The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-02-12
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY -, 1874.
Local Option Repeal and General License

get up a general license law, of uniform
application to all the counties Of the
State, aud report it at an early day, and
then an earnest struggle will commence
on the subject. The indications now
are that such bill will pass both
branches. IN the House no less than
fSe bills have already been introduced
Oh the subject, and referred to the above
Committee. A brief synopsis Of their
provisions will show the drift of legisla-
tive sentiment.
Mr.. Pyle. Democrat, of Northamp-
ton, has bill simply repeating the local
option act.
Mr.. Toner, Democrat, Of Westmore-
land, has presented petitions signed by
1900 people Of that county for repeal
ol local option, aud aceom panied them
with ian act for the better regulation Of
the sale Of Intoxicating liquors" This
bill sets out with preamble "that the
local option Law has failed in its object,
aud drunkenness runs riot more degraded
than ever" The first section repeals the
option law, The rest Of the bill is a
queer jumbo. It authorizes the court
on petition Of six fieehclders, worth not
less than $1,000 each, to grant licorses;
bnt the petitioners and applicant must
first take an oath they will serve as
eort of independent police for the eup-
preston Of drunkenness and illegal liquor
selling, Drunkenness is punished by
fine, and all the fines collected under
the law 60 to the benefit Of the drum
kard's family. The sale Of aaulterated
liquors is made punishable by 6ne, and
{ chemist, or sort Of "connty ta.ter'
is provided to report the presence Of
strychnine or cocu2us inalcus in The
beverages Of tho PEOPLE. Licenses are
to te divided into ten classes according
to population Of town or city, and will
cost from S1Q0 to $3.50.
Mr.. Dimmick, Democrat, Of Wayne,
has bill repeating tie local option law,
and furnishing, by 6ne and imprison-
Inent, the sale OF liquors without hcense.
Then follows this aoctioo, which is a
novelty in its wsy;
''OGCTlON - lEC CDATIg OF common
pleas shall have power, upon the applicG-
lion Of any five licensed inn keepers Of the
county to make a decree Incorporating
them as an association by such name as
they may appoint; and such association
shall have power to admit other persons to
membership at its discretion. and TO adopt
such measures as may be necessary for the
suppression Of offences against this Gct.'
There is a good idea at the bottom of
this, ard that Is 10 make the licensed
liqucr sellers an important auxiliary in
suppressiog the Illicit traffic in the
ardent
Mr.. Batler, Democrat, OF Cutubcr-
land, has very elaborate license law,
prsfaoed by . preamble declaring,
among other things, "that q great
change is necessary so that the wants
and morals Of the people may be better
protected. It requires previous notice
80 be given Of iutention to apply for Ii
cense, and has stringent restrictions
on the issue Of licenses, the sale Of Il
ouor, the conduc. Of saloons, etc. The
hceuse fee is fixed at $500 and s4O0
per annum, according 10 the rental Of
the saloon or tavern.
Next We have a bill proposed By Dir.
Meyer Of Bradford, "to suppress in
temperance and crime" Of vastly DIFF
ierept character from any Of the above
Section one, gives the husband, wife,
parent or guardian, or other person who
shall be injured in person and property,
or means Of support, BY any Intoxicated
person, the right Of action in his or her
name against the person who sold or
furnished intoxicating liquors in viola
iion of Inv and caused the intoxication
in whole or in part Of such person, The
owners of the property in which the
liquor is sold are held liable severally
aud jointly with the persons selling the
same for all damages sustained, aud Cor
exemplary damages Another section
Of the bill declares hat the unlawful
sale Of Intoxicating liquors sbail work =
Forfeiture Of any lioeuse or contract Of
rent on the premises.
This is substantially the Ohio and
Illinois Iaw, bat judging from the tenn
Per Of the House, and especially the
power Of what is known as the liquor
vote Of the State, there is a slim pros
pect indeed of its passage.
The mines of Nevada produced $780, |
100000 of gold last year.
The second Evans trial at Harris |
burg has ended with verdict of $685.. |
900 for the State, $4,000 more than !
was previously awarded.
The rpveoue receipts last month were !
SO, 9,702,255,08. Total for the fiscal |
year to the 1st inst, s57, 7,528,729.74.
The board of investigation in the
case of the sinking Of the Yirginus
will report that it was not the result Of |
any carelessness or design on the part of |
the United States officers.
A "Dead Beats Directory" has been
printed anonymously in Chicago. 1t is
for the use of boarding hOase
keepers, grocera, butchers, etc., and cor =
tains the names of a Thousand men who
habitually neglect paying their bills.
The list includes lawyers, actors, minis
ters, aldermen and officials, and is to be
revised monthly.
The Committee on Banking and Cur
rency in Congress have reported bill,
on which they will claim early action,
the Secretary of the Treas