New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-14
MASSACHUSETTS, LIQUOR LAW.

AN ATTEMPT TO REPEAL THE LAW ALLOWlNO
THE SALE OF MALT LIQUORS-SoME AC-
COUNT OF IT'S oPERATION-A NEW WASH
INGTONIAG MOVEMENT.
BosToN, Feb. 11.-0f late years the Leglsa-
ture has found the question OF prohibiting or regulating
the sale Of intoxicating liquors one OF much Importance
and one whose solution has been found extremely diff
cult and perplexing Last year the Boston, Hartford
and Railroad question led to so exciting and nerce
contest that the Prohbitory law did not assume is
UontAd prominent position and the amendment to the
law allowing the sale of malt liquors was not so thor
oughy discussed and considered as 1t might otherwise
have been The people did not vote on the question I'LL
September and then many ofthe gentlemen whom one
would naturally suppose would have labored hard TO
have brought out full vote the matter were display
ing all their energy IN the formation OF new prohory
political party and the vote was not general enough to
give very full indication Of the sentiment Of the people
Between that time and the assembling OF the Legislature
little more than three months elapsed, ana, the ITO
hibitory law being OF the first questions
for inquiry" it can hardly be said that the law
has been on trial long enough TO fully test its merits
And this Is very fair sample Of the legislation on this
snbect for five or six years One year tue license law
advocates found themselves In the majority, and instead
OF using their power with moderation and acting wisely
they passed law with which they were themselves dis
Cused months, and then the stringent Prohibtoy
law was, with cider only exempted. restored ANA rs
this provoked such constant excitement and LED 70
ouerv whether either extreme Judcious, the Legs
sture thought 10 advisable 10 try middle ground ana
hence the passage Of the act TO allow the sale OF mat
louors in towns where the people voted 20 allow the
same MI Phillips and the leading men OF his party
have come forward and demand the repeal Of the clause
IN relation to the malt liquors DR.. Miner thinks there
has never been much drunkenness In Boston as AT the
present time he claiming that al kinds OF liquors are
sold in what ostensibly beer-saloons. me Hon
James NJ Usher also restoration OF the old Pro-
htory law The dealers in beer are Of course anxious
lav Afr
600 OF capital aid urging their claims through couh
sell The Constable OF the Commonwealth, who Is par
tcuary charged with the enforcement of the law thus
alludes to it In his annual report:
The statute OF 1870 permits all persons TO manufacture
and Keep for sale all descriptions OF malt liquors punish
ing only absolute sales and in such cases only wen tne
cities or towns have vote declared against such sales
nv recent construction OF this law the Superior Court in
suffolk County quashed certain complaints, N whch the
defendant charged with selling se ager peer sr1ns
beer porter on the Lords Day said com plnts nns
been made under the section OF the act whose
that no person shall be authorized 20 se en- 'te IT,
tbs phraseology no person shall be auth0ted cannEs
sales the Lords Day, out thst such Saes may Ne pun
shed only ordinary violation OF the LORDS Day as
in the sale OF dry goods groceries or the IKE ana IN ts
INTERPRETATION OF the statute the Judge fully sus-
tanned by the DstrctAttOrDey. large number OF SIM
before Police Courts and Trial Justices the now
quashed having reached the Superior Court on slIea.
Without doubt, the Legislature and friends OF TINS law
Of malt liquors the Lords Day and TO minors but in
other defect in the law is. that notwithstanding the
Christian offenders may De punished l6y hne 3nyl Tor
the ordinary violation OF the Lords Day, the lsaete
by said construction OF the law may keep open his shop
and sell malt liquors the entire Christian sabbath with
out let hinderaDco As IL now the numerous open
shops OF the Israetes the Lords Day are more or
lees disturbance Of the general quiet OF the Chisan
sabbath but IL an cted sale OF the malt liquors
is added TO their other business las 1t undoubtedly Wl
be- and he TO limited eItentl the eneci VII nave
seriou. tendency to produce much additional drunken
and disorder the Lords Day without there being
any practicable or legal s%edy PROVIDED by e esaa. ~
that IN where the sale OF matt liquors If prohlOted
absolute sale j. proved the evidence Of which extreme
y difficult 10 prove. No seizure warrant IA now Issued
authorizing the officer heretofore, TO seize malt
liquors No prosecutions be made for keeping with
intent 70 sell, consequently no seizure Ia pernlttedi
act because the gst the oense under the Nuisance
act is that the party he charged with keeping
and aGos and Under the statute Of 1870
malt liquors struck from the former statutes OF
amended as suggested. it would be much improved.
while the actual intention OF the LegsatuTe aHn the
hopes and of the friends of this law Will be
more fully realized and the interest OF sobrety' good
order. and morals he better snhseryed Al the same
would be better secured and protested"
Hearings on the question Will be continued, but what
the Legislature viii do never be determined on this
subject beforehand. good many Temperance men who
believe the sale Of liquors should not be sanctioned
by Massachusetts, but who do not believe In lean
ing almost wholly on Law, insuguratng movement
10 see what can be accomplished by moral and religious
measures TO check the evils Of intemperance IL VIII De
attempt to the old wsshiDgtonian movement,
which successful about thirty ago, and the
first meeting called by prominent gentlemen whose
position and means indicate that the rum will be
vigorously prosecuted. The Washingtonian Institute
Reform Association holding public meetings and In
tend 10 establish home where nebrates can be taken
and cared for before they carried into the Police
Court. Various neral and religious influences will be
brought 10 bear upon iDebrates during the next few
months and much work DO done Ia this way and in
channels where the law IL comparatively useless.
COLORED CITIZENS IN KENTUCKY.