Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1879-02-21

That there Is to be a change in the
liquor license laws Of tn state, ap-
pears probable, but that the change
will be in favor Of the Temperance side
Of the question i doubtful. The COM
nittee to which the various bills and
petitions in relation to TEN p-ranCe leg
islation were referred, has reported to
the House what is considered strin-
gent license bill, but with thu local OPP
ton clause omitted. As this clause
was what the temperance people want
cd more than anything else, the bill is
stripped Of that which gave j. life and
vivacity, and il becomes now but bill
to Increase the revenues OF the state.
The till does away with all p-tltioning
At a certain specified time for license to
sell liquors, and it also does away with
the recommends atoms OF a dozen or two
of what are called reputable citizens.
who are willing to certify that the ap-
plhant is fully qualified to sell liquor.
The applicant has only to apply in per
son 20 tn Clerk OF the Peace, the
saus az a tradesman or a manufactu-
rsr, plank down whatever license fee
is required, get his license parchment
and depart on his way rejoicing.
II - said also that the bill has
other little safeguards, such a. entering
into bond Of u 900 with -ure.ies, to
he Responsible for any personsl damage
that may result from the sale of liquor
by the person who is licensed; also that
the bill has h.svy fines and imprison-
m-nt clauses, to punish for violations
of the law, and it IL said that possibly
\ comfy detective may be provided
for to enforce the law. We say these
are said to bs the principal points con-
tanned in tn. bill, but how many OF
them will he in it, II It ever passes the
Legislature, is one of those things which
nobody knows. However, We think
that the bill has many good points in
II, and enc OF the best is that it creates
no monopoly Of liquor sellers. Anybody
providing he or she has the money to
pay for the license and somebody TO 20
on their bonds, can set up shop and go
into the business.
This law is peculiar in that it seems
to please the liquor men and the tenn
perance men, and this being the case
there should be no drawback to its
passage. Ii has been . long time since
the liquor men and the temperance
men have been able to strike hands to-
gether and meet upon the same plat
form. We cannot See, however, how the
new law can be any more beneficial to
the morals OF the community than the
old one, for We cannot See how il will
decrease the sale Of liquor. We are re-
minded that the punishment fort vio-
lation Of the law is greater, and that in
consequence of high license FEC and
security being required there will no,
near 81 many engage in the traffic.
This may I've true, but instead Of de-
creasing the sale Of liquor it will only
concentrate it into licensed houses, 30
that all that is drank will bs drank
strictly in accordance with law. Tha,
ths improved law will result in a. great
" revenue to the State il plainly to be
seen, and this, after all, we doubt not
is the controlling motive in the minds
OF our Legislators. One thing is GER
tain, no legislation can make it worse
than it now is, and if the liquor men
ar satisfied, the temperance men ought
to be, and 50 let the lion and the lamb
lie down together and let Us have peace.