The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-05-04
TALKS ON THRIFT
WHISKY'S DECREASING
TAV ON THRIFT

WHISKY'S DECREASING
TAX ON THRIFT
Whatever may be the consensus of
opinion as to the necessity for and
desirability of alcoholic liquors as
beverages, no thinking man will deny
that drinking is an expensive habit,
costly both to the individual and to
the state. dollar can be spent
quicker and with less to show for it
at the bar than in any other way,
and the man who is a good spender"
and keeps pace with the crowd around
the social glass must keep a pace that
kills
OF late years the production and
consumption of liquors and beer has
increased enormously, and from OBJ
servation one would conclude that
everybody drinks a little and most
people too much. The resultant evils
are widespread and far-reaching, even
to the third and fourth generation, for
the cost does not end with the walters
check, but with the bills for police,
almshouses. prisons and POtter's
fields.
The man who INDUCES this habit
must realize that he is putting a self
imposed tax upon his thrift, as well
as tax upon his energies. OF what
avail to work hard and then spend 10
no useful end? Why work for the
man who stands behind the bar? Why
spend a days wages in half an hour
and get nothing for it but a thrill?
If the state should put the same tax
upon his income that he puts upon
himself, he would rebel Then. too,
he who spends his money thus must
realize that he is simply putting
money in the bank for the other fell
low. If may take a circuitous route
to get there, but eventually it will find
lodgment in some bank, where it will
work for somebody, perhaps harder
than he worked for it. And the east
est way to get it in a bank quick
to the other fellows accounts to
buy the drinks for the crowd
Cheering news along this line comes
from government reports on the con-
sumption of liquor for the past year
Alcohol is lessening its tax upon
thrift. The consumption Of liquor in
1913 was 43,220,056 gallons In 1914
it was 139,13S,501 gallons, while in
1915 it was 1875, 155,17S gallons, a net
decrease of Is million gallons in two
years. Likewise in the matter of to-
bacco. In 1915 we burned up six hun
dred million less cigars than hereto
fore in a single year, and the gov
ernment's tobacco revenues decreased
$2,500,00 One hundred and eight dis
tilleries went cut of business in 1915
and fOrty-One breweries ceased to
brew. Forty per cent of our govern
ment revenues have been derived from
liquor taxes, and in 1915 these reve-
nues fell off over twenty-five million
dollars.
Whatever may be the cause for this
commendable showing whether be-
cause of the thoughts of war and what
it might mean, or whether as a people
we are beginning to realize that this
is tax; or whether it is because in
many places you can't get a lawful
drink the fact remains that we are
drinking less and saving more
Whether a man figures that drink
ing is expensive, or harmful, matters
little as long as he stops. This con-
clusion is very apt to fatten his peck
etbook somewhat and pad his pay en-
velope and make him a better citizen.
When he concludes that indulgence in
any form of extravaganza can get him
nowhere but downwards. and thrift
will surely get him upwards, he has
chosen well; for thrift consists not
only in doing some things, but refrain
ing from doing others, the chief of
which is that habit which takes your
all and gives nothing in return but
regret, and regrets are costly emo
tons.