The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-07
lead to the negligence and shiftless- ness that cause mishaps

lead to the negligence and shiftless- ness that cause mishaps.
 In New York city we live under a license law which permits the sale of alcoholic beverage with certain re- strictions and under certain condi- tions. This most assuredly does not hamper or impair it's commercial progress or prosperity. No one will dispute the economy, efficiency, safe ty and thrift obtaining in the many and various forms of manufacture in our metropolis.
 Now that the country is so deeply absorbed in the question of prepared ness and it's financial burden, it is quite proper to consider briefly the displacement of revenue in the United States and in New York state which would result from prohibition. The total receipts for the United States for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916, including tax on tobacco and in- come tax were sS40,9S6,95O.27.
 The total revenue from tax on to- bacco for the same period was $33,- 78,87425.
 For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916, the revenue from distilled spir- it's and fermented liquors amounted to $247 ,453, ,543.52
 The income tax for the year 1916 was s124,937,252.61.
 The appropriations for the army and navy for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916, were s25S, ,751, ,090.92. The extraordinary military and naval appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1917, are $685. 709. 9.823.09.
 ,,or June 30, 1916, distilled spirits and fermented liquors furnished approxi- mately one-third of the total revenue of the United States government and practically the total appropriations for the army and navy for that year, and considerably over one-third of the tremendous military and naval appropriations just made by Congress as the important step toward proper military and naval preparedness. The total revenue derived by the state of New York directly from the liquor traffic for the period commencing May 1, 1896, and ending Sept. 30, 1916. was 333,581,3S6.37. During this time the total ex- penses of the Department of Excise which collected this amount and ad-
 ministered the law were $6,820,391.-
 20. The net balance to the credit of the state for these 20 years of the pres ent Liquor Tax Law amounts to $326, ,0O5.17.
 To this should be added the sum of 19,577,3 ,390.50.
 For revenue collected by the de- partment between Oct. 1 and Oct. 10, 1916. These figures are exclusive of other revenue derived by the state by way of taxation from property invo1v- ed and persons engaged in the liquor traffic, which includes hotels, clubs, restaurants and saloons. For our industry we ask only the fair consideration of the public. We have no quarrel with those who be- lieve in and advocate true temper ance. But we do caution and ask them not to lean too far toward ty- rannica1 and impractical sumptuary laws and too far from sensible and practicable regulatory laws. We have confidence in the present New York law because 1t is one which will have the sympathy, approval and support of public sentiment wherever it is understood and enforced, and which ficials to undertake the kind of con- tro1 and supervision of the liquor traffic that experience has proven to be the most practical, efficient and desirable.