, 1876-02-12
Chr nnsthsrn Star.
FEBRUARY l2, 1876.


Quite discussion has arisen In this com.
nun,,v over the effect Of the amendments
made hy last session of,he Legislature to the
Retail LIQUOR Dealers Liceuse Law
This amendment consists of only single
section. I, seemed 40 slight that many mem
h.r. of the last session were unaware of any
change being effected in the License Law,
until some time after the adjournment Ot the
Legislature.
This new section confines license to a
single place at time, and to the precinct
for which 1t Ia granted and provides; that
TO license shall be granted 10 any person t"
retail spirituous liquors until he shall 'nrn'sh
10 the County Commissioners prey that he
ia a man Of good moral character. This
claus. Il Ia that works 80 great change IN
the License Law of this Territory when ia
ken in connection with the stringent Nu''
ssnce and vagrant Acts passed at the same
session making our License Law one Of the
most stringea, in its provisions of any sa'e
or Territory.
Ususlly every one is presumed to be Of
p,od moral character, hut this provision re-
bu,s this presumption, and requires absolute
proof to he offered; and that proof must sat
isfy the Board of the applicants good moral
character. Nis needless to state perhaps
,ha. proof must arise from sworn testimony
The main diff renee will he, as to what
shall be- considered by the Board good
moral character. Some Commissioners
mir,h maintain that every man who PAID
his license, and gave his bond was OF goa
moral character, others, who d'soe-
lieyed in the liquor traffic altogether
might say, no person applying for license
can he of good moral character, as no good
man vouldfollow the business; mel 'her rule Is
warranted by the letter "r spirit ofthe Law
As there ia no state religion, or religious
order Of morals authorized Up Law; il seems
tina. neither the Mosaic Law of morality, OF
what any moral individual may deem the
dictates Unnatural morality can well be con
sidered the test of moral character. The
only remaining test being the Laws OF the
Land.
The statutes made and provided regula'
ting this business, and kindred subjects re-
lating thereto. Principle among these he
ing the nuisance and vsgrant acts above
referred to, PsSS'
This examination being required to pre-
vent licenses being granted :" those who
would he liatle to violate these statutes
the bonds heirg also required, So that, II
the commissioners should err, or the party
who had received the license, should violate
any 's,f these provisions, a remedy would
fenain to secure fines &C. assessed for viola
tion of Law
Il IL always better to prevent the com
mission of crimes. thun to allow them 10 he
perpetrated and then have to punish. Hence
It seems the whole question could be tested
In this way. Has the applicant ever viola
ted any Of the provisions OF the statutes
naming them 10 succession, or reading them
60 the witness for his information. The
next question being from his past mode o'
life, would you expect him to be one who
would be liable to violate any OF these stat
ntes if license was granted to himf II
the party had violatad any of thesee statutes
or ifa license WAS granted existed for be-
licking him person likely to violate them
himself or allow others to do so in his h"nSe
then he certainly would not bea person
Of good moral character under the statutes,
II he was a person who had not or wo0'"
not he likely to Violate this class "t 'tatutes
Judging from his past life, then under tho
statute, he certainly would be entitled t"
receive his license. and he considered u per
son Of good moral character for all the pur'
poses ofshis statute.
" any one thinks we have no poe's on
4 4. IL. am 81 a nnWaT1hnpf and