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gration is much smaller than elsewhere by reason of the prosperity due to viticulture."

Although we are not particularly interested either in the economic or fiscal aspect of this feature, it may not be amiss to state always on the authority of this chosen expert-that an Italian vineyard in normal conditions commands a much higher price than any other piece of cultivated and irrigated land of equal fertility and size devoted to other produce. Even according to American standards twelve hundred dollars for about two and onehalf acres of farming land must be considered a pretty high price, and that is the figure at which (to cite but one example) the Piedmontese vintners value their best vineyards.

And now only one other fact need be mentioned; namely, that the different Italian municipalities collect annually about fourteen million dollars in the form of a tax on the consumption of wine.

During centuries the Italian people consumed wine in the quantities here indicated, and yet remained so temperate in the use of what to them is an essential part of their daily diet, as to have become noted throughout the world for their sobriety. Drunkenness entailed the severe penalty of social ostracism, and alcoholism, as understood in our day, was practically unknown forty years ago. Even twenty-five years ago, the Italian Assistant Secretary of the Interior tells us, the deaths from alcoholism, within three years, amounted to only fourteen, or; in other words, to not quite five per year out of every million of the population-and that was at the period when the habits of the Italian people began to change for the worse under the influence of increasing prosperity, as Mr. Falcioni said, meaning, doubtless, the rapid development of modern industrialism with all its incalculable benefits, and all its sombre drawbacks; with its ups and downs of relentless competition, its over-production succeeded by the partial closing of factories and the discharge of workmen; its strikes and lockouts, with all the physical misery following in their train.

Only a few weeks before the 14th Congress convened the city of Milan witnessed the preparations for a gigantic strike that threatened to bring all traffic to a complete standstill, and was only averted at the eleventh hour.

There are other equally forceful reasons for this deplorable change of habits, reasons which Mr. Falcioni did not mention, but which stand out clearly in the discussions had in both branches

of the Italian parliament on the subject of the Act of June 19, 1913.

Without making the question a special study, it would be impossible for a foreigner to gauge adequately Italy's industrial progress within the past fifty years. Since the unification of their beautiful country the Italians have forged ahead with giant's strides upon every field of human activity, husbandry, perhaps, excepted. Neither Goethe nor Byron would recognize the land they have glorified in imperishable song. It is still the land of azure sky, of dazzling sunshine, of beauty, poetry and music; but it is no longer the land of "il dolce far niente," of sweet idleness and its picturesque product, the multitudinous lazzaroni.

Everywhere in the cities, particularly in the northern provinces, the traveler feels and hears the ceaseless pulse-beat of vigorous industries. Even in the rural districts this modern spirit manifests itself, although in a different manner and helped along by other causes. Mr. Falcioni hinted at the latter when he mentioned emigration, which he styled "a characteristic of the farming population," and Mr. Owen Johnson, in a recent article in the New York Times (Sept. 21, 1913) throws a strong light upon it by his assertion that Italians "go back when they have accumulated American dollars, buy property and restore it." They bring back the American dollars, without a doubt, but as the Italian Assistant Secretary of the Interior shows, they also bring back a taste for stronger beverages and alien drinking habits. Thus it seems that both in the city and the country a penalty must be paid for prosperity under modern conditions; conditions which should not be interpreted from the narrow view-point of the delegation sent to represent the United States at Milan.

LAW AGAINST INTEMPERANCE

Although, as Mr. Falcioni said, intemperance has not yet assumed "alarming proportions" in Italy, the government nevertheless deemed it wise to adopt what is called a "decisive measure" against it by the enactment of the law of the 19th of June, 1913.

It is not unlikely that some of the American delegates have read this law, and also, possibly, the parliamentary reports bearing thereon, but it may be permissible to express a doubt as to whether if they have read both, they will use them in the delegation's report in the spirit that actuated the Italian lawmakers. Therefore, it seems proper to familiarize the reader with both the nature of this

measure and the premises upon which it is based.

The draft of

this law, prepared by the Secretary of the Interior in collaboration with the Department of Justice, was first introduced into the Italian Senate in the month of May, 1911. Adopted in the Senate, it went to the lower house, where, amendments being proposed, it was held up, and did not come up again until June of the present year, very near the end of the session. At this stage it would again have been delayed for want of time to agree upon amendments, if the Government had not intervened by requesting the lower house to pass the bill without any modifications.

Two committee reports accompanied the bill, the first submitted in 1911, the other in 1913. (Atti Parlamentari Sessione 1909-13. Camera dei Deputati Nos. 885 and 885a.) To the former of these reports are appended several tables showing the progress of inebriety and its results, among the latter the death-rate from alcoholism mentioned by Mr. Falcioni. Two of the other statistical tables show the consumption of distilled spirits, and the number of places where they are retailed, and it is upon these tables that the Committee based the recommendation that the law in question be enacted. This part of the law reads:

"Tables III. and IV. show clearly the cause of the evil.

"From table III. it appears that during the fiscal year 1888-89, 85,284 hectolitres 'of distilled spirits were produced in Italy, of which quantity only 41,000 remained for home-consumption; while during the fiscal year 1909-10 the production of spirits amounted to 800,537 hectolitres of which 625,000 were consumed at home.'

Table IV. shows that the number of places where spirits are being retailed, increased in exact proportion to the growth of the production, and as during the same period the evils of inebriety also progressed in exact proportion to the increase in the production of spirits, the Committee concluded that the remedy must be applied at this point.

It appears from the report that feeling perfectly sure of the proverbial sobriety of the people as a whole, who regard wine as an indispensable part of their daily diet, the authorities in order to create an outlet for the over-production of grapes, in years of abundance, made fiscal concessions to the vintners in regard to distillation, expecting probably that the spirits would be largely exported. It has been shown, however, that the rapid growth of industrialism

with its blessings and its drawbacks, combined with other causes already mentioned, frustrated this expectation.

During the years 1904-1909 the production of spirits was exceptionally large and the report shows that during this period the number of retailers of spirits (mostly wine-shops) increased from one for every 175 to one for every 151 of the population, taking the average for the entire Kingdom. It is important to bear this in mind, because this is the point where the entering wedge of the reform comes into play.

The second report deals to a large extent with the systems in vogue in other countries, the object of the Committee being in this particular to show what is, and what is not, applicable to Italian conditions, and feasible and desirable under circumstances prevailing in Italy.

By mere statements of facts, without critical comment, the report covers, in the order here given, State monopoly, numerical limitation of licensed places, prohibition, local option and the Gothenburg system, and winds up in these words, conveying a masterly bit of mild sarcasm, viz.:

"There is not as yet sufficient evidence available to judge, by the results obtained, of the comparative efficacy of the different systems. Certain it is that the prohibition of all alcoholic beverages if it could be carried out, would drive out the plague of alcoholism. But while such an excess of prevention may be advisable in countries where the people only drink liquors containing a high percentage of alcohol, it is inconceivable in a sunny and fertile land like ours, where the prolific vine grows upon every hillside in luxurient abundance and constitutes so large a part of the nation's wealth."

Now as to the law, a brief summary of its provisions will suffice to give a clear idea of its character. It provides for two classes of licenses; one for the retailing of distilled liquors and the other for retailers of beverages containing less than 21% of alcohol. The latter licenses are granted under the old law providing for "public safety" (what we would call police regulations); but the new spirit-licenses require the special permission of the Mayor with the sanction of a commission composed of the Mayor, the official physician of the province, and one representative each of the provincial council, provincial health-board and local police-board. This commission also fixes the hour for the opening and closing of ordinary saloons and spirit shops, and in regard to the latter they

are to be guided by local exigencies and the prevalence of alcoholism in their respective provinces. Spirit shops must remain closed on feast-days and during elections. Spirits shall not be sold to minors under 16 years of age, nor shall intoxicating beverages of any kind be sold to persons under the influence of liquor and persons of unsound mind or temporarily in an abnormal mental condition. Saloons shall not be used as offices for the employment or payment of laborers.

In view of the recent investigations which indicate that the pernicious character of the drink known as absinthe is not due to alcohol, but to the herb which gives the liquor its name, the manufacture and sale of this beverage are forbidden; but this prohibition does not apply to drinks containing less than 21% of alcohol in which the herb is used merely for flavoring, if it is in other respects conformable to the health-law. (It will be remembered that the same rigid exclusion of absinthe was decreed in Switzrland about two years ago by virtue of a plebiscite.)

Section 7 provides indirectly for a numerical limitation of the number of saloons of all kinds, but in such a manner as not to affect existing saloons. It reads: "In all communities or parts of communities where the number of places for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages of any kind exceeds the proportion of one for every 500 of the population, no new licenses shall be issued. This section does not apply to owners of vineyards who retail wine of their own vintage. (This is most literally the text of a provision recommended to the Legislature of New York by the State Commission for the revision of the excise laws many years ago.)

To the Interior, Finance and Health Departments jointly is assigned the duty of preparing, biennially, for publication under royal decree, a list of substances and essences which, being injurious to health, shall not be used at all in the manufacture of alcoholic drinks, and of others which may be used in stated proportions.

The penalties are heavy fines for the first, and forfeiture of licenses for the second offense in the case of dealers, and fines and confiscation of adulterated beverages in the case of manufacturers.

Drunkenness, if accompanied by disturbance of the public peace, by misdemeanor and the like, entails, upon second conviction, the forfeiture of certain civic rights and privileges. The twiceconvicted drunkard is deprived during a period of five years of the right to vote and to serve on juries.

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