St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-03-21
A STAT WHERE PROHIBITION PRO
HIBITS.

Governor Larrabee of Iowa pre-
sented enquiries to the forty-one dis
trict and superior court judges of his
state as to the working of the pro-
hibitory law in the several judicial
districts and whether they (the
Iudges) would advise its amendment
or appeal. DR.. d. o. Mears of Wor
cester, Mass, has made faithful alb
stracts of these replies, which, con-
sidering the source of information
and the standing of the witnesses,
cannot fail of interest =
Abstract of Replies.
I'd district-Judge Traverse: 1t is
the most Outstanding and clvillz-
ing event that has happened within
the age. Judge Stuart: ! would not
advise the repeal of the prohibitory
liquor law.
Sd district-.Judge Harvey: | am
not aware that there is a saloon in
the district. 1t has reduced crime at
least one-half, and the criminal eX-
penses in like ratio. | would not,
and do not, favor the repeal of the
law. Judge Henry: l doubt the eX-
pediency of changing it
4th district-.Judge Lewis: | think
the prohibitory law is all right, and
should not be repealed. The law is
as well enforced as any other, and
has decreased criminal expenses at
least two-thirds. Judge Laid makes
a few more stringent suggestions and
says: These are all the suggestions
| would offer in the matter of the
change of the liquor laws. Judge
Wakefield was opposed to the law at
its enactment, but says: We have
passed through the heat of the bat
tie, and the power of the traffic seems
to be broken and enforcement posi-
BILE and practicable.
9Th district-.Judge Henderson: If
! Judges, courts, sheriffS and other
peace officers, as well as citizens, do
their duty, we will entirely suppress
the evil under the present law. Judge
Ayres: | have no doubt that the pro-
hibitOry law has reduced criminal Of
lenses and the expenses of the courts
in this district very largely, and |
certainly would not advise repeal
of it ; but | would advise a mOdltca-
ton or change in the pharmacy law
Judge Wilkinson: The prohibitory
law in this district is we'll enforced
While there are clandestine sales of
liquor, know of no saloon in the
district. | have no doubt but that
crime and criminal expenses have
been leSSened.
9th district-Judge Lewis: would
not recommend the repeal of the pro-
hibitorv law, as | believe it will end
the saloon and promote temperance
sentiment and sobriety, and i'll every
way a better state of things in SOc1e-
tv. Judge RYAN: | am free to say
that in my limited experience on the
bench, and 20 years at the bar, |
would not advise its repeal. Judge
Johnson: There can be no doubt that
the effect of the prohibitory law has
been to reduce very materially crime
and criminal expenses in this dis
trict l would not advise its repeal.
9th district-.Judge kavanagh: 1t
has decreased crime over so per cent
and added largely to individual hap
piness. Judge Conrad: My observa-
ton is that it has largely diminished
crime in this district, and very much
lessened the costs of maintaining the
courts Judge Given: | would GER
tainlv not advise its repeal, and | do
not know of any law that | would
be willing to see placed in its stead.
18th district-Judge Weaver: |
have been on the bench now year,
and have held - terms of court in
eight different counties. During that
time have been called upon to pre-
side in but two state cases where the
charge was above the grade OF mis-
demeanor, and have had occasion to
pronounce but one sentence OF I'M
prisonment in the penitentlary. The
criminal expenses in nearly every
county are being reduced to very
| low sum.
10Th district-.Judge Cleland: The
action of the law has been beneficial,
and tended to lessen criminal bust
ness and expenses.
18th district-.Judge Granger: The
effort at closing the saloons in these
counties commenced i'll the spring,
and has been successful. | have no
hesitancy in saying that the closing
of the front door of the saloon,
whereby it is destroyed as place OF
social resort, has Cancelled nine-tenths
of the drunkenness. Today there is
but one criminal case pendingin three
counties, and that is an old case
growing out of whisky sales. Our
grand juries have comparatively
nothing to do. So far as | know, but
one man is in jail, and he for violat-
|
Our criminal expenses, since the clos
ing of the saloons, have been COM
paratively nominal.
18th district-Judge Thomas: l
am satisfied it is reducing crime, and,
as a consequence, criminal expenses.
Judge Carr: The present prohibitory
law is, in my judgment, success.
We have no open saloons.
18th district-Judge Deemer: In
many of the counties, the Jail is get
ting to be almost an unnecessary
building, and in the last three coun-
ties have visited there was not an
occupant Judge Carson: When in
the Senate | favored local option but
| am now satisfied that the statute
should stand My belief is that the
effect has been very favorable in the
reduction of criminal offenses, espec-
tally those growing out of brawls
and quarreling. Judge Loofborrow:
The criminal record is much reduced.
Judge Thornell: | should regard its
repeal as a calamity, and have no
suggestions to offer in it's stead
10th district-Judge Macomber
believe it is a good law, and tends
nightly to uphold moral ideas.
am opposed to any looking back.