The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-10-02
THE LOCAL OPTION AND CIVIL
DAMAGE BILL.

UAA6O0
The bill TO provide for the evils result
ing from the sale of intoxicating liquors,
introduced in the House by Mr.. Reed, Of
Marion, from the Committee on Temper
ance. was read the second time on Tues
day, and referred to Committee Of the
Whole, and made the special order for
Friday afternoon. The bill provides for
Local Option, in that every person who
wishes to sell intoxicating liquors, shall
first obtain the actual signatures of a
majority of the legal voters in the pre-
cinct in which he may wish to sell,
praying that the said license may be
granted, or if it be city or town d.
vided into wards, then by the sigma
lures Of a majority of the whole num-
Der of legal voters in the city, town or
ward in which the applicant may wish
to sell, praying that such license may
be granted; and he shall give fifteen
days notice of his intention TO apply for
such license. tits further provided that
liquor shall not he sold on Sunday, ex-
cept for the convenience of travellers, nor
to minors under eighteen years of age.
Civil Damage provisions are made in
sections, providing that any person who
shall, by selling or giving away intoxi-
eating liquors, with or without license,
Cause the intoxication Of any person or
in any degree contribute TO such intoxi-
cation, shall be liable for and compelled
to pay a reasonable compensation TO any
one who may take charge of such in
toxicated person, and also two dol
lars per day in addition thereto for
every day such person shall be kept in
consequence ofsuch intoxication; which
sums may be recovered as an action Of
debt before any court of competent juris-
diction. 1t is further provided that
every wife, child, husband, parent or
other persons who shall suffer in person,
property, means Of support or otherwise
by any intoxicated person, shall have a
right Of action in his or her own name,
against any person or persons, who
shall by selling or giving Intoxicating
liquor or otherwise have caused or in
any degree contributed to the intoxica-
ton Of such person or persons; and in
any such action, the plaintiff shall have
right to recover both actual and exem-
plary damages.
The owner or lessee, or person or per-
sons renting or leasing any building or
premises, having knowledge that in
tOxicating liquors are to be sold or are
being sold therein, shall be liable sever
ally or Jointly with the person giving
or selling liquors as aforesaid, aud in
every action by any wife, child, hus-
band or parent their general reputation
shall be l1riBla JiGcie evidence Of sucl
relation, and the amount recovered by
every wife or child shall be his or hel
separate property.
Such are some of the provisions Of the
loug-talked-of Local Option Law. 1t
will doubtless be thoroughly discussed,
perhaps many Of its provisions hotly
contested, but it will doubtless pass,
though probably subject to some modi-
fications. 1t is declared that the bill
has been prepared with great care, and
that able legal counsel decided upon it,
constitutiOnality
We heard an honorable gentleman o
the House remark, that if the bill passeC
we should have the best Temperance
law in the United States. Not being
conversant with the various Local Op
tion, Civil Damage and Prohibition
Laws of the several states, we canno
vouch for that, but we certainly thinl
that the main points of this bill arr
stringent, well and carefully defended
and if placed in operation as law, vii
have a salutary effect upon the grea
If the Honorable Body now in session a
the Capital meet the demands Of justic,
in regard to the Woman Suffrage Bill
which will be brought to their considers
tion later in the session, and number
those whom God declared help meet fol
men among the legal voters referred t6
irrthe Local Option Bill, we shall hav,
no fault to find with its provisions. 1
is certainly but an act Of simple justice
TO those who have for years borne ant
are still bearing the accumulated evil
Of intemperance, 10 be allowed hear
ing upon theme that has wrought I,
them aud their children such woe anC
hardship. Thousands of the women o
our State are looking auxiously towar,
our lawmakers, in the hope aud expec
tatiOn that justice will be meted out {,
them, and we believe that they will no
be disaDuOiuted