Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-03-27

hEENE- Oh LIE EtL 81 % 4-A4AA HN'A a---
NJ. Poland. from the committee on the
Judiciary. submitted the following report F.
Tie judiciary committee, L. whom was
deferred large number o. petitions from
clurcne- and religious bodies, a. well As
from individuals from different >tatss.pray-
I'M for the appointment of q commission T.
inquire aa1 report as 70 tine results %, the
traffic 10 alcoholic liquors n connection
with crime, pauperism. the public health,
the moral. social, and intellectual wCll-oe-
ing of the people secondly. concerning pro
hititory legislation IN Maine. Massachu-
sets. anu other States OF the Union and.
thirdly. o recommend what additional
legislation. If any. would be beneficial ON
the part Of Congress t. suppress IN the
sphere OF national Authority the traihc IL
alcoholic liquors, have given such consider
alton 10 the subject a. seemed proper not
only by lis intrinsic gravity and import
ance. but also from the high character and
great number OF the petitioners Upon and
a. the result Of this consideration. the CON
mittee herewith report bill In substantial
conformity T. the prayer OF the petitioners,
and recommend it, passage
The committee also bee leave TO submit,
in the form Of report. 9 short statement
of the reasons which have induced tae--
recommendation.
And, first, IL l. proper 20 inquire whether
Congress ha- any proper jurisdiction 70 au-
tho7i.s such Investigation. Investigations,
under the authority of Congress. whether
by n committee consisting of It's own mem
bers or by a commission composed OF other
persons. a-e usually made into the conduct
Of some officer or department of the govern
ment, or are of q general nature, with a
view . furnish proper information 10 aid
and guide future legislation.
The jurisdiction here mus, be supported,
If a:all. upon the latter of these grounds
Il was not claimed before the committee by
the gentlemen VINO appeared on behalf OF
these petitions that Congress pOssesse- the
power TO regulate or prohibit the traihc IN
intoxicating liquors within the States. We
understand them TO concede that such power
and Jurisdiction rest solely IN tie State
legislatures
But they Dc claim that, within the Dis
trlct of Columbia and within all the terri
tories under the jurisdiction of the national
government outside the limits OF organized
State. Congress does possess full and ample
power 10 regulate aud restrain or prohibit
the t-4i!ia. Asa question Of jurisdiction.
the committee do not s-e how this claim
can le denied or doubted.
Whether II will ever be thought adv H.
allie or .xpedient for Congress 90 exercise
Such POSER. IL i not necessary now 60 De-
teruau. The fact that the District Of
CulumaH rl.i each 90 che organized le-Ti-
to-i..- t.7t. s .ncs' LEGISLATION OF their own,
Vho t.-. atu power 3 create such le- i-lA-
ti1u. j. d Sufficiently strong local sentiment;
can Dee crested in It, favor, Will, OF course,
be n consideration Of weight when the q ue.-
tion n-ISes The results Of this inquiry may
largely affect the Judgment Of Congress as
to whether they ought 10 exercise their
legislative jurisdiction over this subject
within the limits where they coniessedly
have the power Bot, il the facts escer-
tanned and reported by this commission
shall no. induce Congress t. legis.ate. they
may have such an important and control
ling influence upon the public sentiment
and Judgment within the national domain
outside the States as 10 induce restraining
and preventive legislation against lntem-
perance bv the local legislatures These
quasi governments are legally considered a.
but agencies and inStrumeutg.Itie~ % the
General Government and If improved leg
islation by them shall re uit from the inior-
nation thus gained it NAV be properly re-
garded a. OF national benefit.
The nation now derives a very large rev
enue BY the taxation of the manufacturer
the importer. and the seller of intoxicating
liquors Can it be said that cur national
laws on this subject may not properly and
consiitutionally be affected by the consider
alton whether the sublect-matter OF all
those laws be benefit and blessing 10 the
nation and all the people thereof, - that
it, manufacture. sale. and Use ought To- be
encouraged IN all lawful ways, or whether,
on the other hand, It Is an evil demon,
every way hurtful to the nation and people,
and which should be restrained and circun-
scribed in every constitutional mode?
The committee believe that the results Of
this commission may Justly and con>titn
tiOnally affect national legislation upon this
subject. and that incidental protection may
thus be afforded to the cause OF temperance
and sobriety.
500, too. if the Information thus obtain
ed. covering a BROADER field, clothed with q
robe of more official authority, commanding
more respect. and less liable 10 challenge or
contradiction than the individual efforts
and statements of private philanthrOpistS
have hitherto attained, shall have the ef-
feet 10 produce better State laws, or the
better eniOr cement of State laws for the re-
straint of the sale and use of Intoxicating
liquor<, il is a cOnsdera tion not 20 be lost
sight Of. Though this is not. perhaps. a
sufficient ground to uphold the jurisdiction.
yet if the jurisdiction l. clear on other
grounds, it furnishes additional reasons for
it, exercise
With this short statement OF the views Of
the committee as TO the jurisdiction Of Con-
gress, Is 1t expedient to order this commits
sion and inquiry?
That the evils of intemperance are enor-
nous. and that the increasing use ofintoxi-
eating drinks is one OF the dangers which
seriously threaten our national prosperity
as well as national reputation. are facts
which are very generally conceded. Every
good citizen viii give his ccunteusncs and
aid 20 Any measure which viii limi: and 70.
Hysis shsss wis