Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-01-24

THE MASSACHUSETTS, LIQUOR LAW ~"
GENERAL RAILROAD LAW
The subjects of most interest to most YER
monters in the recent able message OF toy
ernor Washburn of Massachusetts,, are the
liquor law, the State police, and the general
railroad law because similar measures
have occupied a considerable share oil the
attention of our own legislature for the
past two sessions. We copy from the mes
sage "a follows
THE LIQUOR LAW.
should I've gratifed, as doubtless most OF
YOU would be, to see the day when no lur-
Their legislation was required IN reference 10
the use and sale of intoxicating liquors
when the laws on tins subject were such as
to satisfy the great majority OIL the So9u
and sensible people OF the Commonwealth
While human nature remains what it Is, we
cannot reasonably cherish the expectation oil
a period when there will be no class in the
State with new theories and fresh discover
les upon this question, but ! do hope Tor
the time when the body OF our citizens VIII
feel that no more thought and labor need De
spent in perfecting the law.
UnquestiOnably there are some who IN
cline to the belief that stringent license
law, rgidly executed-such law A. has re-
Gently been enacted in two or three States
of the Union-would correct the evils we
are trying to extirpate Bat that law has
not yet shown any special efficacy IN bring
ing about the reform for which we are striy-
ing. Moreover, this Commonwealth has 80
declared for prohibition, again and again,
that we are not placed in the least DOUBT n
to the will of the people. For my own part,
| do not think any radical changes OF policy
either necessary or advisable, and l have
but two or three notifications of the exist
ing statute to suggest.
This statute i founded on the Principe
that distilled spirits may be sold for medici-
nal and mechanical purposes only, while
the State, through its agent, duly appointed
and subject to rigid rules, shall furnish
pure article at n reasonable price, to those
only who have been legally authorized to
keep supply for the purposes specified.
Regulations as to the price at which liquors
shall be furnished, requiring all 10 bear the
stamp of the State ASSayer As proof that
the quality is up to the legal standard, con-
stitute a guarantee against fraud and extOr-
ton, and a pledge that the Commonwealth
i ready To do what it can TO protect the
town and city agents against imposition.
see no other practicable way in which prop
er supervision can be exercised
II under licenses to sell ale and beer sales
could be confined TO those articles, though
in most cases a thirst for stronger drinks
would be created. the evil resulting from
such licenses would be comparatively small.
But the Chief Constable of the Common
wealth expresses the opinion that nj least
nine-tenths Of our beer shops use their IL
censes As 4 cover for the sale of distilled
spirits. y beer shop. - called, has come 70
mean generally a place where all kinds ot
Intoxicating liquors are furnished. And if
we are TO accept the evidence Of those who
have had the most painful experience of the
miseries produced by these places, they are
among the greatest obstacles To- the social
and moral progress of the community. The
testimony of criminals of every degree l.,
that they were drawn by irequenting beer
houses into offences and violations Of the
law of which they might otherwise have re-
NAMED innocent. The wise and prudent
legislator viii not cease his efforts for the
dimiuuti0n of crime till every measure has
been adopted which experience proves
neeiful
am convinced that a large majority Of
the legal voters of the Commonwealth are
opposed 70 the open bar in any form OF in
any place and if il were possible 10 obtain
the views Of our women on this important
question ! douhtnOt thatat least tour-fith~
Of them would promptly pronounce in favor
Of the speedy closing up all of these den~ of
vice and crime. And | commend the sub
iect % YOUR reflection. confidently trusting
YOU will agree with me in the conclusion
that the time has come when the legality of
a beer and ale shop should no longer be ~u--
tanned by oar statutes,
If the law in reference % the liquor traffic
i, not enforced the general impression seems
% prevail that the fault must be either in
the executive or the police officer. Ii Is
easy and perhaps natural to Law sins Of
omissions in this regard at their doors
But at recent term of the court in one
Of our counties, through the efforts of an
officer, a common seller. one who had been
found guilty three or four times, WIS again
brought to trial and conviction and sentenc-
ed to a fine of ten dollars and costs, which
sum his clerk easily made in profits on sales
during the trial. In another county party
found guilty of the same offence was sentenc-
ed to fine of two hundred dollars and cost,
and impriso nment in the house of correc-
ton for six months. This sentence made
the violation of the law not only unpr06ta-
HE hut decidedly disagreeable,
In the one case the prosecuting officer and
the court evidently do not intend TO accom-
plish either OF these results, ana the work
of the police officer i, - neutralized that
though he pile his complaints against often
ders mountain high, he has no reasonable
prospect of suppresSlng the traffic. In the
other case the officers of the law are all Ia
boring for one result, and there your statute
j. a terror to eyil-d0er>-the officials believe
-. I 81.
jurles and people are in harmony with them
and gladly second their endeayorS. With
ike action and sympathy in every county
we should have similar results. with Il bene-
fetal effect upon all classes of society
Myohiect in referring to these facts is not 20 I
criticise the course ofauY tribunal hut rather
TO impress upon Your minds,that the enforce
ment ofthe liquor law, like that of every
otaer law, depends not upon the action of - |
particular officer alone, but upon unity Of /
action among all officials. 1.-THE prosecuting |
officer is willing TO shield the criminal if |
jurors or witnesses are lacking in tirmne>s or /
integrity; If the court. with it, large dis |
cretionary power, looks ont for the milde,t /
possible sentence, we have a condition of /
things which not only prevents a fair en- /
forcement of the law but actually invites /
its violation, in spite Of all effort that can
be made by the police or the Executive
Nor should it be overlooked or forgotten
hat the execution of this law Is almost
wholly required at the hands af the State
Police. In eontendiag with other forms Of
ice and crime they generally receive the as
,istance and corporation of the local police.
Int when it comes To the treatment Of Of
enceS arising under the liquor law. regret
% say that they not only rarely receive As
,i>tance from the local force. hut are TOO
,iten hindered and thwarted in their own
ahors. am gratifed to believe that there
; of late. in some sections at least, u growth
# higher public sentiment on this matter.
md trust the day i quite near ut hand
when all officers will be obliged 10 do their
whole duty with respect to every statute.
TIE STATE POLICE
The report of the Police Commissioners
will show YOU that the force has been in
reased by an addition of thirty men, in ac-
oriance with the legislation of the last
General Court. These have been distributed
n different sections of the State, where the
Commissioners believed their service, would +
le most useful.
The value of the State Police, not alone in
he enforcement Of a particular law, hut in
he preservation of good order and the sup
iression of crime generally, has never been
more heartily appreciated than ut the
resent time, Immediately alter the great