The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-12
BY THE OUT EASTER

The state liquor authority of New York appears to be more en- Tightening to the public of that state than the Connecticut Liquor Commission is to the people of our state. For instance, in a report just submitted, the commission gives some interesting details in connection with the sale of liquor, and just who drink in that par ticular state.
 Ever hear of the Connecticut Liquor Commission issuing such a statement?
 They have been in office now since the end of prohibition, but so far as we have been able to learn little or no official data has been furnished the public of Con- necticut of the amount of liquor consumed, and just who are the drinkers of our home town or state.
 Hotels Saved!
 The New York commission pub fishes a monthly paper for the benefit of the people. It is edited by Mrs. John Sheppard, con- missioner. In recent publica- tion, the commission outlined the result of a survey of 220 hotels in 46 counties as to what effect the return of liquor had upon their business. Their replies show that repeal saved, the hotel industry from bankruptcy.
 Of the ITS managers reporting decided benefits to the restaurant business some disclosed increases in food sales ranging from 20 to 300 per cent. Some 184 managers reported that employment in- creases ranged from 20 to 50 per cent in the hotels of New York city to zoo per cent in some of the small upstate hotels.
 "The practically unanimous opinion was given by hotel owners and managers throughout the state" the summary said further. that there has been less drunk enness at hotel functions since re- peal, and less damage to hotel property as a result"
 One manager reported that dur ing prohibition, when bootleg H. 1uor was consumed in rooms, there was more damage to furniture and furnishings and more annoyance to other guests.
 Drinking Age
 A majority of hotel owners and managers believed most of the drinkers at hotel functions were between the ages of 25 and 40. A prominent Albany hotel owner wrote:
 "One of the noticeable things about repeal is the fact that the younger element, who evidently used to think that it was the smart thing to drink bootleg li- quor, have either reduced their drinking or cut 1t out entirely"
 In New York city fifty-nine hotel owners reported likewise that the majority of drinkers under their observation were between 25 and 40 years or more than 40 Upstate hotels reported that the middle-aged groups were their best customers.
 Most of the hotels that permit women to drink at bars explained that the majority of women pre- ferred to drink at tables.
 Now we here in Connecticut never get such information. Per- hapS the three members of the commission are too busy to supply such data; and then again, per- haps they don't know.
 The Connecticut commission consists of Frank Bergin, a New Haven lawyer, Democrat as its chairman. Frank is a little fel- low in appearance, rated as good lawyer, and at the time of his se- lection was member of the state senate. He didn't want to be a commissioner because he had his eye on superior court judgeship. This he didn't get, so Gov. Cross named him to the commission. In our brief observation of him, we thought we found him distant, and somewhat shy at strangers. Maybe that's only his way, and it may be he's more friendly than he appears to the outsider.
 Senator Stremlau
 The other Democrat is Julius C.. Stremlau, Meriden resident. Julius had been in the assembly before being elected a senator. He, too was member of the last sen- ate when picked by Gov. Cross to succeed the well-known Major John Buckley, Republican. He is known as labor man, and was active in such legislation for years. But aS a liquor commis- sioner they do say that Julius has changed his disposition somewhat to cope with the intent and pur- pose of the rules.
 'They talk about Major Buck ley said one man to the Out Easter, Julius is tougher than John ever was"
 But we do not know why the word tougher" should be brought into the story. We infer 1t means