No. 311.
Mr. Andrews to Mr. Fish.
Stockholm, March 12, 1877. (Received April 2.)
Sir: The Riksdag’s joint committee on taxation recently reported a resolution in the form of a petition to His Majesty to appoint a commission of experts to examine the laws on the production and sale of spirits, with a view through legislation to more effectually prevent the misuse of spirits, and so that His Majesty may, if possible, submit a proposition for a law to the next Riksdag. The resolution was considered on the evening of Saturday the 10th instant. In the first chamber it was carried without a division, and in the second chamber by 123 yeas to 43 noes. A similar resolution was rejected by each chamber of the Riksdag in 1874 and in 1875. In the Riksdag of 1876 it passed the first chamber, but in the second chamber was defeated by 7 votes.
I venture to give a few passages from the remarks of some of the speakers in the second chamber on Saturday evening as reported in the Dagblad of this morning, without being able, however, for lack of time and space, possibly to do them full justice.
Mr. Farup, mill-owner, of Jemtland County: The whole country was of one mind that something should be done to lessen the excessive consumption of spirits. * * * In his locality drunkenness was common among transient work-people at the saw-mills, but not among the permanent population.
Mr. Treffenberg, governor of Westernorrland County: Religious care and many other means might contribute to repress intemperance. * * One had seen that a committee could work miracles, and possibly one could be effected in this question.
Mr. Ehrenborg, a land-holder of Skaraborg County: It was a question not of a foreign enemy but of a domestic enemy against which the powers of the state ought to be mobilized.
Mr. Lyttkens, agriculturist, of Holland County: The talk of the increase of intemperance was untrue. They knew how common it was in former days at a funeral for nearly all, including the priest, to be intoxicated. * * * He opposed the resolution.
Mr. Hjelm, common-schoolteacher in Westerbotten County: Legislation had done much good, especially in the northern counties, where intemperance had considerably diminished. At the same time it was a moral evil and should be overcome by moral means, such as popular education.
Mr. Rydin, a professor of Upsala: All the propositions which had [Page 546] thus far been presented were so crude that when the question came to be discussed no means were known for remedying the evil complained of. They slaughtered the goats of Thor, but there they stood again every morning.
Mr. Larsson, farmer, of Jönköping County, hoped the committee would follow the example of “our great Gustaf Adolf, who, when he saw the soldiers intoxicated with beer, took the bung from the barrel, saying, I would rather see beer and wine flow upon the ground than the blood of my warriors.”
Baron Fock, chief of the control of the production of spirits, did not, as a general rule, approve this method of securing legislation, but they could not, time after time, turn a deaf ear to the demand which came from the country for a change in the law. It was impossible for a committee of the Riksdag in the short period of a session to work out a bill. He wished to see a new law in regard to spirits, and therefore favored the resolution.
There is a statement of the license law of Sweden in my No. 202. My No. 336 contains some facts as to the misuse of spirits.
It is probably wise policy for this country to endeavor through legislation to lessen the temptations and facilities to intemperance. At the same time I think it should increase its efforts for the intellectual nourishment and life of the common classes.
I am, &c.,