Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-27

Many of the provisions of the bill are
salutary and proper, but some of them are
wholly impracticable, and in the event of
their adoption they would be found to de-
feat the object presumably in view-the
regulation of the traffic.
The license fee named in the bill-not
less than $4O0-amounts to practical pro-
hibition in every part of the State outside
of the cities of st. Paul and Minneapolis,
for saloon-keepers in tho smaller villages
and cities could not afford to pay so oner-
Gus tax. 1t might prove beneficial in
the cities named by reducing the
number of saloons-driving out of exist
ence the smaller and more disreputable
resorts, and limiting the business to those
who could give guarantee that they would
keep respectable places. The requiring Of
bonds from those engaged in the business
is not Objectionable except that it would
be likely that these bonds would be mere
formality of no binding effect, as is the
case in other states.
One of the chief objections to the bill is
the labor it imposes upon the justices of
the peace and judges of district courts.
They are required to take cognisance Of
every objection chat may be made by any
citizen to the granting of license to or
the continued sale of liquors by any per-
son whatever. This of itself would
require the undivided time and
attention of at least half dozen
judges in st. Paul, and largely increase the
Iabors of the justices and judges in every
part of the state. The judges, too, are re-
CURED to decide questions of fact entirely
out of their province. They are also re-
quired to decide when the community or
individuals shall have sustained damage
growing out of or justly attributed to the
traffic in Intoxicating drinks''-a task that
is impossible for any one, no matter how
astute or learned he may be.
The provisions requiring individual
saloon keepers to support all paupers,
widows and orphans who may reach such
condition directly or indirectly through
their traffic, opens a very wide door for i'm
poeition. Every man who, by improvi-
dence and neglect of business, is reduced
to want, can, under this provision, claim
perpetual support from any person who
may have at any time sold or given him
drink of liquor, and every widow whose
husband has ever drank, even in moder-
alton, would have claim for like support.
tits safe to say that in the course of year
or two, if this law should go into effect,
the saloon keepers and druggists would be
saddled with the support of half the popu-
lation, for that proportion are either pau
pers, widows or orphans, as there
is no limit placed upon
the age at which man
or a woman may cease to be an orphan. Of
like character is the fourteenth section.
Its Indebtedness will defeat its purpose
by imposing hardships and injustice upon
dealers in spirituous liquors. The nine
teenth section, too, offers a premium to
perjury by authorizing judges to remit
fines for drunkenness in case the person
accused shall reveal under oath the man
from whom the liquor which made him
drunk was obtained. The provision of
the twentieth section, prohibiting screens
or blinds upon doors or windows of sa-
looms is too silly to require comment.
Nine-tenths of those who drink make no
secret of it, and would as lief take their
rotations in public as in private.
The bill as whole is simply declara-
ton of outlawry against dealers in spiritu
GUS liquors. 1t may be that they are out
laws and should be driven from every
community, but if so why make pretense
of licensing their traffic at all? Why not
tell them in so many words that they are
conducting an illegitimate business and
must quit 1t? The subterfuge Of pretend
ing to license the liquor traffic under such
conditions as are imposed upon it by this
bill is unworthy of the Legislature, and the
bill is undeserying of Iteration.