Show tT < JUOBDRINKI G IX 1RAXCE t I f I t List year the French Senate ap f oJ pointed commission to examine into i I I tae effect of spirits upon the French a f t I people the inquiry not to extend to 11 j I cider light wines or beer The report j I was recently presented and it not only IJ 1 1S S 1 creates sensation but causes alarm C tI Heretofore France has ranked as I seventh in respect to the vice of intemperance i ti intem-perance Great Britain Germany th1 j United States iitissia and two other j countries leading it in the matter oft of-t 1 I II t drunkenness This record however is abut to be overcome according to ihe f dill slowing made in the committees j l c I II t report In the southern and central II reijoos of France where the wine is 11 I I > I iced l there is comparatively uo f I i pri drinking and very little drunkeu i F I a i 1 Y k iTil jt ness but in the north and west the consumption con-sumption liquor is so great that did it extend in the same proportion allover all-over the nation France would lead the list in the matter of drinking Anther An-ther interesting showing of the re otis ot-is one bearing on the liquor question Between 1851 and 1880 no drinking place could be opened without a special police permit the effect of which was to keep the number of saloons down to the minimum and to keep the consumption con-sumption of liquor low In 1880 the law was repealed and anybody could open a drinking establishment ppon the payment of the fixed license fee or tax The result was that in five years the number of saloons increased over 4pOOO while in the sixteen years before rTSSO the total increase had been only 8000 With the increase saloons came the increase of spiritdrinking Some other matters presented in there port are that while the population is practically stationary showing very little increase there ia R greater nnm berof Frenchmen brought to the almshouse alms-house every year the police expenses are growing rapidly as are the expenses ex-penses of criminal justice The temperance advocates in this country can find good arguments for their cause in this report as can those who favor the abandonment of distilled dis-tilled liquors for malt drinks and light wines But the best point in the report is that which suggests the placing of the liquor traffic under the absolute control of the State which can so regulate it either by high license or limiting the number of saloon permits as to make intoxicants more difficult to obtain by the masses |