New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-29
MISSOURI.
LOCAL OPTION AND HIGH LICENSE.
NUMBER OF INHABITANTS TO SQUARE, MILE, 81
LARGEST CITY, ST. LOUIS, 350,51S-rorAL
POPULATION, 2,16s, 3s0-AEEA.
69,415 SQUARE

MILES
"local option law was passed IN Missouri IN
1887. one-tenth Of the inhabitants Of city Of
more than $500 inhabitants or Of the inhabt-
ants of any county exclusive of such cities may petit
ton the authorities for an election TO held within
forty days to determine the question Of license within
the limits of such city county. The decision then
made the polls Is to control for the ensuing four
years. The notice of the election must be published
for four weeks and the result for the same time
Druggists selling liquor for medicinal, art, scientific Or
mechanical purposes are excepted. ANY person vio-
Iating the provisions Of the act By selling in no
llcense' towns, or otherwise is subject to pay fne
from 5000 to 81 900 TO Imprisonment from six
months to year both.
In localities where licenses granted, they are
issued BY the county court. But this can only be
upon the petition OF majority OF the tax-paying IN
habtautS OF tho town well Of tho particular block
in which the saloon is to be situated. In cities, how
ever Of than Q 800 Inhabitants the petition of
majority of the taxpayers of the block Is sufficient
The section OF the to the amount Of fees was
amended In 1857 to read as follows Upon every
such license there shall levied tax not less than
so5 nor more than 300 for State purposes nor less
than $3.50 nor than s4Oo for county purposes.
FOR every period of six months the amount Of tax IN
every instance DO determined by the court granting
tho license
The amount thus required is substantially the
same as it has been since 1888 but before that
the fee was much smaller To sell in license towns
without license Is to incur fine from Gao to 500 !
for selling Sunday or Election Day the fine Is
similar hut the dealer also forfes the right to
license for two years. A dealer must not sell TO
person who, he has received notice, an haotual
drlnkard under penalty OF similar fine. Judgment
may also be recovered against him from $50 TO $500
by the wife or other member Of the drunkards family
who has given the notice. Druggists may sell Tor
medicinal or sacramental purposes without license
But If they sell liquor to be drunk on the prsmlses
they must tak6 out a regular license
REPUBLICANS.
Senator James c. McGnnls holds tho following
views:
On To some extent IT certainly does
(ol Yes; / regard local option and high license as
presenting the true solution Of the liquor question
Experience and observation DOth teach US that these
wisRsy which results from the absence of all repress
i've measures and the equally free though worse
can infsrfers with the liquor franic only by proper
exercise of its police power and successfully only with
ed by The regulation Hence, local option The bust
ness regulated should pay tho cost Of regulation, to-
ont Of lts axstence Hence high license still, IL IS
contrary to tho theory Of license that the fee should
DO SO high As 10 be prohbitory or 10 make the busi
ness Mathematics and merely a Of revenue TO
the authority granting the license, .,u, ..,a..,..
On I would recommend a. An essential modncation,
nation IN the Icense fee between tho distilled and tho
nlllder and huFtlul NinOus
so 90 ia encourage the substitution OF the latter for
the former IN the Interest of true temperance
81 Toujs Mo. JAMES c. MGINNIS
DEMOCRATS
p Wood sends the following reply:
IN Our High License and Local Option laws have
undoubtedly aided very largely In abating the evils
Of Incompetence and Will, think, In time, under rigid
enforcement. reduce to the minimum the evils con
seauent from tho immoderate use Of Intoxicating
(2l our liquor laws certainly better than pro
hhton or any other liquor law that has been tried Tor
the purpose OF REFRESHING lntemperance ana TINS saS
cent s0me slight amendments, no statutory or other
changes should be made In our present liquor laws.
New-Londcn, Mo. J. T. Woop
PROHBIT1ONIsTS.
Charles p johnson writes
tIl Tho Local Option law where II has been adopted