REV. WM. BAlsrCROFT HILL. 21 



chapels, and the like. The distribution of the profits 

 lias, on the whole, been creditably made. But we can 

 see that it is a diffcult matter. At the outset it was sup- 

 posed that the surplus would be small, for no one realized 

 what a profitable business the liquor traffic is, even when 

 kept under the strictest restraints. Now that it is found 

 to produce a large revenue, the constant problem is what 

 to do with this. In Sweden it is divided in fixed propor- 

 tions between the municipal or the county and the crown 

 treasuries and the local agricultural society. The com- 

 pany's charter is granted for only two or three years; 

 and may be revoked or renewal refused on proof of 

 abuse. If two or more companies make application for 

 the traffic, the authorities must choose between them. 



3. A company, when put in charge of the traffic, pays 

 the same license fees that individuals would. It may 

 use all, or only a part of the licenses handed over to it. 

 As a matter of fact it seldom uses more than part ; for 

 we must remember that it has no temptation to do a 

 large business. It may transfer some of the licenses to 

 hotels or clubs or grocers ; but such transfer must be ap- 

 proved, and the sub-licensee is simply its agent, who 

 must comply with its regulations and turn over to it all 

 profits. The company has a general manager who is its 

 executive officer. He must be a competent man whose 

 appointment is sanctioned by the authorities. Men most 

 interested in temperance reforms make, of course, the 

 best managers ; and it has been found that they are will- 

 ing to accept the position, even when (as sometimes hap- 

 l)ens) they have conscientious scrui)les against owning 

 any stock in the company. The noted leader of the 

 temperance party in Sweden was for several years the 

 manager for the Gothenburg Company. 



4. The whole management of each separate saloon is 

 regulated with regard, not to profits but to the economic 

 and social welfare of the community. The person in 



