Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-03

In addition to this, the chief effor
has been directed to limiting con
sumption of spirits by removing al
incentive to an increased sale. The
Stockholm company, in addition tc
enjoying monopoly of the retail
trade at the off" places, has also a
monopoly of the wholesale trade to
the holders of the ION" licenses. In
the first year OF its existence it de.
termined the average amount retailed
by the respective licenses in the last
preceding years and established that
figure as the maximum on which they
would be permitted to make a profit.
On all sales above that, amount the
entire profits go to the company. The
restaurateur, the saloon keeper, etc.
have thus no incentive to increase
their sales of liquor, but will rather
be inclined to push the sales of beers
and wines, which are not under the
SYSTEMS control.
1t is DR.. Bratts plan eventually to
eliminate entirely all private profits
on sales of distilled liquors. The
maxima established three years ago
will, instead of being increased as the
city's population increases, diminish
gradually, and it is hoped that it will
some day be possible to provide that
no gain shall be made on liquors by
the holders of ION" licenses.
The Stockholm System company
differs from an ordinary stock COM
pany in two important respects,
namely, the manner in which the
directors are appointed and the limi
tation Of its profits. One of the five
directors is named by the state, two
are chosen by the city council OF
Stockholm, and the other two by
the shareholders. The company's
capital is 100000 crowns, and the
profits available for dividends may not
exceed S per cent on the capital, maxi
ling only 10000 crowns available for
distribution to stockholders. Direc-
tors salaries and the running ex-
penses of the company--rent, pay of
some 500 employees, etc.-are paid
from gross receipts.
State Profits.
All excess profits accrue to the
state. The municipalities, which prior
to 1918, received them, now receive
annual subsidies, which diminish
gradually and cease altogether in 1885.
Statistics appear to establish DR..
Bratt's claim that his idea has justi-
fed itself. In 1918, under the old sys-
tenn, 500, 1917 liters OF distilled liquors
mainly what the Swedes call aqua
Wit" a fiery brandy-were sold in
Stockholm! In 1915, despite the in
creased population and the great num-
Der of foreigners in the city, total
sales sank TO 3,422,09S liters. Gases
OF chronic alcoholism reported by dis
trict physicians sank from 492 in 1909,
5l2 in 1912 and 492 in 1918 to 3l8 in
1914 and l73 in 1915. There were 537
cases Of delirium tremens reported in
1912 and 625 in 1918; in 1914 the num-
Der fell to 459 and went down to 1868
the following year. Arrests for drunk
enness fell off from some 10000 in
each 1912 and 1918 to 1883 in 1914
and 1898 in 1915. The number will
be below 10000 this year, according
to DR.. Bratt.
DR.. Bratt himself is not teeto-
taller, and does not strive for prohi-
bition.
Prohibition Sentiment.
There is, however, very strong
prohibition sentiment in Sweden. Its
beginning dates back to 1880, al
though the agitation begun then
which was largely due to an American
crusade-abated considerably after
the passage of the liquor act of 1855
and did not revive until the end of
the 70s. Then again the impulse
came from America. The Interna-
tional Order of Good Templars pass
cd into Sweden in 1879, and now has
nearly $500 senior and more than
1000 junior lodges. In addition, lit
orally dozens of temperance societies
exist, with total membership APP
preaching 500,00G Teetotallcrs at
tached to dissenting religious bodies,
such as the Methodists and the Sal
walton Army, swell this total.
In 1909 joint convention OF tenn
perance bodies arranged for vote
on the question, of prohibition. No
less than l,884,3H men and women
over Is years old--that is, more than
S. per cent of the total inhabitants of
Sweden of or above that age--voted
in its favor. A royal temperance
committee was appointed in Novcm-
Der, 1911, to prepare measure for
local option and to deal with the
question of prohibition. The COM
mittee made its recommendation in
1914, but the Riksdag could not reach
an agreement and the matter fell
through,
Indicative of the part played by
Sweden in the prohibition movement
is the fact that since 1905 a position of
International Chief Templar has been
filled by the Swede, Edward Waw-