The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-05-30

The supreme court having decided
that the people cannot, at present, have
prohibition, no matter how ardently
they desire it, it is well that the tax law
remains, with its many and stringent
restrictions on the business of liquor
selling. Every restriction contained in
that law ought to be rigidly enforced
until such time as a better statute can
be secured. Common councils should
fix the amount of bonds at the highest
figure, $4,000, and be sure that none
but men who are amply able are
accepted as bondsmen. The following
are some of the more prominent fea-
lures of the present law: Every retail
dealer in spirituous or mixed liquors
must pay "A tax of $500, and every dealer
in malt liquors only must pay tax of
$500. This provision does not apply to
the manufacture and sale of domestic
wine and cider, unless such beverages
be sold by the drink or in small quanti-
ties. Every dealer must give bond
not to sell to any minor, nor to any
intoxicated person, nor to any person
in the habit of getting intoxicated, nor
to any person when forbidden in writ
ing to do SO by the husband, wife,
parent, child, guardian or employer of
such person, or by the supervisor of the
township, mayor of the city, director or
superintendent of the poor, president
or trustee of the village, and to pay all
damages. actual and exemplary, that
may be adiudged against him by reason
of "A violation of any of the conditions
of such bond Each surety on any
such bond must swear that he is not
engaged in the liquor traffic, either as
male resident and freeholder of the
municipality in which such bond is
offered, that he is not an officeholder,
and that he is worth in real estate stu
ate within the county where such bust
ness is to be carried on, sum equal to
the amount of the bond over and above
all indebtedness and exemptions, and
if, in the judgment of the board, such
sureties, or either of them, are not
worth such sum, such bond shall be
rejected. 1t is also violation of the
law for "A dealer to permit minors to
visit or remain in any room where
liquor is sold, unless accompanied by
father or legal guardian. All saloons
must be closed on Sundays, legal holi-
days and election days and on all other
days between the hours of nine in the
evening and seven in the morning
Common councils and boards of trustees
may, by ordinance, fix the hour of
opening not earlier than six o'clock a.
m. and the hour of closing not later
than eleven p. m. This is discretion
airy power that should not have been
conferred and which ought not to be
exercised. The penalty fixed for a
violation of the provisions of the law is
a fine of not exceeding $500 or impris-
onment in the county jail not exceeding
ninety days or both, in the discretion
of the court. In case fine is imposed =,
the Imprisonment may be extended
until it is paid, provided it does not
exceed period of six months. The
penalty prescribed takes the matter out
of the jurisdiction of justice courts and
carries all cases to the circuit, where
such matters should properly go. 1t
will be seen that the restrictive features
of the law are very binding, and life is
liable to become burden to any saloon
keeper who does not keep within its
provisions; and it is hardly posi-
bic for any man TO sell intoxicating
liquor as a beverage and keep at all
times wholly within the statute. Let
the law be thoroughly and strictly
enforced and there will be great dim
mutton in the number of saloons in the
state.