The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-07-25
The High License System.

Inc High License system.
The legislature of Illinois has just
passed law for restraining and taxing
theliquor traffic in that state by what is
known as "the high license system"
All licenses hereafter throughout the
state for the sale of spirits and wines are
to be granted on payment of license fee
at the rate of five hundred dollars a year,
and all licenses for beers are fixed at the
rate OF one hundred and fifty dollars
year. The Nebraska law puts the license
fee OF cities of certain grade at one
Thousand dollars year, and five hun
dred dollars for all other places. The
law OF Iowa permits cities and towns to
fix the amount of the license fee, and the
consequence is that there is no uniform
rule on the subject. In some places it is as
low as seventy-fve dollars, and in others
it is as high as one thousand dollars,
while there has been very large in
crease in the average amount throughout
the state and a very considerable reduc-
ton in the number of liquor sellers.
The testimony, as to results, is that the
"hlgh license system" as thus far tried
in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Michi-
gan, has been beneficial to the cause of
temperance, and has also made the liquor
traffic yield an increased revenue to the
state. 1t is, perhaps, too soon to come to
final conclusion as to the ultimate ef-
feet, and yet the system, even if regarded
as an experiment, has the appearance of
being at least step in the right direc-
ton. ANYTHING that will restrain the
liquor traffic, though it may not wholly
prevent it, and thereby lessen the evils re-
sulting therefrom, is so far good, and is
certainly much better than practically
free rum, either with no license at all or
one 80 cheap as to amount to almost moth
ing in the way of restraint.
The theory of every license system,
whether high or low, is that the business
of selling Intoxicating liquors, unlike the
traffic in the ordinary commodities which
the people need to buy, is attended with
serious evils to the general community,
and that for this reason this traffic should
be dealt with by special provisions of
law. There is no doubt about the fact
upon which the theory rests. A sad and
awful experience proves it. Nor can there
be any doubt as to the right of society to
interpose the restraints of law, either to
prevent the traffic altogether or to restrict
it within the narrowest practicable linn
its. That something should be done that
is remedial and corrective in its nature,
is the universal judgment of all good and
sensible people, as well as the implication
of every license law that was ever en-
acted. 1t has never been the object of
such legislation to promote and encourage
the liquor traffic. The design is just the
reverse. We are not to reason from the
mere word I" license" but to look at the
thing intended and to Judge of this thing
by its adaptation to the end sought. That
which will most effectually secure the end,
whether we call it license or prohibition,
or anything else, is the best means to EN-.
ploy. The practical result is always the
great point to be kept in mind.
Let us, then, say that, theoretically, we
fully believe in the principle of prohibi
ton; and if the question depended simply
upon our choice and power, we would ap
ply it everywhere and would everywhere
interdict both the manufacture and sale
of intoxicating liquors, except for pur
poses that have no connection with the
drinking habits of the people. We would
not have the accursed thing in the com
mon market at all as the means and facil
, ity of intempersnce. This is, and fol-
years has been, our individual view, otter
, expressed in these columns and here W.
are in perfect accord with the prohibi
, tionists.
We remember, however, that public
sentiment in this country makes the Law
and upholds 1t, and that no law, simply
because it is in the statute book, or ever
| in the constitution of state, can hav'
any practical force except as it is sus
tanned by a predominant public senti
ment. If, then, public sentiment has no
: been educated in given state up to thu
point of prohibition, but has been edu
} Gated up to that of high license system
. and If, as the consequence, it will sustain
8 the latter, but will neither adopt nor sus
: tain the former, we shall give our heart,
support to the high license system as bet
2 ter than free rum and no license, and bet
+ ter than low license, and as the bes
thing practicable in the circumstance
t and for the time being. 1t is certainly goo
8 as far as it goes, and if vigorously enforced
Q will achieve large amount of good. w
8 propose to get that good, and not declin
, to receive it, or throw it away, or de
: nounce the agency that procures it, sim
= ply because we cannot get more. d
this ground we are heartily glad tina
Illinois has just passed as good law a
Q she has passed, and earnestly hope tina
:, the whole temperance force in that stat
Q will not only sustain the law, but tax
q special pains to see that it 10 thorough
j enforced. The law is step forwart
Q and, as the means to an end, is of impor
J, ance to the cause of temperance in tina
o state. We wish that as good law wa
/, enacted in this state, and its success i
9 Illinois, as we'll as in other states, woul
IS undoubtedly contribute to the attainment
q of this very desirable end.