Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-11-19
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
LfCNNSN rs PROHIBIrYOM
Report of the Special Committee on IN,
sennIe Eicen.e niII.


Senate License BiII.
Following is the report of the special
committee of three senator's to whom was
referred the Valentine license bill The re
port was submitted in the Senate last Sat
urday morning:
We consider the true object Of legisla-
ton upon this subject to be TO adopt such
laws as will most elfectually restrain and
prevent the sale of all intoxicants as a bev-
erage. We find that our present prohibito-
ry law has been in force for a period of
about "a years that it has constantly been
changed, receiving strengthening additions
and enlargement of application with con
stantly increasing penalties for its infrac-
ton, until human ingenuity has been almost
exhausted in the effort to make its provis-
ions eiIectual to accomplish the fact Of net
ual prohibition. Every feature Of prohib-
itOry law asked by the most Jealous advo-
Gates of prohibitory legislation has been
freely adopted and money, effort, teach
ing and Legislation have been expended with
lavish generosity to secure its enforcement.
but notwithstanding all this we are inform
ed 10y our governor in his inaugural mes
sage That the laws of the state ON this
subject are in many places openly viulated
cret and that in some instances. too nu-
merous to he contemplated without concern,
those upon whom has been, or is, imposed
the sworn duty of its faithful execution.
are its violators and are blind or Indifferent
to its violation by others, is also but too well
known That this language is fully just-
fed by the facts no one can justly deny.
Painful as the truth may be- the fact re
mains that with all efforts and law expend-
ed upon the subject, the body of our pro
hibitory legislation is in practical effect but
local option law enforced as "A prohibito-
~ law where public sentiment will admit
of its being done, and resulting in free
sales of Intoxicating liquors where public
sentiment does not procure its enforcement :
and with this painful truth comes another
equally SO, which is that public sentiment
sufficient for the enforcement Of the law
exists in but few of our towns aud villages,
and that in nearly all of them the sale of
liquor is practically free and Unrestricted
This experience is not confined 10 our state
From Names most earnest temperance al
vocate comes the dcspairing cry that her.
pruhihitory law is failure and from all
states of long experience in temperance
Legislation where the semblance of prohibi-
ton now remains, comes similar testimony /:
and many have abandoned prohibition which
does not prohibit and adopted stringent
laws TO restrain and regulate that which
experience shows cannot be completely de
strOyed.
In view Of these facts the minds Of many
of our most earnest temperance people have
become convinced that some radical change
is necessary; Indeed the evil is such as to
cause the formation Of IA new political party
which makes this subject the only one for
Its consideration, cumulative prohibiturv
laws having proved Intellectual. many now
believe that the traffic can be- best controlled
10y the enactment of some well guarded law
containing the best known features Of self
enforcement whereby the sale Of intoxicat-
ing liquors under careful restrictions may
be permitted in towns that desire 10 ADOPT
its provisions. This view Is shared by all
classes. Business men. employers of labor
temperance advocates and workers of un-
questionable integrity Of purpose the reli-
gious as well as the secular press Of the
land men high in official positions in the
government of our state and nation men
Of great experience in the manner Of the
enforcement Of our prohibitory law. like
the Judges Of our courts and the oldest and
wisest Of our practicing lawyers and even
distinguished members of the clergy often
giving free expression to the thought.
Painful as these facts may be to your minds.
your committee can but declare their truth
and report their judgment upon calm re
Election thereon
We deem this bill in effect a local option
law providing for prohibition with increased
penalties in towns where the public voice
will SO decide. and for carefully regulated
sales Of Intoxicating liquors 10y responsible
persons. under arbitrary rules and close re
strictiOns where license is demanded bv the
people.
1t is substantially the law that has long
been in force in Nebraska, and its main
features have been adopted in some other
states Of the Union. The practical work
ing OF inns law where II Is IN existence has
resulted III marked decrease IN the sale
ana use oil ardent spirits.