Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-07
THE SCOTT Law !"


The test in Ohio of the constitutionaIity
of what is known SIS the "Scott Law" is
attracting attention throughout the Union.
The hearing Of the argument is set for to-
day. Its principles have been put in issue in
q political campaign just opening in the
Buckeye State. A sketch of It's features
viii therefore be of interest. The first
section declares that the business of traffick.
ing in intoxicating liquors shall be annu-
ally assessed. and each person carrying it
on shall pay to the county, for each place,
500 per year, and for malt and vinous
liquors 500. The assessment by Section
becomes a lien upon the realty where
the liquor is sold, and no one shall sell
liquor upon land not owned by him with.
out written consent of the owner, under
penalty of a fine not exceeding 500 nor
less than SO for each day, with the alter
native of imprisonment. Section pro-
vides the method of assessing and for re-
fusal 70 furnish the Assessor with proper
information, the penalty is an increase of
the assessment to 1915 and for selling
spirituous liquors after reporting intention
TO sell malt liquors, the assessment shall
be raised to $3.50. Sections and pre-
scribe the system of making ap the assess
ment rolls and Of collecting the taxes.
Section 6 defines what trsfficking shall
mean, and excludes the filing of physi-
cians' certificates and sales for mechanical,
pharmaceutical or saoramertal purposes,
and it does not include the manufacture of
liquors and the sale by the manufacturer
in quantities of one gallon or more at one
time. Section 7 directs the segregation
to funds Of the money collected for liquor
taxes; and Section S provides for CIV.
ing notice Of the first collections and
of the enforcement of the law. Sec
ton 9 prohibits sales except by druggists
upon prescriptions, on Sunday, and closes
all saloons on thst day, and the bars OF
all hotels and restaurants. The section
gives also to cities power g TO regulate, re.
strain and prohibit ale, beer and porter
houses and all places of resort for tipping
and intemperance. But Il any municipal
corporation shall prohibits ale, beer and
porter houses. a rAtable proportion of the
tax paid by the proprietors thereof for the
unexpired portion of the year shall be re.
turned to such proprietoTs- Section 10
prohibits the sale Of liquor 10 minors with
out consent of the parent or guardian, and
Gales to those in the habit OF getting in
toxicated, or who are st the ;ims intoxi-
Gated, under penalty of fine Of from SIS
to Sloo, and Imprisonment from Eve to
thirty days. It win thus be seen that this
famous law, about which there is SO much
excitement, is by no means severe meas
ure. It simply provides very ordinary
tax, one not SO high by half IS is raE laid
in the form Of license fee IN large
number OF places In the country it closes
dram shops on Sunday; gives to cities the
right to legislats on the subject, and pre-
vents sales to nairoEs and drunkArds. It ia
by no means TIE formidable law that hss
been supposed, and why the liquor dealers
of Ohio should resent it 50 strenuously is
somewhat puzsling. Probably the clause
comforting on cities the right to prohibit
alarms them most. But 40 city csn exer.
else this privilege excsp. The people are in
strong majority who favor Prahibitiye
legislation. The law is to % tssted 4. |
once. and is now il Court en- these points
of objection taken by Its opponsnts
That it IS in violation of the rights
guaranteed BY the Federal Constitution
and the Canstitasieo Of Ohio It seuds to
impair The Obligation q contracts bss1eea