Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-12-13
The Liquor Law.

Two acts, aUenuatOTy VI, unu IL "NN
to the ''Prohibitory Law" 50 called, were
passed by the Legislature. The more i'm
portant of these will add considerably to the
stringencv of the law Heretofore it has
been not uncommon for person to be pros
ecuted over and over again receiving IN each
case only conviction and punishment Tor
first offence" Hereafter it will be the
duty of the prosecuting officers to mention
and make proof of any previous CONVICTIONS
and of the courts to inhict in all cases oil re-
heated convictions the increased penalties
nroviJed for second and third offences.
Furthermore liquor cases will hereafter take
precedence Of other trials in court, excepting
only criminal cases in which some respoh-
dent i under arrest. and no continuance or
nolle prosequi will be allowed, except when
in the opinion of the court or prosecuting
officer. the ends of justice require it. 1t Is
nlain thu. if this statute is lived up to,
the WAYS Of transgressors against the liquor
law, will be made considerably harder than
they have been
The otter act permits no witness on
liauor case, except the man who Is on trial,
IN he excused from testifying on the ground
that his testimony may criminate himself.
These acts are significant Of the temper OF
the Legislature and Of the determination oil
the State to take no steps towards license
or relaxation, in the matter OF the sale oil
liouor. The action on the State constabu-
larry bill was quite as significant. Two years
ago the bill providing for State police
found few advocates, and received but %
votes in the House. This year the same bill
passed the House by strong majority, lS2
to 80. and probably only failed in the Senate,
because it reached that body too late in the
session to allow of the necessary discussion
and consideration Would it not be well
for the opponents Of the settled policy OF the
State to inquire what this change OF senti-
ment in regard to this measure means
We will give them our opinion for moth
ing Many strong friends Of temperance,
two years ago, and many men who, without
any very strict scruples about the use OF
liquors. yet recognizing the fact that some
repressiye legislation is necessary for the
maintenance of good order in the communi-
ty. and the further fact that the existing
law is the only repressiye one We have or
are likely to have, - that the question is
! between sustaining the present law or going
/ practically without law in reference to the
sale Of liq3ors-many such, we say, had
doubts Of the ezpediency Of creating State
| police force expressly to execute the liquor
law They doubted the propriety, on gen
eral principles, Of creating special classes
Of officers to execute particular laws, and
they considered the existing officers
and machinery Of law ample for Is exc
cution, wherever the people really desired
TO see i: executed. They hoped, too, that the
introduction of the bill would serve as a
warning to iaetioas opponents and yiolators
Of the law. and that disgraceful eyasions Of
their daty on the part Of prosecuting officers
and gros, violations of the law would be less
frequent after it, That hope was diSap-
pointed The course Of the enemies Of the
law, during the two years past, in resisting
/ heck .,dti "a of the law even in cases where
it was reS1rtel to for the suppreSsion Of gross
nui,anceS, and casting odium on men,
who, from the purest motives and most
laudablr desire for the order and safety Of
the community have endeavored 10 secure
the enforcement of the law, has brought
many Of these doubterS in regard to the
State police into either open advocacy Of the
measure. or silent a,4uie-ceuce in trial Of
it, as an experiment.
The opponents Of the law have now
another and louder warning Will they
heed it? They cannotbe expected TO become
friend, of a law, to which their interests
and in some cases doubtless their conscien-
tiou- convictions, are opposed. But Is it
too much 20 expect that they viii at least
show some common sense in the matter
thar they will recognize the fact that the
prohibitory law-which Is in fact not
| prohibitory law, buta very stringent license
| law. licensing one man to sell liquor in
each town, for necessary and proper pur-
pose--i, the settled policy of our State, and
the only safeguard We have or are likely to
have, against the Acknowledged evils OF
free ram; and that they viii submit to
it, enforcement, other criminal laws, when
the public good demands? Ifnot, it needs
no prophet 10 fortel that two year, hence
the execution Of the law will be committed to
special set Of officers, whose chief business
and whose interest it will be to detect and
put through" violations of the liquor
Jaw, and who will relieve ordinary citizens
Of any particular responsibility or care in
regard TO IL, enforcement;