Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-10-03
New Liquor Law
SOME RADICAL CHANGES GO INTO
EFFECT.
AN EXCLUSIVE MONOPOLY
Given to Pharmacists, but Iron-Clad Re-
quirements Render the Business Far
from Pleasant-A Most Rigid
Prohibition Predicted.

DIES MONIES, Ia, Oct. 2.-On Monday
began the third epoch of p~rohibitory leg
islation in Iowa. The new liquor law,
as it is called, passed by the last general
assembly, nominally went into effect
July 4, but as it contains certain exemp-
tions running till Oct. l, the law prac-
tically went into etfeca Monday. Under
this law some radical changes are made,
chief among which is the abolishing of
all wholesale liquor stores. Not one has
a legal existence in Iowa to day for any
purpose whatever. Hereafter all liquors
that are sold at all must be handled by
pharmacists, giving them an exclusive
monopoly of the business. The law pro-
yides that wholesale liquor dealers that
had permits when the law went into eff
feet July 4 could have till Oct. / for
closing out their stock.
Although the change gives the drug
gists the entire control of the business,
their way is hedged about with care,
compelling restrictions calculated to
make tie business far from pleasant,
even If lucrative. The conditions under
| which permits can be obtained now are
of the iron-clad order, certain to make
I druggists very weary before he runs
the gauntlet of legal inquiry. He can
only sell Intoxicating liquors for pharm-
aceutical and medicinal purposes, alco-
hol for specified purposes, and wine for
sacramental purposes. The "mechanicai
purposes" Of the law are set aside, and
he is held to a strict responsibility for
the few purposes for which he can sell.
Before he can get a permit he must pub
lish his intention four weeks; must
have a petition signed by one-third
1 nf -4Afl,a frnahalJ nfttnar,S ~ hiS
township or ward; must give bond for
$1,000 that he will not violate the law
must stand a cross-examination in tn.
district court, in which his pedigree ant
record are most carefully scrntinized
Then it is optional with the judge wheth
er to grant him a permit or not, and i
the opposition are pretty active he mus
try to prove that the welfare of his ware
or township absolutely requires that hi
have a permit. Anybody can object OF
the ground that he is not a man of goot
moral character, or that he has abused
this privilege in the past or would do sc
In the future, and he will have to defend
himself on all these points. If success
full, he is under bonds to exercise thu
greatest care that no liquors are sold i'm
properly, and he has to keep a bool
showing a record of all the sales h,
makes, which is to be open for the in
spection of the pharmacy commissioner
and others.
fiSuch, in brief, are the iron-clad re
quirements that go into effect all ovel
Iowa. As q result, first, none but regis
tered pharmacists can get permits at all,
no wholesale liquor dealers being toler
ated longer. Second, many druggist
will not take the trouble for the trade
and SO in some counties no permits a
all will be taken out. Third, the judges
7, generally will scrutinize the application
very closely, granting but few, SO that i
is predicted that prohibition under thi
known.