The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-16

tain evils that did not exist even with
the open saloons and have no financia'
benefit as compensation for these evils
or to help bear the burden
| While the city Is still enjoying some
of the money benefits of the old dispen-
sary, that is now about exhausted, ana
| the incoming administration Will nave
serious problem In taking care of the
city's finances.
When the dispensary was closed lit
tie more than two years ago, the stock
and fixtures remained. These were sold
and netted the city about $1o,0o0 with
this money the city water works were
purchased. After the purchase OF the
water works the property was bonded for
| $4,000. and this sum placed in the general
fund of the city treasury
This fund is now aDput exhausted. and
| the city will have to look elsewhere for
money to assist in the government and
| extension of the city's necessary improve
| ments. So it is seen that the Dement'S
of the Tuscaloosa dispensary are still be-
ing felt.
The water works. it is true. bring in
neat profit every month. This money IS
now going into the general fund of the
city, but it is really needed for service
| extension sinking fund and other inn
provements to the plant. The water re-
ceipts cannot go into the general fund
indefinitely.
Profits of Dispensnry
Let us glance again at the monetary
profits of the Tuscaloosa dispensary.
The net profit for the last year of its
| existence was. In round numbers, $4,000
| Now 1t has been suggested that Birming-
| ham establish a system of dispensaries.
| Let us compare the receipts of the Tus-
| caloosa dispensary and the population of
| Tuscaloosa with the population of Great
err Birm. ngham and the probable results
of well-ma naged dspensaries in Birming-
ham.
The population of Tuscaloosa when the
dispensary was established was trif1e
more than 5000 This means that the dis
pensary did a business equal to - per
capita of the population of the town of
Tuscaloosa, though. of course, the bust
ness was drawn from the surrounding
| country as well. The same condition
would exist in Birmingham.
| Putting Brmingham's population next
year at $4,000, which l feel sure is con-
| sentative, and figuring the per capita
| business, based on the Tuscaloosa call
| culation, which appears to me to be fair,
we have business of s1,040,000 for Biz
mingham. This means an annual profit
Of 100000 to go into the public treas
uries.
| | am told that the dispensary, after it
is we'll established, absolutely eliminates
the blind tiger. 1t does away with the
social drinking evil. and Is closed at
| night and on Sundays.
MIR. Blair Talks
Hear what F. G. Blair has to say about
the dispensary:
Personally I favored high license and
| f1,o hncf ,.1o nfo ra1
ing the liquor traffic until 1 say the
practical workings and good results of the
Tuscaloosa dispensary, says he.
II happened to be chairman of the
| finance committee of the city council at
the time the dispensary was established
and was placed in charge of its organiza-
| ton. Being in way opposed to this plan
| I was determined to give it a fair trial.
| l wanted to know what the dispensary
would and could do. 7 gave 1t a great
| deal of my time and attention and the
record and the judgment of the people
who know its record will bear me out
| in saying that 1t was great success
| in every way.
| 1T was certainly success financially
| and 1t greatly reduced the amount of
drunkenness as we'll as eliminated many
| of the evils of the open saloon. It is much
better in my opinion than prohibition as
prohibition is in Alabama or any other
state as to that matter.
People will have liquor in some man
ner. Since this is fact and cannot be
prevented 1t does seem to me that 1t
should be handled under the direct con-
troll of the law and by honest officials.
If there is to be profit the town and
county should get 1t and not outside in
terests. If liquor burdens community
with courts and other public charges. the
community should certainly get a toll
from the business to help bear the bur-
Cen.
IT am sure that the dispensary Is the
solution of the problem in towns the
size of Tuscaloosa, and believe 1t Is the
thing for cities like Birmingham ! want
to see the system tried in Birmingham
There seems to be no doubt but that
Birmingham will have a commission form
of government The problem of operat-
ing a dispensary or system of dispen-
saries under this form of city govern
ment should be much easier than under
the present method of government.
A Serious Problem
1.-THE most serious problem in the sue
cess of the dispensary Is in securing the
right man for dispenser We were ex-
ceedingly fortunate in Tuscaloosa. You
can get the right man. but this is very
important. You want to pay large
enough salary to get high class man
and then your dispensary will be sue
cess from every point of view.
II would also advocate the selling of
small phials of liquor in city like Bir-
mingham. Buy nothing but the best
brands, give the people pure liquors and
sell them no more than they want at
a time. Do not sell man a drunk If
drink will satisfy him"
Tomorrow | will continue this Tusca-
loosa series by giving some interesting
figures on number of police cases docket
ed during the operation OF saloons. the
Hal
In Tuscaloosa. There will also be other
Interviews from prominent officials and