The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-04-25
Friday. April %, 1890.
The Proposed New Liquor Law for
Cecil County.

As one of the Public Local Laws of Cecil
county the recent liquor enactment is pub
lshed The new act alters the present pro-
hioitory law of the county whether the
license clause is adopted or rejected, chang
ing the present prohibition law to local
option law, requiring the submission of the
law to vote every four years. The ques-
ton will he voted on at the regular election
IN November and the tickets to be voted
will contain the words "For License or
Against License"
The result of the vote being against
license the provisions Of the law remain
nearly the same as at present but are re.
enacted, with the provision that the law
shall be submitted to popular vote every
fourth year, at the general election in No
vember, thus preserving the legal status of
the liquor trade, with the prospect of high
license TO give the business an air of respec-
liability, with the continuous temptation and
bride held out to the tax payers.
The clerk of the circnt court is required
to advertise the result of the election in all
the newspapers of the county fifteen days
after the return judges have certified the
result to the Clerk.
The requirements for hotel under the
license clause are the same as under the
last liquor law Of the county, and the license
in an incorporated town, or within miles
of it shall be $3.50, and for hotel in the
county, not nearer an incorporated town
than 2 miles, the license fee is $3.50. For a
saloon the license is $780, There is no re.
striction as to numbers.
The applicant for license shall file pc
tition with the Clerk of the circuit court
certifying his desire to enter into the bus
mess of making criminals, accompanied by
the signature of ten freeholders resident of The
Election district In which the saloon or tavern
is to be established. These ten vouchers
can only sign for one applicant. The ap
plicant shall also file a bond with two
surities in the sum of $1,000, to pay damages
&c., that may occur from violation of the
law; and the money shall be paid over TO
the County Commissioners, by the Clerk,
for the use of the county. This is fine
bride for the privilege Of raising hell, as the
Hoosier told Dan Worries. The Clerks fee
shall be $3.50 for issuing the license. The
SALON license Of $3.50 is also 10 he paid over
the County Commissioners.
The requirements are the customary ones
of closing at II O'Clock at night, opening at
a. M, no sales on Sunday or on election
day, or to minors or drunk people, ETC.,
ETC., under the regulation pattern, all of
which restrictive features" are only Il
blind to catch simpletons.
These are in short the provisions of this
new act, but they are not going 10 be tried
in this county. Mark that. The worst
feature about the act is that requiring vote
to be taken every fourth year, at an extra
expense of about 5000 for Sheriff's notices.
advertising, ETC., and the disgrace of again
giving the saloon commercial standing,
after having been completely outlawed.
And this is the condemnation of "local
OF ton" 1t acknowledges that the liquor
traffic is right and proper business to en-
gage in if one more voter than half the
number IN the county says SO. On the
same theory any other crime can be white
washed and justified. And in the face of
this disgracefuI fact how many do we hear
who profess to be shifting liquor hip and
thigh in the pulpit, In the pew, and in the
temperance societies, complacentIy talking
of "local option" and gaugiDg their morality
by public sentiment which they are help
ing constantly to debauch by such cringing
cowardice and low down morality.