The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-24
ECONOMIC RESULTS
Of PROHIBITION


Westerviile, O., March GA state
ment issued Yesterday by the Anti
Saloon League Of America on the pro-
posed legislative investigation of the
league in New York and that request
cd in Maryland by the -Prohfioi-
ton League, declares there will he
no Investigations. The vets who are
behind the movement for an investi-
cation don't want any. In fact, If
they knew an honest thorough inves-
LEGATION of the Anti-Saloon League
were 10 be made, they would break
their necks TO stop it, the statement
says. and adds: But il an investiga-
ton is wanted, let there be an investi
CATION The league welcomes ii and
will stand or fall by the result of il.
New York. March 23.-Business has
been so duh at the new jail at Me-
ridian. Miss, says an item in the Ma
tional Advocate, that the commission
ers have decided to turn it into Inu-
nicipal food shop where goods will be
sold at cost
Detroit. March 23.--Arrests for
drunkenness in Detroit during 1919
were the lowest SINCE i5l2, ACCORDING
10 police officials. This record was
established in the face of a rapidly
growing population and a more rigid
policy against liquor offenders Ar
rests during 1912 on this charge were
6.24S. In 1918 there were i346a and
in 1917 i93o9. Fatalities from alcohol
were the lowest in FIVE years. There
were fifteen fatalities in 1919, as con-
trasted with tl9 in 1915, 13s in 1917,
and forty-three in 1918. Detroit went
dry in the State of Michigan May /.
1915. so this accounts for the rela-
lively slight difference between 1918
and 1919 figures.
Chicago, March 23.-Prohibition
has diminished criminal cases in the
Chicago municipal court to such an
extent that two judges formerly en-
ployed on such work have been trans
ferred to civil cases, and two other
judges formerly occupied entirely
with criminal work are now able to
give considerable time to civil cases.
These changes in the character of
court business are attributed at the
offices of the municipal court to pro
hibition. Their effect on ~ivil cases
is said TO mean that '-litigants get
prompter trials Had the judges
previously occupied on criminal bust
ness been dispensed with, there would
have been substantial money saving,
Cases of disorderly- conduct and
violation of city ordinances show q
steady falling off. Misdemeanors de-
creased $50 in 1919, as compared to
1918, from 26.431 to 24.S72 Quasi
criminal cases fell off 1861. from
81 ,04i in 1918 to 76,4S0 in 1919. Eel
onies increased from ss25 10 9.92a.
Incidentally. civil cases filed last yea.
showed decline from 55,140 in 1918
/ to 1851 in 1919. IT is to be noted
/ that the 1919 figures include half a
we: year.
| For January of this year--dry--
I against January of 19l9--wet--mis-
demeanors decreased % per cent. The
/ figures are 1898 in January. 1919, ana
/ 142s cases in January, 1929 Viola
/ tions of city ordinances fell off &c
/ per cent from $3.50 in wet January
I To 5,i4l in dry January. Felonies in
creased from CTS to St7 in the dry
/ month. The felonies show gradual
/ increase for which no explanation is
! given. At the court the decrease in
/ the other instances is attributed TO the
effects OF prohibition. The decline Of
cases al the Desplaines street coli' :.
situated in the poor lodging house dis
/ t"ict. is remarked upon. Cases IN this
court declined "a per cent in 1919
i over 1915, or from 9,400 cases to 1,oaI
Joplin. No, March 23.--The small
number of cases in both divisions oil
] tho circuit court here, and the small
/ mum Der OF divorce cases decketed
are ascribed by attorneys AMI court
attendants to the coming OF prohibit
| ticn. The number OF cases Of all sorts
is little less than three-fourths tlal
(, - ct l nNaf atfnTnaVS
the number OF divorce eases 10 fal
rapidly in the future. They asser
that the majority OF these grow GU
OF the drink evil when analyzed. Fall
the criminal cases in former years had
+, LIQUOR as The "first cause" according
70 a veteran prosecuting attorney.
Lincoln. Neb.. March c3.--A steady
/ decrease in the jail population in nine
tenths Of the counties Of the state
since the passage OF the state probi-
bition law III 1917 is notet by j. A
/ I.eavitt, superintendent Of the State
| Society for tho dome for the Friend
1 less. in his annual report. Mr. Ieav-
it's duties take hiru into all the county
! ;ls ct the state. Mr. LeaviFs says
maj shcriffs and other oflseers inan5
Of them formerly opposed to prohibi'
/, ton, are practically unit in saying
that prohibition Is responsible for 4ths
empty and nearly empty iaiis outside
the larger cities In Lincoln the city
land county jails average 40 per cent
| less In number Of inmates than FIVE
years ago. II it had not been for ths
advent of. prohibition lit IT, felt lhal
largely increased appropriations would
have been necessary.
/ A United States major who fretted
! on q desk job during the war went intf