The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-11-08
MONTPELIER OORREsPoNDENOE,
specipl to the BANNER.
MONTPELIER, Vt. Nov, 7, 1888

MONTPELIER, Vt. Nov, Z, 1888,
One of the most important bills of the
session was introduced last Thursday by
Mr.. Pitkin of Montpelier. II is license
bill and provides that the selectmen of
any town, upon the petition in writing
of 20 voters, 10 days at least before the
annual town meeting insert in the war
rant an article providing for voting on
the question: Shall license be granted
for the sale of intoxicating liquors in
this town. The voting is by ballot and
il ma jority vote yes then select men
may grant license under the provisions
of this bill. Each license is to be signed
by majority of the selectmen and the
town clerk. The town clerk is directed
TO record the name of the person taking
out the license and the particular build
ing in which the business is located.
The license is in force from the date of
its issue to the first Monday in the next
month after the annual town meeting is
held. 1t may be revoked or terminated
but is not transferable. There are sew
eral provisions to prevent the granting
OF license to improper persons, An ap
plication for license must be endorsed
by III persons who are voters of the
town, none of whom. are liquor dealers
or endorsers for other applicants than
one. The application must be published
in town where there is a newspaper;
If there is no newspaper in the town
then the application should be published
on the building were the business is to
be carried Oh and. at three other conspIc-
uous places. Any body may object TO
the ganting of a license and in such
cases the selectmen of the town shall
hear complaints and use their discretion.
The fee for license shall not be less than
$500 to be paid to the treasurer of the
town before the license is issued. The
license shall not be issued until the APP
plicant has given a bond in the sum OF
$4,000. The sureties on this bond cannot
be dealers in liquors nor can they be
bondsmen on other license bonds. This
bond is to be conditioned for the pay
ment OF all fines, tsts and damages
which may be imposed under this act.
The suit against such bond TO be brought
in the name of the party for whose
benefit the case may be instituted. Sure
ty may be released after due notice and
a new bond given, Violation of this act
calls for the revocation of the license.
Full provision is made for proceeding
against liquor dealers for violation OF
the statute, The bill requires that no
licensed liquor seller shall have on sale
impure liquor. Hours of business shall
be from Six a. m., to IL p. M; on State
or town election days the closing hour
is D. p. M. Violation of this provision
renders the offenders liable to fine OF
$50 and costs. Licensed dealers must
not employ minors or a person whose
license has been revoked or annulled.
No screens are permitted and business
must be down on the first floor of a
building. Violation of either of the last
two provisions of this act is followed in
each instance by fine of S25 Sale Of
liquor to minor, pauper, common
drunkard, is forbidden and severely
punished. A husband, wife, parent,
child, guardian or other person who ia
injured personally or financially by an
intoxicated person or in consequence Of
lntoXication, whether habitual OF not,
can recover from the licensed dealer
who sold the liquor. II after husband
or wife has notified licensed dealer not
to sell to certain persons, and the dealer
does sell to those persons, the injured
party can bring suit against the dealer
who shall pay 800 or not more than
$500. The bill is very stringent and it
is more so than the liquor dealers them
selves care for. 1t is a well settled con-
viction IN the minds of many that the
prohibitory statues of Vermont do not
amount TO as much as the paper they
are printed on, 1t is a system which
has been outgrown, and should be cast
aside for the license bill; local option has
not failed to prove satisfactory in Mas
sachusetts and Vermont would be thou
sands of dollars better off if she had
local option rather than this prohibition
sham.
Last Wednesday was in some respects
great day for the suffragists of the fe-
male SEX henry B. Blackwell of Bos-
ton, who Is known chiefly because he is
the husband of Lucy Stone, the able edl-
tor Of the WOmdn'S Journal, appeared
before the Judiciary Commute and
spoke of the exalted privilege women
had in Massachusetts,. In that State
woman can by paying So poll tax have
Ia return the satisfaction OF voting for
school committee which is, of course, a
full equivalent for the money spent in
payment Of said tax. w. II. Caruth of
Kansas, Albert Clarke of Rutland, Miss
Laura Moore of Barnet, and Mrs. NJ. w.
Foster OF Montpelier, spoke in favor OF
the bill. On Friday morning the COM
mittee returned the bill to the House
with mental report. 1t wasagreed to
discuss the bill Nov. Il.
In the Canaan eleection case the
Committee on Election reported that
the seat was vacant.
The Governor has signed the Soldiers
Home bill.
By Senator Madison last Thursday, a
bill amending the Charter of Benning- |
ton; referred to Judiciary.
Mr.. Brockway of Pomfret introduced |
a memorial last Thursday signed by Eli
j. Tiffany and H. J. Potter, the object
being the unsesting of Mr.. yelling, the
memorialsts being the Democratic and
Prohibitory candidates for the Office IN
Bennington. The matter was referred
to the Election Committee. At election
1899 votes were cast, yelling received |
667, Tiffany 577 and Potter 4S making
Welling's majority AZ. 1t is claimed
by Tiffany and Potter that the 48 votes
cast for Potter were also counted by
mistake for Mr.. yelling. If this can be
proved yelling would have no majority
and there would be no election, This
case is likely to become interesting be-
fore it gets out of the committee.
Now that election is over the Legisla-
ture will get down to bushes.
CLAYT.