The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-11-07
The Pitkin License Bill.

This measure provides that the selectmen
of any town, upon the written petition of
not less than twenty-five legal voters pre-
scented at least fifteen days before the
annual town meeting, shall insert in the
warning an article providing for vote on
the question, " Shall license be granted for
the sale of Intoxicating liquors in this
town? ' The voting is by ballot and is so
guarded as to secure q fair expression of
the will of the majority. If a majority
shall vote yes, the selectmen may grant
licenses under the provisions of this act
Each license shall be signed by majority
of the selectmen and the town clerk, shall
be recorded by the town clerk, name the
person licensed and the particular building
in which the business is to be carried on,
and shall continue in force till the first
Monday in the month after that in which
the next annual town meeting is held, un-
less sooner revoked or terminated, and is
not transferable. The granting Of licenses
to improper persons is properly guarded.
Among other checks, the application must
be endorsed by at least ten persons, free
holders and voters in town meeting, none
of them dealers in liquors or endorsers of
other applicants. The qualifications of the
endorsers must be certified by the town
clerk, and in towns in which there is
newspaper the application must be pub
lished; if there is no newspaper in town
the application must be posted conspicu-
ously on the building named in the applica-
ton and in at least three other places where
public notices are commonly published. Any
resident may make objection to the grant
ing of license to applicant, and seectmen
shall hear the DIRECTORS and decide whether
a license shall be granted. If granted, fee
for license shall be not less than $500, to be
paid to town treasurer before issuance of
license, and license shall not be issued un-
til bond for $1,000, with approved sureties
is filed, no dealer in liquor to be accepted
as surety, or any person who is surety on
any other license. This bond shall be con-
ditioned for payment of all fines, costs and
damages which may be enforced against
this bond or imposed and recovered under
this act each suit on this bond to be
brought in name of party for whose benefit
instituted. After due notice, surety may be
released and new bond given. Adequate
provision is made for making and hearing
charges of violations Of this act, and If sus-
tanned, license shall be revoked. Power is
given selectmen to summon witnesses, adj
minister oaths and compel the giving of tes-
timony Applicant pays all expenses of
procuring license or defending against
charges; town pays expense of witnesses
summoned in behalf of town, and if IL
cense is revoked may recover such expenses
from licensed person. Conviction of Of
lenses charged terminates license
Persons licensed are compelled to keep
liquors for sale on the first or street floor of
building, in rooms having entrance and
windows opening upon public street OF
highway, and cannot sell from bar which is
not in full view from such public street or
highway. He is not permitted to place any
blind, screen, shutter curtain, partition,
painted, stained or ground glass, or any
other obstruction so as to interfere in any
way with a full view from the street or
highway of the room in which the business
is done. Violations of this provision are
punished with fine of S25 and costs for each
offense. Place of business must close at
alpVan o'clock p NJ and parlipr
than six O'Clock A. NJ; on election days,
town and state, must close at five o'clock
P. NJ, and must not be open at any time
from eleven o'clock P. NJ. of Saturday to six
o'clock A. NJ. Monday. During the time a
licensed person is prohibited from selling
he shall keep his place of business closed.
Violations of these provisions are punished
by fine of $50 and costs. Must not en-
ploy minors or persons who have had
license revoked or annulled. Penalty S25
fine and costs.
Stringent provision is made against SELL
ing impure liquors and analysis is required
at expense OF seller. Sale to minors, the
poor under town CHARGE common drunk
ards, is forbidden and punished by heavy
fine and imprisonment. Any husband,
wife, child, parent, guardian, employer or
other person who is injured in person, prop
erty or means of support by an intoxicated
person, or in consequence of intoxication,
habitual or otherwise, has the right of re-
covery for damages against person licensed
who has caused the damage by selling in
toxicants. Any husband, wife, ETC.. may
give written notice not to sell to certain
persons, and if licensed party so sells or
permits such persons to loiter in his place
of business, persons giving notice may re-
cover not less than 500 or more than $500
Ample provision is made for the easy and
prompt enforcement of all pains and penal
ties. The law is all on the side of the pub
lie and parties injured by violation of its
commands or by the business itself of sell
ing liquor.