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Show -t- THE SALOON IN MANILA. The New York Independent, in directing di-recting attention editorially to an article ar-ticle on the "Saloon in Manila," specially spe-cially written for it by Mr. Harold Martin, Mar-tin, points out that the one point lacking lack-ing in it is the Custom House report of the amount of liquor, wines and beer imported into Manila since American occupation, compared with the amount imported under Spanish rule. Mr. Martin Mar-tin asked ffr the figures, but the military mili-tary governor refused to allow them to be given, on the ground that it would take too much time to compile them. The Independent comments sharply on this plea, not believing It to be ingenuous. ingenu-ous. The following are the principal parts of Mr. Martin's article: In considering the increase of heavy drinking in Manila since its occupation by our forces and the consequent Increase In-crease in the number of saloons to meet the demand created bir nii- cnl. diers and their officers, it should be remembered that Manila is the focus point of an army of 60,000 men. The great increase in the sale of liquor since we occupied this city two years ago is due to our continued presence here: Americans do the drinking. There is today no apparent increase in drinking drink-ing among the original Inhabitants of Manila. If we left the Philippines tomorrow to-morrow Mani'a would return to Its three saloons and its many little wine rooms selling Spanish wines and native bino, because these would again satisfy satis-fy the local demand for liquid refreshments refresh-ments and intoxicants. Before the arrival of the American soldier in Manila there was very little heavy drinking here, and this because both Spaniards and Filipinos are temperate tem-perate people; they do not urink to excess. ex-cess. Anyone who has been in Spain or who has seen the Spanish soldiers in Cuba, in Porto Rico and the Philippines will admit they are not addicted to heavy drinking, and I do not think this point needs any further support. And the Filipino is as temperate' as the Spaniard. I have been In these islands for one year, and I have yet to see an intoxicated native. I do not maintain that the Filipino never gets drunk, but the occurrence is unquestionably very rare. It is true that before we came they manufactured and consumed large quantities of this bino that has such a terrible effect upon our own men; but they drank it in moderation, while our men use it to excess. Hence, given the incontrovertible facts that both Spaniards and Filipinos are not addicted to drink, we can understand un-derstand how Manila got on before we came here, with three saloons licensed for the sale of liquors, such as brandy, whisky and other strong drink, while today there are 170 licensed saloons in the city and fifty-three licenses for the wholesale distribution of liquor. Before we came here there were in and about Manila some 4,000 native wine rooms licensed for the' sale of Spanish wines and the native . Bino. Bino is a fiery drink distilled from grain, generally rice, and flavored with anise-seed. It is very strong, and, when taken in excess by our men, renders ren-ders them temporarily crazy and utterly utter-ly irresponsible. I have seen our soldiers, sol-diers, when under its influence, attempt at-tempt to kill their companions in the guard house, and become so violent that it was necessary to gag and securely se-curely bind them. When we first came to Manila the American soldiers very quickly discovered where bino could be had: and, owing to their excessive use thereof, the authorities were forced to close many of these wine rooms. Of the 170 saloons in Manila todav selling whisky and liquors, 68 are run by Spaniards, 27 by Americans, 26 by i ' " Filipinos, 8 by Chinamen, 3 by Japanese and 39 by men whose nationality is not given. As- to the patrons of these saloons, sa-loons, I think it a very safe estimate that 90 per cent of them are Americans, Ameri-cans, including soldiers, officers and civilians. On Feb. 1 of this year weput into effect the license regulations contained con-tained in General Orders No. 2 of 1900. These orders divide the. city into two districts and provide for saloons of two classes. Saloons of the first clasa sell beer, whisky and other intoxicants, while those of the second class may dispense beer and light wines only. The first district of Manila includes all the principal streets of the city, where a license would be more valuable than in the suburbs, wlych are embraced In the second district. For a six months' license li-cense saloons of the first class located in the first district pay S600 Mexican, and $250 Mexican if in the second district. dis-trict. A six months' 11061136 for a saloon sa-loon of the second class costs $100 Mexican Mex-ican in the first district, and $50 Mexican Mexi-can in the second district. The application applica-tion of this high license reduced the number of saloons from 224 at the end ,of January, 1900, to the 170 existing today. to-day. The Escolta, Manila's principal business busi-ness street, has been written about and spoken of as crowded with saloons, and given over to the disorders of drunken soldiery. It has been called the disgrace of the American occupation occupa-tion of Manila. Disgraceful scenes are undoubtedly witnessed there, but let us not paint the matter blacker than it reallv is. The Escolta is as long as four New York blocks, say from Tenth to Fourteenth street, and it is narrower than Fifth Avenue. From the geographical geo-graphical position of the city's districts. the river and the bridges, the Escolta is of necessity Manila's main thoroughfare thorough-fare as well as its principal business street. Here are the best stores, restaurants res-taurants and business offices. It is always al-ways crowded and often blocked with cabs and carriages. From one end to another of this street, on botli sides, there are seventy-six store properties, and thirteen of these are occupied by saloons. All day long the Escolta is filled fill-ed with American soldiers, and at certain cer-tain times, especially when the troops in and near Manila have been paid off, the street is very well filled with drunken men. At such times ladies are subject to unpleasant exDeriences if on the Escolta, Es-colta, and private cabs and carriages are often forcibly occupied by our drunken and hilarious troops. During two days following a recent pay day, twenty-five drunken soldiers were arrested ar-rested bv the Escolta police, find con victions against all were secured, while many more were gathered in, given time to sober up in the guard house, and then discharged. It is unfortunate that the main thoroughfare of the city should also be the main drinking ground, and it has been suggested to the proper authorities that no saloons be allowed on the Escolta, It would be a simple matter to make them go elsewhere, but General Otis never took any action in the matter, and efforts to effect their removal have, therefore, been futile. x |