Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-01-15
The Dixon Liquor Bill.
Henderson Journal


Doubtless no question will be more
prominently before our present Cen
eral Assembly than the liquor ques-
ton, and it is very much to be de-
sired and hoped that something of
a definite and beneficial nature will
be done relative thereto. Among
those who thoughtfully consider the
nature of the liquor traffic in our
State, and who candidly acknowledge
the many evils attendant thereto, and
sincerely desire some adequate reme-
dy thereto, two theories prevail pro-
ducing on the one hand the idea and
doctrine of prohibition" on the 9TH
er that of "High License" Without
entering upon an extended consid-
Grafton of the arguments pro and con
put forth by the advocates of these
two doctrines we certainly believe
that should the law introduced by
Senator Ii. G. Dixon be enacted, it,
reasonably enforced, will, in con-
nection with the operations of the
"Local Option Law" now upon our
statue books, which the Dixon law
leaves entact. will nigh suppress, II
not exterminate, the more obvious
and lamentable evils now prevalent as
the direct results of the liquor traffic.
The Senator's measure is compre
hensive, embracing the whole traffic
in Intoxicating liquors; it is method
ical, clearly defining and classifying
those who may lawfully traffic there
in and seem to handle the whole
matter in detail, in thoroughly sys
tematic manner. A brief analysis o
the bill shows that those who ma!
lawfully traffic in intoxicants ar
classified as follows: a. Dram
shop keepers. e. Retail liquor mer
chants. (3.) Wholesale liquor mer
chants. a. Druggists and pharma
cists. The dram shop keepers ma
sell in quantities less than quar-
Retail li0aor merchants may sell i
quantities from a quart up to tie
gallons, not to be drunk upon tn
premises. Wholesale liquor mel
chants may sell in quantities not les
than ten gallons. Druggists an
pharmacists may sell, on prescril
ton ofphysician for medical purpose
only, and in quantities not moi
than one gallon.
With the dram-shop keeperit dea
as follows: He must procure of I'll
county judge a license, paying Their
for into the State Treasury $500 p
year for the privilege Of dealing
all intoxicants; $3.50 per year to sc
malt liquors only. In addition Their
to if he desires to carry on his bus
ness in any city, town or village il
corporated, he must procure hcen
from the corporate authorities, pa
ing therefor into the Treasury SUI
sum as the authorities may fix thel
for, not however less than $3.50 ?
annum for privilege of dealing in
intoxicants; or 500 per year whe
only malt liquors are sold.
The wholesale and retail liqu
merchants will procure license of
County Judge paying therefor il
the State Treasury s. per Q
nun, and before carrying on tn
business in any city, town or villa
additional license must be secur
of the corporate authorities and
tax therefor paid into the munich
Treasury of not less than s.
annum. The amounts left bla
above will be filled with appropri
sums by Senator Dixon after cons
tatlon with his brother Legislators
The druggist and pharmacist m
procure license of the Comfy Jud
but no State tax is required to
paid by him. He must also exec
bond to the Commonwealth Def
the County Judge. Municipal
thorities are left free to regul
druggists and pharmacists to dea
intoxicants but not so as to conf
with the provision of the Dixon Ii
Appropriate penalties are denou
ed against those selling without
cense, against those selling to infa
or inebriates, and against drugg
for selling otherwise than for mt
cal purposes and upon prescriptl
and appropriate remedies by Z
action are given everyone injured
person, property or means of SUPP
by the selling or furnishing any
son with intoxicants.
The act expressly preserves I'M
the "Local Option Law" of 1874,
prohibits anyone granting a lice
to traffic in any intoxicating liqu
in any place whatever where s
traficis prohibited by law.