Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-02-27
MONDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1858.
The ProhibitOry Liquor Law.


We presume there is no question now thai
tho thirty licensed liquor selling establish.
mcnts of this city, with numerous other.
unlicensed, ara subject to the Prohibitory
Liquor Law. The recent decision of the
Supreme Court As to the nconstitutionality
of the License Law leaves the Prohibitory
Law in force-or, rather, leaves it to be put
in force. We have heretofore expressed
the opinion that all laws on the statute
book should be rigidy enforced. We be
lieve 80 yet, and shall make no exception
for this law. 1t is quite prob,ble that it
will not be repealed or amended by the pres
cnt Legislature. 1t becomes the duty of ev-
cry good citizen, therefore, to conform to its
requirements without eompu sion. And it
is also the duty of all good citizens, as well
as certain officers of the law, to see that it
is enforced
The Oskaloosa Herald, in alluding to this
subject, correctly remarks that the provis.
ions of the law for the suppression of in
temperance passed in January, 1855, are
well understood. All persons are ther. pro-
hibited from selling in oxicating drinks, ex-
eepting one or two agents in each county. to
be appointed by the County Judge. The
supplement to this law passed in January,
1857, repeal those sections relating to coun-
ty agencies, and in lieu thereof makes the
following provisions:
ANY citizen of the State and resident of
the county in which he may be at the time.
except hotel keepers, keepers Of saloons,
eating houses, grocery keepers and coutec,
TONERS, are hereby permitted to buy and
sell intoxicating liquors for mechanical,
medicinal, culinary and sacramental pur-
poses: P,orided, he shall first procure the
Certificate of twelve citizens of the town
ship in which lie resides, that he is of geod
moral character, and citizen Of the coun-
ty and State, and shall give bond in the Pc
nal sum OF not less than one thousand l.
to be approved by the County Judge, that
he will conform to the provisions of this act
and the act to which this is amendatory"
1t makes it the duty of persons selling un-
der the provision of this amendatory act to
keep an accurate account in book kept for
that purpose, of all purchases and sales
made, specifying the kind and quality of
the liquor bought, the name of the pur-
cha>er and the purpose for which it was
sold. These books are to be open ut all times
to the inspection Of the County Judge,
prosecuting attorney and grand jurors. The
bond required is to be deposited with the
county clerk and suit may be commenced
thereon by the prosecuting attorney when
ever its provisions are not complied WITH
The securities are Jointly liable with the
principal tor all fines and costs which may
accrue from this act or the act of '55
to which it is amendatory. They are also
jointly liable tor any civil damages which
may be adjudged against the principal
1t also makes it misdemeauor for the
person purchasing the liquor to make false
statement in regard to the purpose for which
it is obtained, and on conviction he shall be
fined ten dollars and COSTS
1t will be seen that the restrictions thrown
round both seller and buyer are sufficiently
string ent, if enforced, to do away with the
great majority of evils resulting from the
iignor traflis.
In regard to the manufacture Of intoxica
ting drinks, except for the purpose for which
they are permitted to be sold, there can be
no doubt that it is clearly in violation of the
spirit of the whole law. Section second of
the act of '55 contains the following
Provided, That nothing con aimed in his
law shall prevent any pessss or persons
from manufacturing in t!'is Ssss, liquors for
the purpose Of being sold according to tNc
provisions of this A to be used for me-
cnanical or medicinal purposes.