Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-03-09

Law which has recently been before the Mary.
land Legislature, and which was u few days ago
defeated in,the House of Delegates, we. now pub
lish the report of the Committee on Finace, In
order that our readers may fully understand and
appreciate both sides ofithe question.
Report of the Committee of Finance against
the Prohibitory Liquor Law.
IN The Senate OF Maryland, on Friday, H. D.
Earnandls, Esq, Chairman of the COMMITTEE of
FINANCE, made The following report on the Pro-
hlbltorV Liquor Bill, which had been referred to
The Committee as il came from the House of Dele
gates. The Committee were discharged from The
further consideration of the bill:
REPORT.
The committee on finance, to whom was referred
the bill from the House of Delegates entitled, San
act to regulate the Saleof distilled spirits, and
toxicatlng liquors., have lad the same under con-
slderatiop aud respectfully report: ia
That, regarded in relation 10 Its effect on the
revenues OF The State, in which aspect il is more
peculiarly the province of thus committee 10 exam
in its tendency, the enactment of the proposed
law would be productive OF serious loss and un-
qualified injury. 30 80 .s.a sf5-
TIE bill provides that no distilled or intoxicating
liquors shall be sold within the limits of the State
except for medicinal, mechanical, artistic or sdcra
mental uses, and ouly by persons appointed by the
Judges of the circuit courts for the several counties
and the city of Baltimore; that there shall hot be
more than ten in each county and the city, each Of
whom shall paylhe sum Of fifty dollars on mis- ap-
po.nimeAt. .t-- r. rl,g- 20 .s-Ga-
II the whole number act and pay the stipuiat-
ed tax, the aggregate will he eleven thousand dol
lars; the revenue derived FROM licenses to ordi
naries, during the past fiscal year S3l 1913 SO,
which being reiinquished would inhict on tbs
treasury loss of lnOre than 500, 600. .I5.
The traders license yielding $I2, 600 would be
seriously affected. The smaller stores would not
be maintained, and the larger, denied the traffic
n n lnrF0 NOA ktnl
justice be entitled 10 rateaLle reduction of the
tax imposed on,them, for W hch il was a pu,t of
the Consideration. aE9g8H tGEs go. zff..
"A large amount of capital employed iii tie
liquor Trade, anu Invested III establishments tor the
manufacture OF distilled and malt liquors. would
Ge diverted 10 less profitable channels, driven from
the State, or impaiIed iii extent, aud by such di-
version or reduction diminished the resources of
the treasury +s 5aa5' t5#u
Indirect, but more disastrous inju:ies would re-
suit from the damuge inflicted on The trade and
prosperity OF The City of Baltimore. The repuia-
ton commercial community is extremely sensi.
tive, and interference by law 10 restrict direct OF
contIol It's business must be well advised, not 10
prove detrimental. 1t the capacity of q market
TO supply every article of necessity or luxury be
diminished, the value of all that is to be found in
its depots is iessened; where the supply is most
ample there the trader will resort, and will desert
the limited Iot ;le unrestricted mari, where every
demand can be graiti=d at once. s-= sse
In the almost desperate rivalry now in progress
amongst lie more. extensive commercial empori
unls OF the country, 1t would be suicidal TO para
lySe The enersl.S, aud retard the advance OF the
city We should most cherish, aud whose interests
it is our duty 10 protect Her grocery market is
heT peculiar bouSt, and upon this The blow wouId
immediately aud most heavily fall. The opinion
oil her intelligent capitalists and traders is sufiici-
ent'y Indicated by their memorials, and in that
opinion the committee fully concur. 81 -.-
We are aware that speculative calculations are
exhibited, designed 10 enforce the idea that this
bIll would prove adva ambiguous as a revenue m, a .
sure Ii Is urged that our aln!ShGuSeS and prisons
are tilled with Grunkards, and that the necess,ty
ior ana the expense of such institutions are attri.
butable to the use of intoxicating liquors. De-
grading md depurable as the vice OF drunkenness
IS, AMI rulnouS us ii may be 10 the health, fortune
ana happiness Cf individuals, are persuaded
that lis producilveneSS of crime ameuaGIe Ia th,.
law, is greatly exaggerated; sometimes The cause
II IS ottener the concomiluntt crime, as often the,
child as lie patent, aud although paupers and TEL
GUS may be drunkardS the inference is as Illogical
as untrue, that If temperate they would have he n
prosperous aud honest. e''"#
c reiterate the deliberate and u nanimo,is opin-
ION oil The committee that 10 the revenues OF the
state The operation OF this bill would be prelude
ciaI' anu more 10 be deprecated, impairing that
branch which alone it is in the power OF the ep-
siature 10 appropriate for those saIutary or chair
laole Objects that may invoke the Deneyolenc. O,
the Justice of the Government.
But even Invested of It's injurious consequence
He'd
10 express The opinion that police regulation
II is unwarThntru ana as a Sumptliary law olinus
lis inspiring principles is alacIouS, and its details
initiate against the spirit, if they do not invade the
letter of the Constitution.
The desire for. ana the Use Of Stimulants or mar
cotics has been found in every nation 3, vnyI -,
Civilized; an instinct 50 universal and the rI-ex-
tehsire means OF It's ratification proclaim both ms
glls o. benevolent Providence, bestowed for I,..
rational Aervice and enjoyment of humanity. AS
n c SSrtnn vi ~
be used as a blessing OF abused into curse 'rhe
exceptions in this DILL make an aumiss ON which
reason must extend beyond their morrow Limitation
we ieel justified in the assumption That the use
us beverage oil distilled iemented CT malt liquors
IS not IN Itself immoral CRIMINAL, and 10 denv
hS Is 10 IlScalm the purity of christianity and il,
sanction oil human nature. ftrue, the lnanurac
tire OF sale OF >ucn commodities Is not in,rlnsi.
cally sinful, and should not be prohibited or pun.
iShed without the most cOgent and LEGITIMATE. re-
qulrementS Of political economy -
1t CANNOT be credited that IN our commu niy morc
man hVe III every hundred persons guilty oil ex-
cess IN the use OF intoxicating liquors. and these
oniy on every principle OF justice should be amen
able TO the law, II The law is ever justified i'm NM
lShlnS al act injurious Gully 10 the actor beCor. IL
treSpasses on the rights oil others, or inyades the
goud order Of society. But this bill proposes a Ie
gal anomaly, to punish the nnely-iive inuocen.
persons mat Tie 1--we guitymay, in some impracti-
caLle way, receive u possible benefit, As ration.
any might We prohibit Tie sale of knives h.couSa
they sometimes arm the hand of the murderer or
oil opium because it may now and then drug the
cup OF me suicide; as legitimate would be legisa
1--we prohibitions of tobacco, or penalties against
gIuuony' sehsualty and extravaganza, fruitful
sources OF ruin to the individual and his family.
ana OF injury to the community
The bill permits ITS agents to sell the prohibited
articles for specified purposes, and allows profit
oo. pei cent. IL their use for medicinal or me-
chanlca purposes be right, the intervention
10 iaSten upon the consumer partial and onerous
law; beneficial only 10 the government agent can
How can the agent ascertain the putpose f.,
winch his alcohol may really be wanted The
neolate' whose protection or restraint is project
ed cannot be relied on for truthful represen a
ton of his object, and If the vender is entrus,ed
with an ARBITRARY discretion 10 sell or refuse an in
equality and distinction between citizens having
equal legal rights. will b. established such as M,
republic should enact and no people will endure,
i" hat superhuman wisdom can restrain the promp1
lngs Of avarIces The agent, with his so per cent
pFoht IN View, will sell all lie can, nor invdouslv
ScTutinize the destination of HE ,va roc ,,i;ot