Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1881-02-10
COLUMBUS LETTER,

February I, 1851 }
Since my last, up to this time, petit
tlons have been coming in by the thou
sands, asking the Legislature to pass a
local option anti-liquor law. Mr.. Kings
bill for that object was made the special
order for the 8th inst. tomorrow. There
will be sharply contested fight on this
bill. The option principle, that is the
right of the people to say whether they
will or will not permit the traffic in any
article that is injurious to the citizens
of neighborhood, is in my judgment
correct, but am confident that the bill
will not pass in this House, and II it
could its chance for its life in the other
end of the Capitol is worse than in this ;
but we will see tomorrow if vote on
the bill can be reached. If we cannot
secure the enactment of an option, what
then should be the policy of the friends
of temperance reform? five can't kill
the monster, would it not be the next
best thing to scotch him-to cripple him
so that he will be unable to carry on his
destructive business to the alarming eX-
tent that he is now doing? But the
friends of temperance startle at almost
any proposition short of absolute pro-
hibition; this | should rejoice to see
done, but confess to having doubts Of
the possibility Of such a result during
this generation.
The best thing that has yet been intro
duced in the Legislature is the bill in
trOduced in the Senate by Senator Pond, :,
chairman of the judiciary committee,
and that is to tax it after the fashion Of
the Michigan law. give herewith
some OF the provisions of the bill, which
are as follows:
When his place Of business is located
not within any village or city nor with
in one mile thereof, 800; when within
village having population of less
than two thousand, and by the next
preceding Federal census, within one
mile thereof 5000. When within any
city Of the second class or within one
mile thereof, $500, and when within
any city of the flrst-class or within one
mile thereof, 81 900.
SEC. 2. Every person engaged In such
traffic, and every person hereafter en-
gaging therein, shall, at the time fixed
by the preceding section for making
said first payment into the County
Treasury, execute to the State Of Ohio
his penal bond in a sum not exceeding
$4,000, with at least two sureties resi-
dent Of the county, and each owning
thei EN- freehold estate not exempt from
execution worth at least double the
amount of the bond above membranes
which bond shall have indorsed thereon
pertinent description Of the lot or
premises, wherein said traffic Is, or
shall be carried on, together with the
name of its owner, the amount of which |
bond shall be fixed by, and the sureties
thereon be to the acceptance Of the
Probate Judge Of the county, who shall
keep and record the same, together with
the Endorsement thereon In book to be
by him kept for that purpose; which
bond shall be conditioned for the faith
ful performance Of all and singular the
requirements of this act, and the Pro
bate Judge shall receive In each case
for his services under this act, to be
paid by the persons giving such bond,
the sum of 81.
There are provisions in the bill which
have not room to give here, which
guard the rights Of the people and
which provide for the enforcement Of
ts p DIVISIONS. The last sections Of the
bill read as follows:
SIC. 8. The Prosecuting Attorney
shall institute civil actions on all such
bonds given under this act MS shall have {
become forfeited, for which, as well as
Tor all fines and costs, he shall be en-
titled TO reserve as fees ten per cent.
II all sums by him collected thereon
lfter process commenced.
SEC. 10. All funds paid into the
county Treasury under the provisions
II this act, after deductlng thereirOm
he costs aud expenses Of collection !
hall be applied to the relief Of the poor
" hose destitutlOn has arisen from the
lse Of or traffic in Intoxicating liquors,
md other poor.
SEC. H.. For the purpose of paying
he assessment fixed, and giving the I
,Ond required by this act, and for no
,ther purpose hereunder, firm or v
may be treated and con- d
idered as one person and the sale Of q
liquors In good faith for s
lurely medical purposes shall not be n
eemed traffic within the meaning Of n
his act. 0
SIC. IL. Nothing In this act shall op- c
rate 10 repeal, supersede or impair any e
Xisllng statute or any provision thereof. 0
Gen. Pond, the author Of the bill, is ,
strong friend Of temperance, and was !
ormerly Attorney General Of the State. :
Speaker Cowgirl and other friends Of c
have invited Hon. B. Dun !
eld, Of Detroit, to address the men, !
ers Of the legislature on the subject Of d
axation, and he has consented to do so d
n Wednesday, the 9th inst. He helped Il
Q draft the Michigan law, aud under .
lands lis workings in that State, where y
has closed up twO-thlrds Of the dram
hops.
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