The people's voice., 1957-01-18

Editorial
Here We Go Again
STATES Retail LIQUOR STORES
ENDANGERED

Every legislative session the liquor dealers association an
gambling before the legislature and attempt
passage of legislation which, while favorable to them
would be much the other to the people of Monan
a whole
move the mill for almost year to get th
state opened up egay) that the gamblers slot machine
racketee and others of the profession could again fine
their way Easy Street. On this we'll have say
and when such legislation is dropped in the hopper.
At the moment concerned with of the major
proposals put forth by the liquor industry One of these tc
eliminate the state retail liquor stores entirely Failing in that
the industry then hopes the state will grant saloon keepers
discount varying from five to cent? off the price charged
individual permittees at the state stores
The industry claims that by taking the State the retail
end the business the would estimated 1878 51
wear to quote Ben F. Stephens legislative co-ordinator
Montana Beverage Stephens says
this is the difference between what operating the cost
and what he contends the industry do the job for
Such assertions may begue of the people when the
opportunity not at hand to have ready to all the facts
As noted in the story covering the liquor control
boards annual instead of annual cost of than
S1370000 conended by Stephens to operate the state
stores the total cost running at S8990OO And this
not only the cost of store operation but also he
of operating all departments throughout the system
including the licensing end beer collection Blowing
the mokescreen what the liquor dealers really inter-
esed in not the cost of operating the retail stores but the
S35OOOO annual profit the retail stores make and
to the State General Fund!
legislators pressed finding
with which meet higher should any
such that being sought by the liquor dealers with
somewhat of aundced For every three and oneouth
million dollars taken from the General Fund this
time will have to be made up from other
Likewise it should be borne in mind that elimination of the
retail stores only first The longtime goal the
state completely out of the liquor busneto
imposed restraints from industry which is odorree
Not only would this result considerable loss but
would the for return of all the abuses of the
system and, OF the eventual
of Prohibition speakeases and rotten moonsne elk
kerr
The second proposal of the ndustrto discount
for saloons and tavern keepers would take from the
estimated $,200000 year assuming 10 dscount)
muchneeded In addition discount system could
used to dry purchases by individual permes the
ateowned retail stores and thus longer period of
time accomplish the ndustrs long sought first a-to get
tate of The rpt9 end of Tho huSin
However elimination of the store system might be
phed will have adverse effects the taxpayng liquor
consuming Montana public In the first instance the
stand to lose most all of the S3250000 profit
second based the experience the state
jump at least 10 and probably Is per
S18936380 would likely find their liquor bill hked
by at least two million dollars annually.
expected the liquor trade will make impassoned pleas
legislators to accomplish the other of
ecves Legislators will do well to bear in that this
unlike other based the right individual
engage in it, Rather he permitted to be in business
uffrance of the general public Because of the
business history shown time and again. he submit
policing and controls for the greater public good He is
Without sound premise in demanding the legislator him
peca consideration and if he desires the business
nen he should not expect discount other privileges denied
individual permlttee who choose the
Wned stores. f