The sun., 1918-07-23
THE AMERICAN BAR.
A Proposal to Avoid Prohibition by
Taxing II Out of Existence.

Taxing II Out Of Existence.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN--sir: 1t
can hardly be denied that the agitation
In this country for the total prohibition
OF alcoholic beverages has resulted from
the institution Of the drinking bar plus
the custom OF treating. There never was
and never will be such agitation for pro-
hibition in those countries where the
drinking bar and treating are unknown.
A long bar in front OF which alcoholic
drinks are consumed by persons stand
ing and treating each other Is or was
ono Of the easiest ways Of making
money. which Is the principal reason for
the drinking evil as we know 1t.
A store 20 by 40 feet. which ordinarily
would command a rent of $500 to $1,000
year, when converted into saloon
with bar in 1t would rise in rent to
$4,000 to $4,000 a year. giving thus an
artifcially enhanced and false value to
real estate used for this nefsrious traffic
That feature has brought In the real
estate owner as a powerful supporter
Of drinking places.
The fanatics who desire to reform
the drinking evil believe that It can be
dono by prohibiting absolutely the man.
ufacture and sale OF alcoholic beverages
This belief Is possible only with irma-
ture and childish minds. too ignorant
to understand the wisdom derived from
experience.
Tho proof that prohibition does not
prohibit Is very abundant and convince
ing to any one but an idiot. Must q
big country with over 1oo.000,ooo peo-
ple submit to sumptuary laws made at
the dlctation Of noisy asses?
There 10 ono certain method to con-
troll the drink evil which have not yet
seen suggested and which Is herewith
proposed:
Let a Federal law be passed provid-
inging for an annual tax of $1,000 a
lineal foot Of bar; let the bar be de-
fined as a counter, table or shelf at
which drinking Is done by persons stand
ing. That would Mt once tax out OF
existence all the drinking bars in the
United States. II imbibers must have
a bar for drinking. let them pay well
for that fun. There Are some bars In
big hotels in this town 100 feet long
A tax OF $4,000 would only be faE
amount to pay for the privilege OF gulp-
inn drinks standing and indulging in
the aesthetic art OF splitting around while
ENJOYING tho famillarities and brilliant
conversation Of the white jacketed pro-
fessors behind the bar.
Next let there be in addition a grad
uated Federal tax on beverages, In
creasing ms the square Of the percentage
Of alcohol That ia. four cents a GAL
lon for per cent. alcohol, 81 a gallon
for 10 per cent. alcohol. 81 a gallon for
20 ner cent. alcohol and so forth.
Under th,, formula all mild and In
nocuous alcoholic drinks to pay q low
tar wh,c, rises RAPIDLY with the per-
cen,eRe of alcohol, 30 that proof whis-
kew. which contains so per cent alcohol.
would nav a tax OF S25 a gallon.
Those who must indulge in strong
drink would ind 1t very expensive.
Those who are accustomed to light wines
and b.er with their meals should have
the benefit Of a low tax. The tax
sbould be on alcoholic drinks actually
,old an that a small restaurant with
upht custom shall have the chance to
erist and sell to it's patrons with no
greater proportion Of tax than a large
restaurant with largo custom. which Is
an ,n,ustice OF the present license tax