Litchfield enquirer., 1845-06-19

| THE LICENSE LAw.-After rejecting variOu
bills to restrain and regulate the sale of Wine.
and Spurious Liquors, the Legislature finall,
passed law on Friday, providing for the appoint
ment Of three Commissioners in each town, whC
shall grant or revoke licenses at their discretion
Whether this law will be generally acceptable, re-
mains to be seen. We confess that we have some
fears ON the subject: for any over acting under
this law, on the part of Temperance men, will, in
the end, prevent the good which is expected from
it, But, by taking prudent course, it will be.
come awholesome and permanent law of the State
| The following is copy of the Act, as it finally
passed both Houses, and received the Executive
appreciation:
An Act to regulate and restrain the Sale of Wines
and Spurious Liquors.
SECT. l. Be 1t enacted 6y the Senate and House
OF Representatives im General assembly cOnuesaed,
That on and after the second Monday of January
next, no person shall sell any wine or spurious
liquor in any town in this State, except by license
from the Board of Commissioners constituted by
this Act.
SECT. 2. There shall be chosen annually in each
town IN this State, in the manner herein directed
three persons as special commissioners for the
town, who shall perform the duties herein assigned
them.
SECT. 3. The qualified voters in each town shall
meet at their usual place of holding town meetings.
on the first Monday of October in each year. which
meeting shall be warned and organized as meetings
for the choice of the annual town officers are and
the voters present shall bring in their ballots for
three persons residing in the town in which said
meeting shall be held, the names of which three
persons shall be upon one piece Of paper, and the
presiding officer, assisted by the town clerk and
selectmen, shall in public meeting count the votes,
and said presiding officer shall in said meeting de-
clare the same and the three persons having a ma.
orlty of the votes shall be declared to be duly cho-
sen special commissioners. And the ballot .hoxes
for the reception of votes shall be kept open till
o'clock in the afternoon.
SECT. 4. And the persons chosen special com.
mlssloners shall take the oath provided for Judi
clal and executive officers. And it shall be the du
~ OF the special commissioners to meet at the Office
OF the town clerk OF said town on the second Mon
day in January in each year, and then and there
choose one of their number for chairman. They
shall grant licenses to such persons under such linn.
iatons and restrictions they shall Judge proper,
and the same may revoke at pleasure.
SECT 5. The town clerk in each town shall be
clerk of the Board of Commissioners, and shall re-
cord the election of special commissioners, shall
attend their meetings, shall record their proceed
ings, and have the custody of all the papers rela-
ting to their business
SECT. 6. And If any person or persons not lic'"-
SOU % totSSdI', Shall alter Ine uTSt MOp'~'
uary, 1916, presume to sell any VIE or spurious
liquors, he they shall for'e!i and pay tor each
several and distinct Office, sum not less than
ten nor exceoI!.Is one hundred dollars which for
(eturo snail be paid into the Treasury of the town
~ mere the offence is committed, and any justice
the peace shall have jurisdiction to the extent OF
one fine of twenty dollars.
SECT. s. 1t shall be the duty Of the special COM
missioners to inquire into and prosecute any viola
ton of this act. But nothing herein contained is to
be construed to take away the powers or duty OF
any other informing officer.
SECT. 0. No person whatever. except q taverner
licensed by the board of commissioners, shall sell,
directly or indirectly, by an agent or otherwise, to
any person CT persons, authorize, nor permit to
be sold, any wine spurious liquor, mixed or I'M
sfd t 5 Sf asPk e b hs AsBe
permit the same when sold, to be drank as aore-
said, and for every violation of this act, shall be
punished in the same manner as the person who
sells without license
SECT 10. Be it.fwther enacted, That nothing
in this act is to prevent the licensing inn-keepers
and taverners is by law required, but such tav-
ern license, shall give right to keep, or sell wine
or spirtuous liquor and all laws far as they are
inconsistent with the provisions OF this act are
hereby repealed.