The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-05-01
rnnrERaNee Avn Law

The prospects Of law. order aud TEN.
perauoe are rapidly Frightening in
New York Dr. Howard Crosby = So
ciety Cor the Prevention Of Crime, by
the suppression Of tipping houses. il
making steady, and apparently irresist.
IDLE Roadway. With plenty Of money
70 push its operations, and plenty o.
courage and energy to push them 70
tho utmost, they are likely to keep tie
hitherto triumphant liquor raukF % the
city ia perpetual agitation The IL
oensed saloons OF the city are tho ex.
ception, unlicensed saloons the rule,
For the existence Of these, in direct
defiance Of law. the Commissioners are
responsible, aud il only requires that
these saloons be brought to the notice
Of the proper authorities to have them
promptly closed
But again, the licensed saloons have
obtained their licenses under pretext
so maDiiestly fraud that the Excise
Commissioners are likely TO get them
selves into trouble for granting the
licenses II is one Of the provisions Of
the excise law that only linus or taverns
shall be licensed to cell liquor to be
drunk on the premises In order to
constitute an inn, the law defines, there
must be place OF entertainment, and
at least three beds. The saloons have
been in the habit OF evading the law by
putting up three hunks 10 some part OF
the premises, and so answering the
technical demand OF the law. The
Commissioners have been in the habit
of respecting the evasion, and granting
the license.
But the Society for the Prevention
Of Crime has just found powerful
ally 10 Chief Justice Davis. Last week
be gave charge to the Grand Jury
which has sent CONSERVATION through
the saloon ranks. The Court of Appeals
has decided the excise law ia force. 1t
forbids license TO any save those en-
gagged as hotel.keepers. Judge Davis
calls the attention Of the Grand Jury to
the fact that the action of the Com
missioners, 10 licensing countless sa-
looms as inns, because, to evade the
law they had put up three beds, is a
gross perversion of justice, aud plainly
tells them their duty ia to indict these
officials who, in his own severe and
courageous language, trample the stat
ute under their feet under the pretext
of doing their duty.
If the Grand Jury shall act upon this
suggestion, there will be lively times
in the temperance cause in a city that
has been greatly cursed with crime for
which liquor is responsible.
A society has just been organized 10
this city for the enforcement Of stat
ute that forbids the sale Of liquor to
minors That is well. The statute on
the subject Is clear and sufficient. For
the first olIense the State llw prescribes
penalty d fifty dollars; for tae sec
ond oileuse a fine Of hundred dollars.
together with the revocation Of the H.
cense never TO be renewed.
1t appears from recent examination
by pbilanthropic men interested 10 Sc
curing the enforcement OF this law that
the evil is more gross aud alarming
than the community have any just con-
cepticn Of. There is not even shadow
Of respect paid TO the statute. And
yet it is perfectly clear the people
would be ia favor OF the strictest en-
iorcement Of the statute. Ii only re,
qGires that the facts be brought before
the public, aud that the proper com.
plants be made. We look to this SO.
ciety. therefore, With great hope, aud
believe it will have the sanction Of all
good men.
But why not go step farther I
Why not have society Tor the pre-
ventiou Of crime II is true we have
no excise law. bot oar legislation is far
ahead Of its enforcement We have
laws which. if rigidIy enforced will
greatly lessen the evils aud crimes
tfaceable 10 saloons. aud which would
be the introduction 10 further legisla-
ton. to letter government, aud purer
morals
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