Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-10-27
Legislative Debates.
THE PEOHIBtToRY LAW.

On Thursday Mr.. Farnsworth of Wind
sor called up II. % in addition to chap
"a. y. T., relating to the traffic in intOxi
eating drinks, and opposed the pass4 g'
thereof on the ground that it gave tn
former into the hands of towns to thwar
the objects of the law. Better eithe
abolish the law, or let it stand as the Law
of the State without allowing such pOwe
to towns.
Mr.. Wood of Fairhaven said they re
ported in favor of the bill because it wa
matter of complaint throughout the
State, that some towns did not want al
agent appointed, and this bill provides
that such towns may elect at their Marct
meetings not to have such agent.
Mr.. H,nckley of Che sea was opposed
to the bill in COM : he thought it would
work unfavorably and its effect would be
10 nullify the law of the State in regard to
the traffic in Intoxicating liquors. He
was opposed to opening such questions TO
be decided in the heat of town meetings
Minoritias have rights which majorities
should respect, and this bill tends to over
eide the rights Of minorities 10 such towns
% would vote to do without an agent
vbere should be place in every town
10 liquors can be obtained for medici-
"I I'd Gpecbanioal purposes; and this bill
nal n. t4yor tho8e who wish to sell llle-
womb Nsbling them to get out their
say "a ST the cry Of $40 agent" aud
49, t,,emu mus u 's a.. town do away with the pro-
VISIONS M OF p the la I'd of Wilmington,
MI Dut'ern. minority in the
committee, aud was a. s"rstontislIy
bill on the same groun &c., Ne wa,
as the gentleman from Oh 60 e.,I. -,
opposed to the indiscrim. -, o,,a,, ~.
liquor, and he should oppose ;,+Ytss ot
covert attack on the present ;,toxi-
the State in regard to the sale On
eating liquors. .s4h
Mr.. Bisoee of Newport said he was ~ ~
the majority of the committee on
bill. He believed its provisions we.
Wholesome, and that it was very much I,
better to let the towns decide the matter
for themselves. We have good and
wholesome law, but majorities rule, and If
the maiority of the voters in town do not
desire an agent appointed, Let them have
the privilege.
Mr.. Drake of Royalton, said he believed
the tendency of this bill would be TO sup
press agencies in the small towns and in
crease the illegal sale and use of liquors
Mr. Wood OF Fairhaven said he believed
the bill would tend to the promotion OF
the cause of temperance; and did not be
leve 1t WAS in the interest of the Illicit
sale of Intoxicating liquors. The town
agencies are not conducted according to-
law-they are in some towns the worst
tipping shops we have. Liquor has not
been bought and sold according to law,
and he thought, as now conducted, the
agency system is quite as likely to become
obnoxious to the people as any system.
Mr. Edison of Mendon thought the bill
would be productive of no good in com
munity, and he hoped the bill would not
pass We better place more restrictions
upon the commissioners, and strengthen
rather than weaken the present law.
Mr.. Bull of Hancock briefly favored the
bill.
MIR. Hinckley said that one town needs
an agent Just as much as another; there
are people in every town that need liouors
fo. medicinal purposes, and thew have the
RICH TO have them without being com.
pellea to go out of town after them. Min.
critics have rights in this matter as well
as in all Others, and we should not leave
it in the power of majorities in a particu-
lar town TO completely nullify a whole.
some law Of the State.
Mr.. Buell. OF Mo-, letown favored the
passage OF the bill. because it put it in