Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-04-16
The New license Law.

The New License Law.
Perhaps no law enacted in recent
years in this state has provoked so much
comment and elected so much inquiry
as the one passed by our last legislature
relative to the sale of intoxicating liq-
uors. So many persons have desired in
formation in regard to the time when it
IS to go into operation, and regarding
the provisions, effect, ETC., of this law,
that we have decided to give brief
summary of its provisions.
There are two parties specially inter-
ested in the provisions of this new
license law, the party fixing the license
the voters, board or council-and the
party to whom the license is granted
liquor dealer or pharmacist. Let us
look at the duties Of each separately:
First, the party licensing. The town
boards, village boards and common
councils of the various towns, villages
and cities have the power to grant or
withhold licenses. Licenses granted,
aside from druggists permits, may be
OF two kinds-for the sale of liquor to
be drank on tho premises (saloon Ii
cense), and for the sale in larger guam
titles, not to be drank on the premises
(wholesale license). The law fixes the
minimum for the latter at 5000. For
the former at 800 in towns not having
within their limits any city or village,
incorporated or unincorporated, with
population of 500 or over. In all other
towns, and in cities and villages, the
minimum shall be 5000.
In response to a request signed by
twelve voters, the clerk of any city,
village or town, shall give notice of a
special election to be held the third
Tuesday of September, for the purpose
of determining the amount of saloon
license to be assessed in such city, vii
lage or town, and no other question
shall! be submitted at the same election.
In towns where the minimum has been
stated as 800 the electors may increase
such sum to either $3.50 or $500; and in
towns, cities or villages where 5000 is
the fixed minimum the electors may
make the license either $3.50 or $500.
The ballots used in this election shall
be on plain white paper and shall read:
"To be paid for license, s." the
blank to be filled with one of the three
amounts at which every town, village
or city, is at liberty to fix the license.
The law specifies clearly as to how the
result of the election is to be determined.
The amount thus fixed will be the
amount of saloon license for such town,
village or city, for the three years next
succeeding the first Tuesday in May
next thereafter Since such elections
cannot be held till next September, the
various boards or councils may and are
in duty bound to fix the license to be
paid for the year ending the first Tues
day of May, 1886, at any sum between
the two extremes provided for their re-
spective towns, villages or cities.
The boards or councils are authorized
to grant permits to registered pharma-
cists at $40, such permits TO terminate
at the same time as the licenses. The
duties of the pharmacist are specified
in the law.
Second, The party licensed: The appli-
cant for a license must make his appli-
cation in writing, stating the kind of
license asked for-saloon or Wholesale
and designating the place where the
liquor is to be sold. Such license shall
be attested by the town, city or village
clerk, and shall not be delivered until
the applicant shall produce and file with
the clerk receipt showing the payment
of the sum required therefor to the
proper town, village or city treasurer,
and until the filing with such clerk of
the bond provided for. The new law
does not repeal that part of the old re-
lating to punishment for violation of the
statutes, but adds q section which is
easily understood.
Section provides that all acts or
parts of acts in conflict with the provi-
sions of this act are hereby repealed,
except that nothing herein contained
shall be construed to diminish the sum
to be paid for license in any city or VIII
lage in this state, as provided by the
charter or ordinance thereof and sec
ton Z, that this law shall 90 into effect
Immediately upon its passage and pub
LEGATION, that is, it is now in effect.