Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1885-07-03
The "LOcal Option" Law.

sell any spurious, fermented or intoxicat-
ing liquors of any origin whatever, or al
coholic bitters, at any time, within the
limits of Charles county in this State shall
be submitted to the registered and quail
fed voters of said county at an election to
be held on the first Tuesday, being the
fourth day of Angus, 1885, 1t may not
therefore be improper for US this much in
advance of the submission Of the question
to inform our readers of the fact
1t is provided in the act, which was en-
acted at the last session, that notices of
the special election at which the question
shall be submitted, together with a copy
of the act shall be published by the sher-
if in two newspapers published in the
county, and by handbills, at least ten days
before the said election. As the question
to be determined is. however, one of more
than ordinary Importance, it is desirable
hat the people should have longer notice
of the coming election in order to be abe
to form a correct judgment upon the ques-
ton.
The law provides that if it shall appear
thet a majority of all the votes &C ually
cast in the county, at such election shall
be against the sale of intoxicating liquors
then it shall not be law ful for any person
&c, ''to sell, directly or indirectly, at any
place, or to give away at his, her. their or
its place of business, within the limits of
said county, any spurious, fermented or
Intoxicating liquors of any origin what
ever, or alcoholic bitters, after the first day
of May, 1885," but if a majority of all the
votes actually cast at such election shall
be in favor of the sale of inioxicaring Ii
quors, then the same shall be sold as now
permitted by law in said county. Il is
also further provided that. if majority
of the votes actually cast IN any election
district of the county at such election shall
be against the sale of intoxicating liquors,
then it shall not be lawful 10 sell a, any
place in such election district, or for any per-
son or corporation to give away at their
or its place of business in such election dis
trict any Intoxicating liquors &c, after the
first day of May, 1886. The penalty for a
violation of the law, if it shall be adopted,
will be tor the first offence fine of not
less than $50, nor more than $500, or i'm
prisonment in the county Jail tor not less
than 80 days, or both in the discretion of
the court; and on the second and every
subsequent conviction fine of not less
than 800 nor more than $500 and. in ad-
dition to such fine, imprisonment in the
county Jail for not less than 80. nor more
than 90 days, in the discre ion of the court.
From the foregoing it will oe seen that
if majority of the votes actually cast in
the county at such election shall be against
the sac OF liquor, regardless of whe her or
not the votes thus cast represent jor-
ity or minority of the qualified voters of
the county, the prohibition law will 90
into operation in every election district of
VIZ SOoossf Vi "uaI udNC
been the vote upon the question ia the sew
1fat d's'1ic icss, Dl1 that II there shall DE more
votes cast in any ore district against the
sale OF liquor Than in favor OF it, then the
prohibition law shall go into operation
within the limits of such election district,
even although the majority of the votes
cast in the county shall be in favor of the
continued sale of liquor. 1t will also be
perceived that if the law shall be adopted
the sale of liquor in the county after the
date specified, at any pLtce and the giriag
aocay by any person or corporation at his
or their own place Of business, will be made
penal.
We have deemed it proper thus in ad-
vance of the official publication required
by law to give our readers a summary OF
the chief points of this act of assembly, in
order that all may form an intelligent and
mature judgment regarding the merits of
the question and the result and operation
of the "local option" law if adopted. We
have not deemed it necessary, and conse-
quently proper, for the TINES to say any
thing upon the merits of this question:
Temperance is certainly a most commend
able and far reaching virtue and lntemper-
ance most degrading and debasing vice.
Whether or not productive law is the
proper or most effective method of pro-
mo ing the former and restraining the lat
ter. and whether or not the local option
system of putting such laws In operation
is the proper method, are questions upon
which we do not deem it necessary to ex-
press any opinion at present.