High and Low License Compared
THE Prohibition Voice gives some curious and instructive figures concerning the different systems of high and low license. In a careful examination of 41 high-license cities the average license fee was $665, the number of saloons over 12,000, an average of 1 saloon to 387 persons, and an average of 1 arrest out of 40 persons for drunkenness. In 38 cities where low license prevailed the average license fee was $122, the number of saloons 33,784, an average of 1 saloon to 144, and 1 person was arrested for drunkenness to 39.7 of population. It is notable that the cities of San Francisco, Troy, and Cohoes had more saloons to the population than any of the others, while in Parkersburg, West Virginia, 1 person out of every 16 is arrested for intoxication and disorderly conduct. The evidence furnished by the figures proves conclusively that high license does not diminish drunkenness, and will be used by the Prohibitionists accordingly.—Catholic Review.