Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-03-13

The bill, as passed by the Senate. i as
follows:
Be i. enacted. etc, That there shall he
appoint ted by the President, by and with the
advice and consent Of the Senate. commits
sion of FIVE persons. neither of whom shall
be holder Of any Office Of profit or trust in
the general or State government. The said
commission shall be selected solely with
reference 10 personal fitness and capacity
for an honest. impartial and thorough in
ve>tigation. and shall hold Office until their
duties shall be accomplished, but not to
exceed one year. Ii shall be their duty to
invest gate the alcoholic and fermented
liquor traffic and manufacture, having
special reference to revenue and taxation ;
in Distinguishing a. far a. possible in the
conclusion they arrive at between the
effect produced by the use Of distilled
or spirituous a. distinguished from the use
of fermented or malt liquors, in their econ
omic. criminal, moral and scientific aspects,
in connection with pauperism, crime, vice,
the public health and general welfare of the
people: also 70 inquire and take testimony
as to the practical results of license and re-
strictive legislation for the prevention Of
intemperance in the several States. and the
effect produced by spch legislation upon the
consumption Of distilled or spirituous IL
quors and of iermented or malt liquors, and
also ascertain whether the evil of drunk
ennosS has been increased or decreased
thereby: whether the use of opium
A. stimulant and substitute for
alcoholic drink ma, become more general in
consequence of such legislation, and
whether the public morals have been i'm
proved thereby. Ii shall also he the duty
of said commission 20 gather information
and take testimony H. TO whether the evil
of drunkenness exists to the same extent or
more 50 in other civilized countries, and
whether those nations that are considered
the most temperate in the use Of stimulants
are 50 through prohibit0ry laws; also to
what degree prohibit0ry legislation has af-
fected the consumption and manufacture of
malt and spurious liquors in this country.
Section >. That the commissioners. all OF
whom shall not be advocates Of prOhlbitory
legislation or total abstinence in relation to
alcoholic or fcrmented liquors, shall serve
without salary and shall have authority TO
employ n secretary at reasonable cOmpen-
sation not to exceed $4,000 per annum,
which, with the necessary expenses Incl
dental to such Investigation, not exceeding
SO 900, for both the secretary and COM
missioners, shall be paid ont of any money
in the treasury not otherwise appropriated,
upon vouchers TO be approved by the
secretary of the treasury, and for this pur-
pose the sum Of $4,000 is hereby appr0-
priated. 1t shall be the further duty of
said commissioners to report the result of
their investigation, and the expenses at
tending the sane. to the President, TO be by
him transmitted to Congress.
We have no very great hopes from this
bill. if it should become law The result,
from commission composed As this is to
be, will probably be two conflicting reports;
which may possibly supply some useful in
formation bat will 50 far as any effect on
legislation is concerned, leave the subject
where they found it. We have no expecta-
ton of national repressiye liquor law.
unless the temperance revival sweeps
through Congress after fashion which few
probably expect TO see.