The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-03-24
AN EFFEoT1vE LIQUOR Law

During the past two decades several
States in the Union have, through
their legislatures, attempted to pro-
hibit or restrict the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors within their boundaries.
Stringent prohibitory laws have been
enacted by some states, while Others
have endeavored to restrict its use by
high licenses. In the main prohibit
tory laws have proved failure. None
have yet been placed upon statute
books that did not leave q loop-hole
through which the bibulously in
clined could look upon the wine
when it was red or satisfy his cravings
for strong drink. This fact has led
the more thoughtful to apply another
remedy to restrict its use. This RENE
dy has been found in imposing a Ii
cense which would confine its sale to
q very limited number of places. The
amount of the license exacted is so
great that it efectually shuts up the
lower groggeries and cuts off the sale
of cheap whisky at cheap prices, thus
decreasing The number of saloons and
raising the character Of those remain
ing.
Nebraska affords a striking exam
pie of the efficacy Of a high license
law in regulating and restricting the
sale Of intoxicating liquors. Under
its operation drunkenness and its
numerous resultant crimes have d.
minished in a marked degree. It's
main features are as follows:
First. A license may be granted
only on the petition of thirty free
holders who testify to the respectable
character Of the grantee: Two weeks
notice of this application must be
published in a newspaper, and if 4ny
objection il made to the granting of
the license, and it is proved that the
proposed grantee has broken the law
within a year, the license is not
granted.
Second. Every liquor seller must
give a bond, with two sureties, for
5000, and no person may become
surety on more than one bond.
Third. Fines are imposed as fol-
lows: For selling to a minor, $25 for
each offence; for selling to an Indian,
insane person or an idiot, SIS for
each offence !; for selling without
license, from 800 to $500, or a
months imprisonment in the county
jail : for selling adulterated liquor of
any sort, 500; fo- ing IN Sunday,
500.
Fourth. A minor who falsely
represents his age for the purpose of
obtaining liquor is fined $40.
Fifth-The person SO licensed shall
pay all damages that the community
or individuals may sustain in conse-
quence of such traffic, he shall sup
port all paupers, widows and Or
phans, and the expenses of all civil
and criminal prosecutions growing
out of, or justly attributed to, his
traffic in intoxicating drinks.
Sixth-Any married woman may
bring suit against the liquor seller
for damages suffered by reason of a
sale Oh his part, and the money re-
covered goes to her and her children.
Seventh-The amount of the license
is fixed at not less than 5000 in viii
lagos and cities of less than 10000 pop
ulation, and not less than 81, 900 in
cities of over 10000 inhabitants.
Eighth-Strict provisions are in
serted in regard to sale by druggists.
They must keep an open register of
all liquor sold, and if they violate the
law they incur a fine Of from $40 to
500 and an imprisonment in the
county Jail of from ten to thirty days
No screens, blind doors, or any sort
of concealment are allowed in any
place where drink is sold.
The testimony of those who have
noted the workings of this law unite
in declaringi it has accomplished more
than was expected of it. In Omaha
the number of saloons is reduced to
eighty from over twice that number
which existed before its passage.
These eighty saloons have paid $780,
600 in the school fund, a sum which
is contributed by those who are gen.
quite able to pay it. The great
decrease of drunkenness among the
poorer classes is the most markedand
trustworthy feature of the law. This
fact alone will invite the serious at
tention of temperance people to the
Nebraska liquor law.