The Republican journal., 1872-09-19
The New Liquor Law in Connecticut.

The New Liquor Law in Connecticut.
The yeXatious problems of the best
means for reducing the use OF intoxicat-
ing liquors TO its lowest point, and pro-
tecllng society from the resulting evils of
excess, still present themselves with as
poets as perplexing as ever. Prohibition,
so called, has been tried, and failed. Here
in Maine we have brought the repression
by law 20 point so fine as to outlaw even
the harmless beverage OF cider, and to ar
ray against it all the pains, penalties and
iorfeitures which the ingenuity of those
friendly to the law can invent. The re-
suit is seen that the State has been trans
formed into a rumselling corporation,
while in almost every town private and
public illicit sales 90 on as extensively
as ever. Men spend money to their own
poverishment, ruin their health and 90
to perdition with the same facility, if not
greater, than under system of unrestrict-
ed sales. These things can be made patent
to all who care to investigate the subject.
We would not by any means say that
many of those who favor the present law
in Maine are not honest in their profess
slons. They are simply mistaken in the
belief that the principle of prohibition is
best calculated to bring the use of liquors
to its lowest point. There is nothing
more difficult in the administration of q
government than the enactment and en-
torcement of laws for the regulation and
control of human appetites If made
over stringent, the very prohibition ex-
cites the desire and piques the curiosity
OF the young to try the fascination that is
so carefully guarded. Every ingenuity
is brought to bear upon the matter, and
the forbidden indulgence leaks through
thousands of crevlces in statute and exc
cution.
1t is perccptible to those who take note
OF these matters that the public mind is
inclining to try other measures than the
absolutely prohibitive, which have notori-
ously failed. In Illinois, as heretofore
noticed, carefully guarded license law
is IN operation, and we hear with good
results Massachusetts, which once for
babe the vending of ale and beer, now
permits the free sale Of those beverages
in all towns that may 80 vote. And in
Connecticut, where the Maine law has
been conspicuous failure, license law
has this week gone into operation, the
provisions of which are so admirable that
we will give synopsis of them.
The Connecticut law provides that any
town may by its own vote permit or pro-
hibit licenses to sell within its limits. If
it votes for license, the selectmen shall re-
commend suitable persons to be licensed,
and the County Commissioners are made
a licensing board. The persons licensed
are required 10 file sufficient bond in
the sum OF one thousand dollars for the
observance of all the provisions of law,
and to pay annually from 800 to $500
license fee, rs the board may determine.
the tee to go to the town treasury. The
licenses must be revoked, if the law is
broken. Persons licensed are forbidden
to sell to minors, to any known drunkard,
to any husband or wife after being pro-
hlbited by the other, or to any intoxicated
person, with heavy penalties for violation.
II any intoxicated person does damage to
the person or property of another, the per-
son selling the liquor is made liable for
damage Fines and imprisonment are
provided for sales by unlicensed persons.
All licensed persons are required to keep
his license framed and displa yed in the
room where sales are made The prose-
cutting officers and the grand jurors are
required to act upon all sworn informa-
ton for violation of the law made to them
by any person.
The advantages of this law are obvious.
1t gives to the people of each town or city
the right to control the whole matter in
their precincts. BY narrowing the con-
llicts between prohibitionists and license
men, it removes bitter and disturbing
clement from State politics. Instead of
being an enormous bill of expense, as the
Maine law has always been, large
revenue accrues to the town treasures,
while the authorities hold heavy bonds
from sellers for strict observance of law.
The character of the men who sell is
changed from criminals to law abiding
citizens, for under the law no improper
persons would be licensed. Illegal SELL
ing would be stopped, for those who sell
lawfully would be the best possible police
to look after violators, and without ex-
pense to the public. The provisions for
bidding sales to minors, drunkards, and
those to whom dealers shall be cautioned
not to sell, are all that could be desired.
And besides these provisions for regu-
lating in the best manner traffic that all
experience has shown cannot be wholly
suppressed, there will be every opportu-
nifty for the exercise of those moral re-
straints upon drinking which have proved
so efficient when exerted, Christianity