Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-11-28
The Several Propositions Relating
to the Traffic in Intoxicating
Drinks.

The Several Propositions Relating
to the Traffic i'm Intoxicating
Drinks.
A variety of propositions have been
presented in the present Legislature in
reference to and in amendment of the
laws, relating as the State calls it, to
'sThe traffic in Intoxicating drinks OF
in common parlance the liquor law.
Thinking it might be interesting to the
readers of THE HERALD to know some
of the provisions and general scope OF
these various measures, abstracts OF
them are presented, which will convey
the substance of each. We believe thus
far no action has been taken on any OF
these propositions, but they will undoubt-
edly be taken up for action during the
closing days of the session, should the reso-
luton for adjournment to January OF
October next fail to be adopted.
Senator Rogers, of CALEDONIA county.
introduced bill which provides that
when person is found intoxicated and
arrested under the provisions of the
present statute, and makes disclosure of
the person who furnished him the liquor
by which he became intoxicated,
the person furnishing, shall be
brought for trial to the town, where the
person was found intoxicated. although
the person furnishing may reside in an
other town or county.
A bill by Senator Carpenter, of Wash
ington county, in relation to witnesses
in prosecutions for selling or furnishing
intoxicating liquors, provides that in
prosecutions for selling liquor, no person
other than the respondent shall be ex-
cused from testifying, for the reason
that his testimony may tend to crimin-
ate himself. The person so testifying
shall not be thereafter prosecuted for
the acts in regard to which he has so
testified
Another bill by Senator Carpenter, re-
lates to agents and its provisions are that
any person travelling from town to town
soliciting orders, or making sales of in
toXicating liquors. or any person resid-
ing in any town, who shall solicit orders
for any person, whether residing within
or without this State, on conviction shall
be punished by fine of 1926; and on
second conviction shall be imprisoned in
county Jail not less than thirty days and
not over six months, 0ne-half the fine
going to the informer.
Senator Adams of Windsor. presents
a proposition for the appointment of a
commissioner for tue sale of spiriteuS
liquors, who shall purehace and sell
liquors of pure quality, to the several
town agents, and to no other persons,
Such state agent giving bond of ten
thousand dollars He shall establish al
some convenient point. a place of bust
ness. All liquors shall be analyzed by
an assayer, as to their purity, and the
commissioner shall certify that all sales
have been made from analyzed packages.
All sales to be made for cash at price
not exceeding certain per cent, upon
actual cost. A record is to be kept of
all purchases and sales, which shall be
open at all times to selectmeA and prose
cutting officers. For adulteration of
said liquors, or sales to others than au-
thorizpd agents, or ut a rate greater than
fixed by law. shall forfsit the amount of
his bond, and be imprisoned in state
prison, not less than one, nor more than
five years He can contract no debt on
the credit of the state, and shall receive
no commissions beside IN annual salary,
except sum equal to seven per
cent. upon amount of capital
actually employed, which is limited
to sum not exceeding 800, 900.
All profits accruing from the sale of
liquor to be paid into the treasury of the
state, and an annual report is to be made
to the legislature. All the town agen-
cies shall purchase of the state commits
sioner, and any agent purchasing of any
other person shall be liable to imprison-
mpnt in the state prison for one year
Mr. Wyman of Athens. proposes an
amendment to the present law that
whenever any person while intoxicated,
shall intict an injury upon any person,
the individual selling the liquor causing
such intoXicatiOn. shall be liable to the
party injured for all damage so caused,
and in case of death or disability. any
person dependant on the intoxicated
person, may recover from the seller all
damage or loss sustained in consequence
The bill of Mr.. Buell. of Middletown,
provides that no person shall, within
this State, be allowed to manufacture,
sell, furnish, or give away Intoxicating
SAoCpb lSSNiy '1ppoihuSN "-,Nhhf'-
The town liquor agent to be appointed
by the selectmen for one year, who may
be removed at any time, and shall be
removed upon petition of the legal
voters of the town, or upon the COM
plant of two adult persons in the town,
that such agent is violating the law, it
shall be the duty to make investigation
and remove such agent on good cause.
All moneys received by agents to be paid
into the town treasury. The selectmen
are to purchase all liquors for the town
agency, and the compensation to be a
subject of agreement which shall be a
definite sum and not a per cent. If any
person shall sell in violation of the law
shall be fined $40 and costs; second,
$50, and on the third and every subse-
quent conviction, for each offence, $50
and costs, and be imprisoned in the
county Jail not less than three nor more
than six months, and Oh the hearing of
all cases, whether the respondent shall
take trial or plead guilty, the prosecut-
ing officer shall be required to produce
the legal evidence of all former eonvic-
tions. and the several convictions shall
be made matter of record by the court.
The fine for intoxication to be $5 and
costs $40 Orprocurlng liquor on fraud
u1ent representation to the town agent
The law shall not be construed to apply
to giving away liquor at private dwell
ings except to habitual drunkards nor
to prevent the manufacture, sale and use
of cider for personal use; the search,
seizure and destruction of liquor pro-
visions of the present law are retained.
The State police bill, introduced by
Mr.. Granger of Peacham, is very lengthy
and Il so well understood in its general
features. summary is unnecessary. The
execution OF the enforcement of the pro-
hibitory laws oui Of the hands of the
ordinary officers and place it in the hands
of special police. /
The bill of Mr.. Wilson of Rutland
that if any person or his agent, |
clerk or servant, shall sell, furnish or
Give away any intoxicating liquors in
Violation Of the prohibilory law, shall
farfeit and paw Tor each offense, upon