Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-12-14
szESA
AN UNCERTAIN ASSET

In county saloon licenses to the amount of $4,000 among the as
seso of the city for 1919 the Board Of Aldermen apparently believe
that the prohibition law recently signed by President wilson, making
the whole country dry after July !, 1919, for the period Of demobll-
cation, will never be enforced. Also they are taking chances on the
prohibition amendment to the federal constitution now before IN
states for ratification. -,
Iiouor has been one of the greatest factors that the government
has had to contend with in making the country efficient for war; IL
has been found necessary to establish ''dry" zones around every camp
md centonment. The strictest kind of regulations have been made to
prevent the sale Of liquor to men in uniform. Liquor, In TACT, is rec
oon;zcd as the greatest obstacle to making men fit and keeping them
SO in order that they may serve their country to the best of their
ability. But having placed every safeguard possible about these men
to make them efficient in war, are these safeguards to be abonsned
so as to make the men inefficient In time of peace, particularly our
ing these trying times of reconstructlonf
We had a sample of what prohibition means in this vicinity dur
ing the explosion and Immediately aherward. The fact that saloons
were closed aided greatly in maintaining order and In relieving the
suffering. During the peace celebration, when the armEtlce was
signed, large cities like Boston had the saloons closed tight and the
authorities had absolutely no trouble In handing the hilarious
crowds. Everybody had all the fun they wanted, but hardly an arrest
was enforced. Naturally, the question arises, If the saloons are such a
detriment to law and order, why continue to have them. The govern
ment has ruled that they shall be closed after July ], 1919, for the
period Of rehabilitation. There are those who believe that once
closed they will never be opened again.
As far as the amendment to the federal constitution is concerned,
there r fifteen states that have already ratified it. 1t requires two
thirds of the states to make it a part of the constitution. Tweny one
more states are needed, but there are nineteen dry" states that are
yet to pass on the amendment and all of these are counted on to act
fuyorablv. This leaves but two "wet' states to be secured to put
the amendment across. That these two can be secured would seem
apparent from the fact that seven of the states that have already
ratified the amendment were wet states.
But the country would not go dry" Immediately after the
eminent provides that the liquor people shall wqgSHRDLUU&QJ-
ratification of the amendment by twothirds of the states. The amend
ment provides that the liquor people shall be allowed a full year IN
which to wind up their affairs. But with the Rehabilitation prohi
everything being closed up then and before rehabilitation is COM
plete the amendment will have the approval of two-thirds of the
states thereby making it not worth while to open up again.
The city authorities are taking a big chance, therefore, in count
ing on a full years income from saloon licenses for 1919. Sooner or
be made up through economies and curtailments in expenses else
where made possible by the adjustment of the saloon, but until con-
ditions are adjusted the money will have to be made up in other
ways. 1t is not safe, however, to count much on liquor licenses
these days.