicitously exenl-
plifying the adage quoted. A glorious
history indeed has been hers in the
past but her peace and contentment
and well-being have been such for
many years that she may be said, in
the light Of the proverb to have had
no history during long period.
Making Of History.
Yet Switzerland has been all along
making history OF a different type
from a mere chronicle Of kings and
wars-history that has given her q
high place Of honor among civilized
nations and earned for her the praise
of mankind. AS an example, we may
point to her settlement of the drink
problem, which rebounds SO much to
the happiness and prosperity of her
people.
Swiss Alcohol Monopoly.
It is not 50 we'll known as it should
be that the system of regulating the
liquor traffic in Switzerland. known as
the Swiss Alcohol Monopoly, is in
tended to act as check on the con-
sumption Of distilled liquors, whiskey,
brandy, etc., while encourgaging the
use of beer and wine. Mr.. Milliet, di-
rector Of the government monopoly
0vy.
Aim Of Government.
1.-THE aim of the Swiss government
was, in substance, to improve the
quality of brandy and al. the same
time to check it's consumption by sub
stituting for it the less harmful wine
and beer" He declares frankly that
Ito the Federation was assigned the
task Of making wine, cider and beer
cheaper and more easily obtainable-
whiskey, however, dearer ard iess easy
to obtain" Also he points out that
1.-The local governments exercise super
vision over the quality of those bever-
ages, the moderate use Of which the
Federation had, so to speak, declared
legitimate-namely, wine, beer and
cider"
Advantages. Of Plan.
Summing up the advantages of the
Swiss plan, Mr.. Milliet asserts that
"the Monopoly offers a better distrtbu-
tion Of the burdens among the differ
ent classes of the population and en-
ables us to tax the distilled spirits
variously-i. e., the drink of the rich
man higher than that Of the poor
man." The purity Of the product was
another advantage claimed to have
been secured under the Swiss system.
This discrimination in favor Of the
mlilder beverages has been attended by
the most salutary results. In Switzer-
land the liquor problem 80 disturbing
to peace and prosperity in our own
country, is regarded as permanently
settled-a closed incident. And the
popular as well as expert opinion is,
that it has been settled right.
American consuI's Report.
Mr.. E. r. Mansfield, the American
consul at Lucerne has lately made an
Interesting report to our government
on the management of the liquor traf-
flc in the Swiss republic. He points
out that each canton has large meas
ure of discretion in dealing with the
traffic, the general plan being to limit
the number Of saloons In proportion to
the population. The average seems to
bo about one saloon to every 500 in
habitants, while in the rural districts
the ratio Is not infrequently as high as
one saloon to 1000 persons. Writing
of conditions in Lucerne the consul
says:
I'm the canton Of Lucerne the rate
for license is comparatively high. Sa-
looms are classified the privilege OF
operating a bar In flrst-class hotel
costing much more than for a small
restaurant or beer hall. Here the
minimum price for license to sell in
toxicants at retail is 200 francs, equal
to about $40 a year, and the maximum
for large hrst-class hotels 5000 francs
equivalent to about $1,000 per year
Each municipality or community de-
cides the number Of saloons to be IL
censed based upon the number OF
inhabitants, and when the number pre-
scribed has been reached no influence
political or financial, can secure an
additional privilege.
"The hour for closing Is generally
~ o'clock at night and as rule it Is
strictly observed, any violation of the
law resulting in a forfeit Of the H.
cense. Any special privileges desired
by the holder Of a liquor license must
be applied for to the proper authori-
ties, and, If granted, they must be paid
for in addition to the regular annual
fee. All license fees in Switzerland
must be paid one year in advance, and
any neglect ON the part of the holde,
to comply with this requirement re-
suits in forfeit Of the privilege.
Observance Of the Law.
"There are no technicalities of thu
law governing the traffic whereby th<
holder of a license can avoid a stric
compliance with it's requirements. Th'
limited number OF licenses issued alst
encourages the strict observance o
the law, as a bar privilege is consdd
s cred valuable because Of the fact tina
'.,'o en- the maximum number i 1a 2 allotted