The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-08-31
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49,
ALCOHOLIC PERIL OF FRANCE
Drink EVILS Deadly Work In Provinces
'-Abslnth Taking Firmer Hold Of
People Every Year.

Drink Evils Deadly Work In Provinces
'-Abslnth Taking Firmer Hold Of
People Every Year.
One of NJ Rouvier's measures fol
making up the budgetary deficit witt
which he was faced is a proposal tC
suppress the privilege accorded to pri
vate distillers, who in provincial
France still provide a good deal of the
alcohol which under various names
the rural population consumes in large
quantities. NJ. Rouyiers proposals
VIII In all probability become a law
and the private distillers will be sup.
pressed. But the Temps points out
that, though the French treasury may
expect its revenue to increase by such
measure, since the private distillery
had no duty to pay, yet there are 9th.
er reasons which initiate against the
adoption of this proposal and which
the Temps unites under the head Of
The Alcoholic Peril" 1t says that
the French countryman will certainly
not modify his drinking habits any
more than he can alter his inevitable
parsimonious character Under the
old regime he at all events drank
good spirits, whereas under the new
regime, though the spirits may have
come from the licensed distlller. It Is
of such character that It's effect
upon the health of the inhabitants is
most disastrous.
In Normandy, says the Temps, every
one who Is not absolutely a beggar at
noon takes cup OF coffee freely d.
luted with cider brandy This cider
brandy costs the private distiller from
a franc and a half to two francs per
liter. and yet in towns spirit which
has paid duty both to the government
and TO the local authorities can be
purchased for franc a liter The
Temps admits that this concoction
may be marvel of chemical science.
but ITS moral and physical effect upon
the consumers is disastrous Taking
the town Of Caen, in Normandy as an
instance, this journal says that before
the law making the drink trade free
was passed there were 200 cabarets,
or about one for every $50 inhabitants,
whereas today there are nearly 500
such establishments, or one for every
20 inhabitants. The trade however.
Is prosperous, for whereas In 1889 the
town dues paid on alcohol amounted
to 10000 francs they have now in
creased to $4,000 francs. or 66 per
cent per annum. Inc population OF
the country, however, is on the de-
crease. Last year in the Calvados de-
partment there were 1928 more
deaths than births. Crime and theft
are on the increase. as in 1890 the cor
rectional tribunals registered 1853
whereas last year they
noted 4.149.
The drink question. this Journal
thinks. is not only fiscal one. but one
Df national interest. and instead OF en-.
ieavoring to realize the greatest pos
'ible financial profit from II the Temps
links that the production and con.
of natural and hygienic
thinks should be favored, while the
manufacture of spirits, the basis OF
which is badly rectified alcohol, should
'e watched over and hindered in order
o combat that which constitutes a
ocial and national danger.
The drink beloved of the modern
'renchman has had the misfortune to
ttract attention itself, and the eye
t the political economist has fallen
pom 1t unfavorably. The French
udget has need of several millions OF
rancs If 1t is to approximate 70 a
alance, and the amateur tax collect. |
RS, who presumably do not drink alb.
inthe. have suggested to the finance
linister that he cannot do better than
ut tax upon the liquid It is point.
d out that absinthe pays no special
uty and is only taxed on the amount
"AN'hoA III H. hN oAlbHbtSN dDhlulHe ]
five times as deleteriOus as ordl.
airy brandy; the weakest. that which
sold in the drinking shops. is twice
r two and half times as poisonous
3 the brandy sold In the same places.
he argument therefore is that taking
lree times as the average the duty
\ absinthe ought to be three times
, high as II is, and so the hectoliter
lght to pay a duty of $50 francs In
cad of only 220 francs. The advo-
ties OF this increased tax point out
lat absinthe Is only very rarely OF
Sc incidentally, but that its daily con.
lmption destroys the nervous system
Id brings on epilepsy, paralysis and
adness. Every year more of the
uff is drunk in France, and II is
ated that to its use is due the great
ortality from consumption in the
'ench army 1t is agreed that alb.
nthe is poisonous and that the
lances of France want a new and
oductive tax. but II is doubtful
neither any minister will have the
urage to propose such a far-reaching
Moderate Drinking,