The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-06
A judicial Warming.

SOME REMARKS FROM JUDGE CHRISTIAN TO THE
GRAND JURY ABOUT THE MoFFETT LIQUOR
LAw-THE LAW MUST AND SHALL BE EN-
F0RCED-THosE WHO DO NOT RING THE BELL
TO LOSE THEIR LICENSES.
In charging the grand jury q. C. GRAY.
ESQ.,, foremaD), Judge George L. Christian
yesterday said:
/ have tried ever since have been on this
bench, and know that my predecessor did
too, honestly 10 enforce the collection OF the
revenues OF the State under this Moffett1
law. Finding that the grand iuries OF the
court bad aided me but little in doing so,
owing, am sure, to the want of proper
material before them on which to found
proper indictments, and being thoroughly
convinced by personal inspection OF the re-
turns Of the Commissioner OF the Revenue
that large majority of the liquor-deal-
ers OF this city were failing to comply
with the requirements of the law, | de-
termlned last year, as a last resort, to re-
woke the licenses Of those dealers. I did
revoke several licenses in cases Of manifest
delinquency, and would have revoked many
more but for the fact that hoped that the
Legislature, which was then about to con-
Vene, would make such amendments to the
law as would enable the courts to enforce
ii without resorting to this somewhat arbi-
trary, and certainly 10 me most Unpleasant,
exercise Of power. The Legislature having
sincethat time made but few amendments
which will, in my opinion, aid the courts at
all, must appeal to you again, gentlemen,
10 cooperate With me as far as possible in
tue enforcement OF this most important law.
And in this connection deem it proper to
give this fair warning TO the liquor dealers
OF this city. The time has now arrived for
the renewal OF their licenses.
l have determined, unless where in nv
opinion it may be improper to 90 so for any
cause, to renew all licenses for the ensuing
year. The law makes it the duty Of the
commissioner Of the Revenue to give me
his opinion IS to whether the dealer is COM
iplyins with the requirements OF the act {:
land il upon such report or other suifi-
Gent evidence It shall appear to the Court
that the dealer has failed or refused to com.
ply with the requirements OF this law. or
that the place OF business OF such dealer is
not convenient or suitable, it shall be the
duty Of the Court to rcUoke such icease.''
The monthly returns OF the Commissioners
with very simple calculation, will satisfy
any honest mind that 4 large majority o!
the dealers cannot carry on the business fol
which they are licensed, and pay the spe
cific taxes required by law, without doing
in many instances, fife times the amount o
business heretofore reported by them, a.
indicated by the register.
II the dealers will not obey the law by an,
other means, I shall feel it my duty to revoke
the license or every such delinquent, ant
when such license is revoked for that rea
son shall, unless there is some paramount
reason to show the contrary, deem the plac
licensed not such q Convenient and Suita
Die" one as lao contempLates shall be Ii
censed; and therefore refuse TO grant Ii
cense to any other person to sell at suci
place.
/ find from the reports in the Press tha
some OK the courts Of the State are refusin!
to renew the licsnscs 10 dealers fo- the en-
suing year on account OF the delinquencie
OF the past year. I have, after mature re
Election, deemed it best for the interests O
the Commonwealth and iairest to the deal
ers to give them at this time this full ant
fair warning, at the same time asSurin.
them that am fully aware Of those wh'
are and those who are not complying witt
the requirements Of the law, and that il an,
see tit 10 devolve on me the duty Of re
voking their licenses to compel the enforce
ment OF the law, while, us | have befor
stated, it will be q disagreeable duty, yet
shall net hesitate TO comply with what
believe 10 be my duty in the premises.
sincerely hope that your vigilance and thei
obedience to the law will relieve me iron
having to perform any such unpleasant duty