Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-01-28

CUNAiED up the report of the liquor study commission
- made fundamental recommendation which strikes
bluntly at the Of most liquor control troubles
That valuable advice TO the state government is:
Enforce the law strictly; make penalties severe and
eliminate than a third of Detroit saloons by running
VioIators out of business
If the state liquor control commission will invoke this
policy it will public acclaim at last and definitely
block the dangerous movement back to the awlessness
Of prohibition.
THIS very thorough report by Federal Judge
l Frank A. Picard Harry Rickel and Myron A. Keys
who started their study of the liquor system nearly
year ago. They performed the task well, and without
compensation other Than The satisfaction that will
from witnessing improvement in administration.
One fact brought out is that Michigans law is not
bad law Although there has been lot of criticism
from time to time, the principles of statute sound
Certainly there evidence that any state has better
system
The foresight and wisdom of those who wrote the
law 10 years ago-a group that included Judge Picard
shown by the fact that defects can remedied
without new legislation.
The powers of the liquor control commission are
sufficiently broad make effective most the important
recommendations submitted by the investigators,
1T is true that Detroit has too many saloons And it
also is true that penalties have been lenient,
many licensees have respect for the law
Keen competition in overcrowded field has brought
hours Sunday awlessness and sales to minors.
No Improvement is possible under the present policy
Of merely transferring revoked licenses to applicants
The state should GET TOUGH. 1t should make pen
aes that every saloonkeeper will protect the
privilege of being business. And the habtua offenders
should be eliminated their licenses revoked for all time
Judge Picard and his associates devoted large part
OF their report to thorough review of the overlapping
jurisdiction between stateowned stores and private
chants licensed to sell whisky by the bottle.
HE Times does not agree that the special designated
distributors tthe private merehants should be elim
mated. One purpose of government control is to make
liquor readily available to the public.
1t would require tremendous investment and
tremendous staff TO create chain of state owned
as convenient and satisfactory the drug
Undoubtedly, merchants have too large an
income from the sale of liquor The report mentions
having gross sales of 100000 and nine with
exceeding 100000
The state break up monopoies Of this kind with
out discarding entirely system that has worked
paratvely we'll
THE problem Of the minor has become acute in some
localities, especially in the suburbs Now before the
legislature is bill to return to the former practice of
allowing the sale of beer and wine to children Is
years of age.
Judge Picards report makes recommendation on
this proposal But must be remembered that the
nile problem serious in 1884 and 1885 when minors
were allowed beer Boys and girls under q have place
IN Saloons and decent proprletors do not want them
On the whole the report by the three investigators
will prove a valuable document.
Lansing officials should study it carefuly-and then
get tough.