DRINK AND CRIME.

Evening Star, Issue 12926, 24 September 1906, Page 2

DRINK AND CRIME.

The following is from a San Francisco daily paper of May 1:^— il San Francisco for the past fortnight has been absolutely free from disorder, and virtually free from crimes of violence. There have been no street brawls. No drunken brute has beaten his wife. No gamblers have murdered each other in low resorts. Except for some dealing with sneak thieves, the occupation of the Police Courts has gone. It is a most impressive object lesson of the value to society of the restriction of the liquor traffic. We are promised a. continuance of this peaceful condition for a considerable time to come, save only as drunken men may drift over from Oakland, where the authorities havo been eo reckless as to allow saloons to open. We may be compelled to renew the quarantine against Oakland. This absolute demonstration that tho saloons aro responsible for all crimes of violence makes it imperative that, whenever they shall be allowed to reopen in this city, their license fees bo fixea at a rate which will support the Police Department. There must be increased taxation. The public generally will protest against being taxed for the control or suppression of those forms of crime for which the saloons are now proved to bo solely responsible. The- public will look to the Board of Supervisors to place tho cost of dealing with crimes of violence on the occupation whioh is responsible for all of it."