The Washington herald., 1922-02-25

OF pure alcohol Is less or more in
furious TO health than the increased
use OF narcotics. candy. soft drinks
and other substitutes such as wood
alcohol. hellac. quack medicines and
the liquid that accumulates at the
bottom of silos, nor does il take into
consideration the disi eEard Of al law
brought about 10y n" contempt of one
unpopular 'law. nor whether the
crime wave throughout the country
is or is not increased by attempted
prohibition. nor whether the dis
content of the laborinG man at being
derived of little social comfort
after a long day at hard work is
humanity justihable.
All these things are worthy of un-
biased investigation, especially by
those members of the United States
Senate and of the House Of Repre-
resentatiTes who may have we'll
stocked cellars and vote for votes and
not ACCORDING to their honest con-
victiohs
While admitting that the preceding
questions may perhaps be more inn
portant than the financial prosperity
OF the nation. our people should now
begin to realize how much money we
are losing for the support of our
country on an experiment that does
not promise well either for public
morality or bodily health.
The budget for the fiscal year calls
for $4,000. 600, 600 more or less. Va
rIJus statements in the papers by
those who claim to have made inves-
tigation give astonishing figures. One
letter lately published said that up
10 the present time the United
States had lost $S.l59. 900 through
the trial of prohibition. Another
stated that the annual tax loss is
over $1,000. OOO. 600. 1" which must be
added PERHAPS $500. 00u. U0n more as
the cost OF the complicated machinery
OF enforcement. including legal pro
odure ana the work u large pNr-
tion of every police force, ritv and
State. which is eXpendinC much OF
its effectiveness in chasing bottles
instead OF burglars. Still another let
ter says that the profits from Illegal
sales by bootleggers and Grafters,
including perhaps some prohibition
agents paid by the government and
free lances, exceed $500. 900. .0OO.
II these last three statements are
true. our people are annually out
about $4,000, 900, 900, which il applied
to taxes would reduce the budget
from other sources fro n $4,000. .O00, 900
to $4,000, ,000. 900.
Surely these statements ought to
be ample to make all intelligent peo-
pie wonder whether the balance of
advantage lies with attempted pro-
hibition or with sane regula ton.
All phases of this subject are now
so serious as to demand careful
thought at a time when committees
Of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives are in session in Washing
ton, trying to evolve a plan to re-
duce our taxes and restore pros
perity to the nation.
Any rea, remedy must now have
two-fold object: To prevent the
evils of impure liquor and Of the sa-
loon from returning and to combat
the certainly no less harmful home
brfws and Installations brought into
being as a by-product of attempted
prohibition.
The first object can be obtained
by proper legislation against the i'm
portatiou. manufacture or sale of
anything alcoholic to drink which
does not comply with governmental
regulation as 10 purity of all in
gradients and he forbiddins Of sa-
looms and bars absolutely.
The second object is more dim
cult. and is practically a new prob
lem. Its solution can come only from
being able to, purchase openly a bet
ter quality than can be made at home
and this at reasonable price.
w. q. f.