The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-11-23
Gbt Rrgistrr.
MIDDLEBURY, NOV. 90, 1853.
MIR. Barber'a Liquor Bill.

40 that mine enemy had written a
a book !" is an ancient saying Of frcquent
modern application. Bearing no person
al ill.will towards Mr.. Barber, we take
no pleasure in announcing the fact, that
a most singular farrago of odds and
| ends, contraries and absurdities, nice
double. dealing and refreshing simplicity,
in the form of "A Legislative bill, has been
introduced in the House by him, and
now lies before us in fair type, making a
respectable looking.pnmphlct of turnty
nine pages If Mr.. Barber has an en-
envy who could vindic.ively indulge the
wish above quoted, that wish is now fully
gratifed. The book is written. 1t will
be read. 1t contains Il record of opin-
ion and principle which cannot be evadcd
by its author. Heretofore occupying,
on this question, a position chiefly mega
tive, he now, through this bill, stands
~sclf.cxposcd before the world.
To publish a bill of this length, in
an ordinary newspaper, is quite out of
the question, except for strong reasons.
As such may exist hereafter, we shall
preserve a copy for that purpose, should
the cxigcncy arise. At present, we
shall only attempt to give u general idea
of its contents. with n few brief comments.
list. It contcmplates a return to the
old License system, with variations which
make it if possible, even less efficient as
a restriction upon unlimited. miscclla-
ncous traffic in the means Of drunken.
ness.
ID. Instead of a county commissioner,
it proposes two county officers, to be ap-
pointed by the county court in each
county-an Agent to purchase liquors,
and an inspector to test them. The for
mer has power to sell only to licensed
dealers in the several towns his com.
pensation is to be fixed by the judges Of
the county court he is to be sworn and
to give a bond for the faithful perform
ancc of his duties shall keep an &C.
count of purchases and sales, &c. The
Inspector of liquors is to examine all
liquors purchased by the county agent
testing them by chemical analysis or
otherwise, and to mark each cask or
package "pure" or " impure" as he
shall find. Any county agent selling
uninspcctcd or impure" liquor: is to
be fined not more than $500 nor less
than $50, or be imprisoned in the coun-
ty Jail not exceeding six months, or
both.
Sd. The board of civil authority shall,
each year, appreciate one or more per-
sons (number unlimucd)a Jas to'ch agents,
for the sale of intoxicating liquor one
or more persons as tatcfncfs F.; one or
more persons as innkccpcrS +; and one or
more persons as groccrS. The select
men Of each town SHALL appoint one
to,rn agent, one or MORE lhakecpcrS
and one or MoE er0ccrS, from the mum
Der appreciated as above and in case
the board Of civil authority neglect OIL
refuse to appreciate any such persons
the selcctmen may appoint, as above
icitho"t appreciation. Also, the judges
Of the county court shall license one OF
MORE persons, of those appreciated as a
bovc, and they may do SO withom ap
probation, for each town, as tdrcrncrs
provided, that they may refuse so to Ii
cense. in towns where they believe 9
house of public entertainment is moi
needed.
4th. The persons licensed as above
are authorized to sell without regard tc
the use to which the liquor sold is to b,
put, whether to be drank as a 6crcrag,
or otherwise. Towns may by vote a
their March meeting, restrict their to,r,
agent or agents to sales for medicinal
mechanical, and chemical purposes; bu
=. they are NoT EMPOWERED (nor is any 9th
er authority SO to restrict the Sales o
tarcncrs. This class of retailers, indeed
it seems to be a leading object of tn
bill to protect and encourage.
p 9th. All licensed dealers are to b.
limited lin ccrtdi" cases only, however,
as TO the Q"ality to be sold. They ar
', not to be allowed to sell to a person
f. guests" at tarc|ns exccpted) who i
Intoxicated, or more than twice in on
/ dAs to any person, and not excecdin
half Il gill at a time, if spurious liquor
: or half a pint at a time, if wine, eide,
| or malt liquor-except to gusts " a
A aforesaid. [QVcre. What constitutes
T. quest at a hotel How long must
man tarry there to become such
=, 9th. The right Of search, and til
Y power to arrest, withOm warrant, til
n drunken disturber of the public or dc
1 nestle peace. is reta ined, though mod
! fed materially from the correspondent
Y ..a...a, g. H.