Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

Total. ,526.I2 S1,75s.I6 81 5sll9 81, Al
OF this amount there was sold to other
towns. az follows: from Burlington
$6S7. 43, Colchester $244 90, Essex Sl776,
Hnesburgh Sl53.57. Huntington S62 50,
| Jericho SI50..4, Milton Sl7l SO. Richmond
| 77.09, amounting in the aggregate to
| 81 ,564 81, which, deducted from tho whole
amount sold, leaves Sc, $3.50 90 as the amount
OF liquor sales in the eight towns where
agents have been appointed. The average
sales per quarter for this year were So
63l 81. For tire same time last year
s., 1865. Is.
The whole amount OF liquor sold by the
agencies during tho year ending April 30,
1875, was as follows: Burlington 81 $50 50,
Colchester ST ,00i 30, Essex S43I.70 Hines
burgh SS13 70, Huntington $6I0.75, Jeri-
cho :S746.SS. Milton 81 .0S2 81, Richmond
$456.6I. Westford S632 -, amounting in
all to SIC, 1853 81, an average per quarter
of S2.6l7.09. In respect to population this
amount gives about three and a half dollars
worth of spirituous medicine" to each
man, woman and child in the county. As
compared with the same period last year,
the sales have decreased in Burlington,
Essex, Hinesburgh. Huntington and Milton.
and increased in Colchester, Jericho and
Richmond.
Besides the agencies recognized by the law
for the legal sale of liquors. there are from
one to three places in each town of the
county, and moe than one hundred places
In the city CT Burlington where liquors are
sold contrary to law. According to the
information received by the Commissioner,
there is probably not hotel or drug shop
in the county where Intoxicating liquors
may not be obtained in any desired quantity.
All OF those places are. no doubt. liable to
indictment under the present " Nuisance
law " of the State. II that law should be
enforced against all offenders without re-
gard to condition, sex, race or color, the
tountains of illegal liquor selling in the
county will be dried up, and there will be
the more imperiOus necessity for legal
agency IN every town in the county, to
supply the legitimate demand for liquors
for medicinal. chemical and mechanical
purposes only"
The amount now sold ostensibly for such
purposes is large. But it bears little COM
parison with that which is Illegally sold.
And yet there Is no reasonable probability
that more than One-tenth part of the legal
sales Is strictly needed for the purposes
mentioned in the law, If prescribed by
physicians IN such quantities as these they
would be justify reprehensible for catering
to depraved appetite. But the law fixes
no limit to the amount which may be used
for such purposes. And it is presumed
that, IN ordinary cases, the person who asks
Tor 1t knows how much no requires. and
how often it il necessary be should have it.
The commissioner has no authority in the
premises other than to hold his agents to a
strict accountability for their sales. and to
direct that the sales be made with lair
judgement and discretion moreover the
temptation is strong for the town or city to
realize profit from the sale, and they do
not always resist tho temptation. The law
forblds the agent selling liquor at ian
exOrbitant profit even under 1.-THE direc-
ton of the seiCcr men," but it also provides
that the selectnen shall fix the price, at
which the liquor shall be sold by the agent,
and hence lt becomes matter over which
the Commissioner has no control, save ION
application Of three legal voters of such |
town." which empowers him to inyesti-
gate the matter, and vacato the license if
the agent be found guilty. Practically |
therefore the authority Of the Commissioner
Is reduced TO very small compass. lie is |
very necessary appendage to the law as it |
now stands, because 1t Is through him only |
that the machinery of the law can be start
ed into motion, or the brakes be put on if |
1t goes too fast in one direction.
In conclusion, the Commissioner desires |
to present his grateful acknowledgements
to his fellow citizens for the unanimity with |
which they have in two successive elections
placed upon his shoulders the honOrs and |
emoluments of this important Office; and
to express his profound satisfaction at the |
prospect Of being speedily relieved there
from. l.. Z. BUTLER,
County Commissioner.