Thompson — The Gothenburg Liquor System. 409 



In the cities wliero samlags were discontinued from Janu- 

 ary 1, 1897 : 



Number of arrests. 



As seen from these tables the city of Eisur forms the only 

 exception to the otherwise universal tendency that the number 

 of arrests for illegitimate sales has not increased but, if changed 

 at all, has decreased. 



JSTevertheless, before dismissing from our discussion the as- 

 sumed possibility that the increase of drunkenness may be due 

 to illegal traffic in brandy there are two reasonable inquiries 

 which must be answered. First, how far is the number of ar- 

 rests for the illicit sale of liquor a true criterion for the extent 

 to which it is carried on ? Secondly, has there since the dis- 

 continuance of the samlags been any change in the stringency 

 of the laws against such crimes or in the yigilance of the police 

 in enforcing the laws ? 



In regard to the first inquiry it may be said that Xorway, un- 

 like the United States, has been very successful in suppressing 

 illegal liquor selling. Besides the pressure of public opinion 

 and the weight of ciyil and moral obligation, there are two rea- 

 sons why the police of Xorway are especially active in arresting 

 the illicit liquor dealer and the drunkard. The first of these 

 is the fact that the police officer who arrests any offender against 

 the liquor law receives one-half of the fines imposed if the per- 

 son whom he arrests is found guilty. The second is the fur- 

 ther fact that if the police does willingly, carelessly, or fraud- 

 ulently allow any offender against the liquor law to escape be- 

 ing arrested, the police officer himself becomes liable for one- 

 half of the fines which would have been imposed upon the of- 



