Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-02-26
RUSSIA NEVER
 TO RESUME THE
 SALE 0F VODKA
Czar's Government Commit ted to Prohibition of Al
 coholic Drinks.

\eW 1Ofk, FeD. Z4.-IhG RuSSlan government will never resume tho sale of vodka or permit others to en- gage in it's manufacture or sale. Aft CT the war, the present extraordinary measures affecting all liquor will be revised probably along the lines of temperance reforms in the Scandina- vian countries. which make tax diff ferential in favor of light wines and beers, because of their low percentage of alcoholic content.
 This outline of the future attitude of the Russian government on the pro- hibtion question is given in Russian newspapers that have just arrived in this city.
 The Ryetch, Petrograd newspaper, reports a debate in the Duma in which the good faith of the government, in forcing prohibition. was brought sharply into question, so much so that P. L. Bark, minister ot financo. felt it necessary to reply tc the attacks that had been made.
 The debate occurred during the ses- sion of the budget commission when the question arose as to what should te done with S5 million vedros (276.- 260,G00 gallons) of vodka now in gov ernment warehouses;
 s. E. Griasevitch, president of the commission, declared that the pres ence of so much vodka was a source of constant danger, as the stOrehousGs might be raided and their contents carried away by the thirsty population. He was particularly apprehensive about the supply near the front, and recommended that it should be de- stroyed.
 Will Destroy Vodka.
 This declaration brought a left (opposition) deputy to his feet, who asked sarcastically why, if the Elin- istry was acting in good faith and did not intend to resume the sale of vodka, the government should keep all this liquor on hand. and why only recently it had reduced a large quan- tity to 30 per cent proof. A second deputy questioned the ability of the government to enforce prohibition, and told of a wedding that he had attended at which the condition of the guests was not noticeably different from what it would have been if there had been no prohibition. He demanded that the minister of finance, M. Bark, make a categorical statement to the Huma. declaring that the sale of vodka should never be resumed in Russia. M. Bark in behalf of the government. replied to the criticism of the dep uties.
 q find it necessary" said M. Bark. ito categorlcally announce that. all suspicious that the government in- tends to renew the sale of vodka, are unfounded I categorically announce that the government will support pro- hibition. and that there. is no chance of a return to the former state of affairs. Therefore, heartily endorse the recommendation to destroy the vodka stock The question of per hitting the sale of light drinks has not received any final action. as this matter is left in the hands, of the city departments. (In previous com munication, Mr. Bark announced that after the war, the present extraordi- nary means to enforce abstinence would be revised on constructive lines.)
 Strict Enforcement Oi Edict.
 After outlining the future policy of the government, M. Bark told of the extraordinary efforts to enforce pro- hibition. Prison sentences were meted out to vendors of illicit liquor; drunkards were heavily fined, and finally, as last resort, the govern ment had succeeded in increasing the poisonous substance ill denatured al cohol. This action was taken, he said, against the advice of the medical board, whose members did not believe that it would deter the habitual drunk ard.
 The Ryetch quotes member of the Petrograd city commission to the ef- feet that 119 Petrograd drug stores dispensed 5O4 vedros of alcohol dur ing the three months preceding the prohibition law. while during the three months after the decree, they sold 1.111 vedros of alcohol.
 "The representatives of the rev 'enue department" says the Byetch' stated that from January l to Sep tember 1, Pe.rograd drug stores and hospitals obtained 154,12S gallons of pure alcohol, while cologne and cosmetic factories obtained 211,26o gallons"