Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-05-07
Massachusetts "GeneraI Court"


The centennial session of the Massachu-
sets legislature closed on Wednesday OF
last week. The session has been much
shorter than the average of recent years,
while the amount of business transacted is
said to have been greater, and of better
quality. Prominent among its acts was the
adoption of resolve providing for biennial
elections and sessions, which measure, if
approved by the next Legislature, and then
adopted by popular vote, becomes the law
of the state. Much attention was appro-
priately given to retrenchment and economy
in state expenses, and an annual saving has
been effected, it is estimated, of quarter
of million dollars in the matter of salaries
and fees and the abolition OF Offices.
Another measure of marked interest was
the giving to women the right to vote for
school committees. But perhaps the most
important act of the Legislature was the
adoption of stringent civil damage liquor
law, which frightens some Of the real estate
owners in Boston and elsewhere. It i'm
poses no liability for damages upon the
lessor during the continuance of any lease
executed before the passage of the law, but
no license can be granted for the sale of
liquors in any building under lease without
the written consent of the owner or lessor.
This provision will doubtless tighten some
what the labors of the aldermen in deciding
upon applications for licenses. So import
ant do we regard this law that we give the
text in full below:
SECTION livery husband, wife, child, parent,
guardian, employer, or other person, who shall
he injured in person or property, or means oil sup
port by any intoxicated person, or in consequence
of the intoxication, habtual or otherwise, of any
person, shall have right of action IN his or her
own name, severally or jointly, against any per-
persons who shall, by selling or giving In
toxicating liquors, have caused the intoxicaton,
in whole or in part, of such person. and any per-
son or persons owning, renting, leasing, or per-
hitting the occupation OF any building or prem
Uses, and having knowledge that intox cating
liquors are to be sold therein, or who, having
leased the same for other purposes, shall know
ingly permit therein the sale of any Intoxicating
liquors, shall, II any such liquors sold or given
have caused, IN whole or in part the intoxication
of any person. be liable, severally or jointly, with
the person persons selling or giving intoxicat-
ing liquors as aforesaid, for all damages sustained,
ana tne same may De recovered III an uctlon Ol
tort proUided however, that owner or lessor of
any building or premises held under lease at the
date of the passage Of this act, shall be liable,
under the provisions Of this act, for any damage
resulting from the lawful sale or giving away of
spirituous intoxicating liquors on said premises
during the term of such lease. married woman
may bring such action in her own name and all
damages recovered by her shall inure to her sep
arate use; and all damages recovered by minor,
under this act, shall be paid either to such minor,
or to such person, in trust for him, and on such
terms, as the court may direct. In case OF the
death of either party, the action, and right OF
action, shall survive to against his executor or
administrator
SECTION 2-No license for the sale OF intoxicat-
ing liquors shall hereafter be granted without the
consent in writing Of the owner or lessor OF the
building or premises upon which the business is
to be conducted, and the paper containing said
written consent shall be kept on file by the clerk
of the city or town in which said license is issued
SECTION 3-Any owner or lessor OF real estate
who shall pay any money on account of his liza
bty incurred under this act for any act OF his
tenant may, in an action of contract, recover of
said tenant the money SO paid.