The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-28
William E. Curtis Writes of
 Plans Under Way
WILL MEET REACTION
Brewers Themselves VIII Insist on High Licenses and Strict Hegula- tion-Penns ylvania Laws
 Regarded as Best


 Berlin is Albert Lieber, president ot LII Indianapolis Brewing company, who tell me that the brewers of the United state have united in movement to make Sd looms respectable, to secure a revision the liouor laws in the several states Il the interests of temperance, and to secur regulation of the traffic in the place 0 prohibition which they consider restrlc tion of personal rights and to the detri ment of the business interests Of th' community. They believe that the agita ton which has swept aver the country II favor of prohibition has expended iu force and is subsiding and that the radl cal measures which have been adopted Il several of the states will be followed b, a. reaction which they propose to mee with system of rational laws Tor an in crease of license taxes, for the suppres sion of the vices which have been allowed to grow up in association with the sa looms. for Sunday closing, and for sucl regulations as will limit the number O saloons to certain percentage or ths population and restrict them to the busi ness sections of cities and towns.
 MT. I,ieber believes that the prohibition laws, particularly in the southern states have done more evil than good by en coura ejng the use of whisky instead ol beer and by inducing the private con sumption of whisky in families where T was never known before. He believes that this and other evils of prohibition are being recognized by the thoughttu members of the community, who will h. sist upen a revision of the laws as soor as the agitation has exhausted itself.
 MT. Lieber says that the United states Brewers association, numbering abou' 27oO brewers in various parts of the coun' try. at A recent meeting at Atlantic City resolved upon certain concerted acton including:
 "A strict observance of the laws and 2 cleaning up and closing of all objection able places in which beer and other H. quors are sold; barring gambling, danc ing, the attendance of women, VaudeViilt performances, and other -eatures Whlcf have been adopted to attract custom.
 ,'The brewers association according 'e MT I,ieber, have resolved that they Will not sell beer to or furnish money to pay the licenses of disreputab1e resorts. They have detectives in all the states inVestf eating the management of saloons. Whef fhey find objectionable features, they glvt A warning to the responsible person ant notify him that they must be aboiishee within Is or 20 days, as the case may De If the inspectors find no fmprovemeis unon A second visit, they notify the brew refuse SCI hee,. to such dealers, and also file com p1aint with the authorities and furnlsf evidence for a prosecution for violations of the law This. MT. Lieber says, nal been done in many cases already, result ing in the closing of large numbers o dlsreputable resorts through the agencs of the brewers association and the Worf is still going on. IL,
 1t was determined at the meeting of tht association to united for the adoption O uniform laws for all of the states II the union. to limit the number of saloons to one for a population og 800. The pro nor+ion now averages one to 20 lnnapl tants throughout the United States. lhis will reduce the number of saloons hearls one-half The brewers VIII also use eheh influence for high license, so as to ih crease the present license fees, which now average about 1850 a year to an average of 5000 a year. That will reduce ths number of saloons at least % per cent ps freezing out dealers with small capita and making it improbable for brewers tt nav the license fees of their customers, as has been done so generally thfoashou the country in the past.
 MT. I4ieber says that at least 40 per cen of the saloonkeepers throughout the eoun' try have had their license fees paid pS brewers or wholesale liquor dealers, ol have had the money advanced to them fol this purpose With a license fee Of SlO' the risk would be too great and tht profits would be too small for a brewer ol A distilier Or wholesale liquor dealer tt continue this practice, and 1t would re ouire too much capital to do so Ihi will have the effect, he believes, of re ducinr the number of saloons as fast al the licenses expire, because the poore saloonkeepers, the proprietors of low gin mills will have to close up.
 The Brewers association have deter mined to use their influence to secure { strict observance of all the laws referring 10 the iauor traffic especially night clos ing and Sunday closing laws, and the. will advocate severe penalties for viola tions-the suspension of the license of al offender for 90 days. in addition to tn usual fine, for the first offense, with [
 
 from ever obtaining another license.
 They will advocate an amendment t the present laws, giving the authoritie who grant licenses, the judges of tn court, the county commissioners, the ex else boards. or whoever they may be power to grant or refuse licenses, accord ing to their judgment, and authority t decide where saloons shall be located keeping them entirely out of the residenc districts and away from the neighbor hood of schools, churches and other sec tions where they are objectionable. The advocate also that the boards which hay ant hority te grant licenses shall be gov erned in their actions by public opinio so far as possible, that the sentiment of the residents shall be considered l every case, instead of the interest of tn saloonkeeper.
 ''The first modified law, carrying ou these ideas" MT. Lieber says. has bee enacted by the legislature of Michigan and we expect to have similar la' passed in indiana during the coming vii ter. The legislatures of other states ar now taking up the question, and whil their action will be gradual, we believe will be general throughout the countr. and that the results of such legislatio upon good order and public morals wi be recognized by all thinking people. W l do not expect that the prohibition fanatic will approve our plans or give us an assistance, but we apepal to sensib citizens, who must realize that 1t Is in possible to prohibit the use of beer an other liquors in this or any other coul try, and that the better plan is a wise an moderate regulation. The poor man. tf laborer and the mechanic are entitled their beverage as well as the rich maj