The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-06-25
NEW SYSTEM
/ Of REGULATING
SALOON EVIL
Mayor Todd Discusses Swedish sys.
TEN Of Municipal Saloons.-De.
clares 1t Has Much Merit
Over All Other Methods

There have been uaay suggested
solutions OF the liquor problem, some
OF them having no merit, and some
having some merit. and still otbSYSI
having a great deal Of merit. Each
suggested solution has its ardent nd
herents and 1t is not the purpose oil
The Sentinel to pass upon the merits
Of any Of the suggested solutions At
this time. but'to give publicity to one
of the methods which. at teasl. has
the merit of novelty 80 far as this
country Is concerned,
The Swedish system is one which
Is receiving considerable attention at
the present time and 1t has many
strong believers in this city. among
whom Is Mayor Todd, who has given
the matter much study and is well In.
formed on the workings OF the
method.
In speaking OF the matter soday.
Mayor Todd said:
Il am strongly in favor OF the
Swedish system OF saloon regulation,
as / understand It has cut down the
consumption OF. alcoholic beverages
In Sweden about rs per cent. II Is
done by a method OF municipal sa-
looms that have an entirely different
basis OF existence than the ordinary
grog.shop, and / believe are the final
solution OF absolute regulation.
According to the Swedish system
the city operates three or four BE-
looms The proprietor is city en-
ploye the same as a policeman: ilre,
man or other employe. He is paid
about SIS a month and Is given
commission on the sale Of soft drinks,
but not on other stronger beverages
Thus it is to ais interests TO push tne
sale Of the soft drinks 10 the eS-
tclusion Of the more potent brands
Also his job depends on strict CON"
piiapce with the laws and regulations
regarding the traffic aud should DC
transgress the same he loses his po'
sition at once. Therefore be is Ger"
tain not to serve men under tne ia-
fIuence Of liquor or those whom nc
believes should not be allowed 10 III
dulge in the same.
Each saloon IS open so that pas'
sersby may see who is within. ME
would tend TO reduce hat great eSil
OF treating. Yet at the same tlme
time the pushing OF the solt oi.nh
sale would remove large part o, tus
odium which attaches. in the D'hds u
some people &c those who are seen ~
frequent the average saloon I'll
THE beer. whisky and wines ~ou'e
be OF the best quality ootainaole ana
would be sold at a price little ABOVE
actual cost. just enough 70. cover ae
tual service. This would oreah W
the booilegging business :or tne Nv
uor would be sold at rate cneaF.,
than that which they charge ana e.en
cheaper than the ordinary sslooo
which has a high license. expense.
fixtures and other expense 10 loa''
tain. Ia
The absence OF competition ~ouiu
relieve the city's paid proprietor 'ton
the tempctation OF violating the
in order 10 increase his trade. ins
only advantage In Increased tlaue' "
him. would be the boosting OF lne d
drink business on ~nicn ue
receive a commission ,,h
"Of course do not know DOW SUI
a SYSTEM would be received IN O.a
Junction but | uniformed tna
large numbe. of the Temperance p iN.,
ple OF the town would prefer lu
system 10 the open saloon OF ~.
days or 10 the present nefarious
logging system which preVai's W ~
greater or less extent resaFo'eeI,
the efforts OF the iocsl police olt. ot;nas
and the eAprnsc incurred. IL s.'hr
me that ihe Swedish system is snnrd
OF consideration. at least. ana u io1 ha
10 have the meri, claimed TOT IL, ~
discussed as a possibility in e'""
Junction.