The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-30
LEGAL opt,on At shnqualak.

4 short. but interesting debate occurred
in the Senate Friday last. on q
bill 10 incorporate Shuqualak Fee
/ ME COLLEGE. The bill came from
/ the House, and like nearly all SINH
lar bills contained clause prohibiting the
sale or giving away Of Intoxicating liquors
in the vicinity Of the village The bill had
I been referred 10 the COMMITTEES on Corpor-
| ations and had been reported with the re-
COMMUNICATION that it do not pass. Sew
eraI prohibitory bills had passed. and one
| in reference TO the town Of Hohenlinden in
/ Webster county. 4 strong sentiment had
obtained in the Senate against granting
/ local prohibitory laws since there was q
general law for local option.
Mr. billiard offered an amendment strik-
| ing out that portion relating to the charter
of the College, and making it 80 read as to
be merely local prohibitory law.
He urged that the bill pass as amended,
notwithstanding the recommendation of
the Committee. He declared that the main
object was to prohibit the sale and giving
away of Intoxicating liquors. but there was
a good school there which should be pro-
tected That the petition was signed by
every man In the community except one.
That IN spite of the effort OF the citizens
to have an orderly town. liquor was sold
and much disorder was frequent lie did
not think that the Legislature could afford
to deny the appeal and petition OF 50 large
and unanimous community.
Mr.. Sykes said that the Committee had re-
ported unfavorably upon the bill for the rea-
son that there was a local option law which
afforded every community the opportunity
of deciding for itself whether liquor should
be sold in their midst or not. The Senate
had declared a sentiment opposed to the
granting of numerous local school charters
with incidental prohibition. as it was an
unnecessary interference with the natural
remedy which each community had in its
power. That prohibition IN reference to
the State University and other State insti
buttons was proper. because the interests
at stake were so general and SO great.
That while he. and he believed the commit
tee, was the friend of temperance he was
not in favor of burdening the Legislature
and taking the time which should be spent
in enacting general legislation in passing
special and local bills. That the bill pray
ing for this charter was a mere evasion, the
real thing sought being local prohibition,
and was simply whipping the devil around
the stump. 1 hat he had received letter
from gentleman of this very community
who had noticed the unfavorable recon-
mendation of the committee, asking if it
was possible that their petition was to be
ignored? The Senator read to the Senate
the reply he had written to this gentleman,
in which he set forth the views given
above.
Mr.. billiard rose and said that as litera-
ry effort the document the gentleman had
just read was a very creditable production.
But it did not apply to the matter before
the Senate. That the local option law did
prohibit the sale of intox eating liquors;
that such liquors could be sold by the gal
lon, and were so sold notwithstanding the
community had declared against retailing
as provided by the law alluded to- That in
spite of the efforts of the citizens the or
der and behavior of the place was deplor-
able. The Senator (Mr Sykes) had said
that the sense of the Senate was against
the granting of such special legislation.
He would call the attention of the Senator
to the bill the Senate had passed only that
morning in favor of Hohenlinden. He
was rather of the opinion that that was a
precedent in favor of this bill. He hoped
the earnest wish of these citizens to be en-
abled to protect themselves would be re-
spected.
Mr.. Sykes said that if this thing was
continued and made precedent it would
enable few men who proposed to organ
ize a school to defeat the wishes of large
ma jority-a few individuals could in this
way destroy the trade of thriving city
such as his own city of Columbus. The
practice was wrong in itself and the pre-
cedent should not be set.
Mr.. billiard said the Senator continued
to address himself to the charter of the Fe-
male College which had been stricken from
the bill. If the Senator must discuss the
bill let him speak to it as it now stood.
Mr.. Sykes said then he was opposed to
special legislation when general law,
such as the local option law, could reach
the case.
Mr. Packwood hoped the bill would pass
as it had been clearly shown by the Sena-
tor from the 18th District (Mr. Dillard)
that local option had failed to meet the
emergency.
Mr.. Mitchell hoped the bill would pass,
for three reasons: LIST, because every man
in the community except one wanted it.
I'd, because the Senator from 10Th District,
(Mr. Dillard) said it was the drunkest
place in the county and it was time it was
SOLDERING up. Sd. because the Senator from
the 18th District Mr.. Sykes said it was
whipping the devil around the stump, and
he was in favor of whipping the devil every
time you got chance, even if you had to
do it around the stump.
Mr.. holland thought, like Mr.. Sykes, that
the bill ought not to pass for the reason
that there was general law of which the
compliments could avail themselves.
Mr.. Burkitt said he was strictly temper
ate man; he was never drunk in his life,
and never expected to be; he was as much
opposed to drunkenness as any Senator on
this floor, but he was opposed to muzzling
a whole community, because few men
abuse privilege.