Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-30
UNCLE SAM WILL NOT GO
INTO THE LIQUOR BUSINESS
But He is Likely to Study the ao'oe"'
burg and Other Systems OF Hesu'
I.tIno The Gala Of Stimulants


Gothenburg system which has been IN i0ree
since 1855.
This was not the earliest attempt to de-
crease the evils arising from the SAFE OF
alcoholic beverages. Restrictive laws were
passed in England late In the fifteenth CEN
trrv Tbey we're modified and mnde more
stringent from time TO time. But In the
first third of the eighteenth century the
consumption of beer and spirits was SO great
TINT stricter laws had to be enacted lherc
was more drunken dehauchery in this period
than at any time before or since. In 49,
there we're 10000 licensed places Tor the
sale of liauor in London. The city then
bad populatlon Of only three quarters OF
million and contained only about 10000
house,, LIQUOR was thus sold at one house
In every six.
As Philadelphia had only 1000 Licensed
places for the sale Of liquor when the pro-
h,bitory amendment went into enect, WHO
its population was million and three
quarters. It IS not difficult TO form an I'M
preston OF the conditions that must nave
prevailed In London in the early eighteenth
century
These conditions were much improved
by restrictive legislation. But the SAFE o'
liouor was freer in England before the war
than Il was in the United states Delote
probib,tton. The bars had TO be c!oseu
during the night but they were allowed I"
be omen during certain hours on Sunday.
There was considerable curtailment OF the
number of hours a day during "h!en '"e
bars might be open during the war anu 'N"'
curtailmcnt continues.
But the Gothenburg plan was really the
first which sought to prevent the excessive
! use Of spirits by rigid regulation OF thelF
sale. Under 1t the right 10 sell spirits at
retail was either sold at auction or gwen 20
a company Of reputable citizens. Ihls COM
pany had a MONOPOLY of the business, ana
| It wus obliged TO turn over TO the state all
profits above per cent on the invested
| capital.
Norway adopted this plan with some
notifications in 1871. The company get
ting the monopoly OF sale had to conduct
! the business in the public interest. 1t SOLD
only pure liquors and 1t gradually reduced
their strength, The defenders of the plan
have insisted that 1t reduced drunkenness.
But as the sale of beer and wine was per-
mitted to persons holding q license, and as
the sale Of beer IN bottles was allowed with
virtually no restrictions, there grew up tho
practice Of doctoring the wines and beer to
increase their potency. No way has yet
been found TO break up this practice.
Russia went much farther than either
Sweden or Norway when Witte took over
the sale Of vodka as Government monop-
oily in 1895. His purpose was TO decrease
| drunkenness and to increase the revenues OF
the Government. He was doubtless more
| interested In increasing the revenues, how
ever. than In promoting temperance. Vodka
rrI.r bt. plan was sold only IN sealed
| hottlcs md no enc was allowed to drinS II
in ,}c .top where It was rought. An e1-
ccp.ion was made in favor - high h'oaes
Restaurants. where 1t could be SOLD oS I'VE
glass. Ordinary eating houses could sell
II by the bottle and allow their patrons to
drink Il with their meals.
The vodka monopoly was abolished af>.r
the revolution, but reports come from
Russi, every little while that the Bolshcv!k
Government Is about to restore It.
The South Carolina dispcnsnry system in
force from 1893 to 1907 was modification
of he Swedish Gothenburg system Under
II the State controlled the sale Of all stimu-
Ionts Everything was bottled. No one
could buv less than half a pint OF spirits
or less than @ pint Of beer Nor could any
one drink It on the premises where It was
bought.
The plan did not work satisfactorily. FOR
NCns illtCitlV
with considerable freedom. And then there
was feeling among many persons that It
was not right for the State to be engaged
ia the llouor business SO IN 1907 the dis.
pensnry law was repealed and the regulation
Of the liquor business turned over 70 the
counties OF course, the adoption Of the
Federal proh!bitory amendment superseded
all the State laws.
BEFORE many months It Il likely that
Congress will have TO consider all these
fncs in connection with revision Of the
Vols,cad law. The poll Of the Literary
Digest indicates that a very large majority
of tbe roo. 900 citizens who have expressed
their opinions are dissatisfied with the law
"a # stands WEiie an overwhelming ma e
!orttv favor the prohtb!tory amendment, a
majority Of this majority ask that the Vol
stcad act be amended SO as to permit the
so,e Of light wines and beer.
II is unsafe to predict what Congress will
so but as 1t always reflects public senti =
ment IT is morally certain that 1t Will not be
long before serious effort will be made to
rela, the strictness Of the prohibitions In
tbe existing law. But It Is reasonably safe
10 predict that nothing resembling the South
Carolina dispensory system will meet with
approval.
The Congressman who should seek to have
the United States Government go into the
Itouor business might just as well write hi,
political obituary and retire to private life