The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-16
A STATEMENT FROM THE EXCISE
BOARD.

reverend DOCTOR mas naHulcQ W1CnOuC
gloves, the Excise Board of this city.
| AS the undersigned, members Of the
board, have heretofore maintained a
fairly respectable position in this city
and have endeavored to honestly and
properly discharge the extremely diff
| cult duties of their office, they desire to
| state.
First. What they conceive to be their
| duty.
Second. How they have discharged
that duty. And in an general way to
refer to the structures of the very
worthy gentleman who would hold the
Excise Board esponsible for all the mis-
deeds of a heterogeneous population.
! AS preliminary, we state that we
are no more responsible for the exist
ing laws, nor for the vicious proclivities
| of our fellow men than are the other
citizens of this town. Nor are we apol-
osists for either.
Returning to the first head.
The laws Of this State recognize the
legality of the liquor traffic, and, con-
trary to the reverend doctors individual
judgment, consider that there are fit
persons to sell liquors aud suitable
places at which at which they may be
sold.
The legislature seeks to regulate the
traffic, and to that end the Excise
Boards are appointed to ascertain from
legal evidence and their own view, who
are fl persons and where are suitable
general propriety OF approving the an
plications presented to the Board, (inci
dentally the legislature may have in
tended that no person IS u fl person
who tenders coupons in payment Of
taxeS.)
If the person applying proves himself
al for that business; if the place is sui :
able; if there is no general improperly
in granting the license, the Board does
not consider that it ST ould, because of
the dixit of any one. no matter how
worthy, eminent or respected he may
be, annul the law, by refusing to APP
prove a license to conduct the liquor
traffic.
Under The second head.
The Board personally inspects the
various places where liquors are pro-
posed to be sold; inquiries from the police
force the extent Of police supervision in
that neighborhood; take evidence as to
the fitness of the person applying, and
after hearing any objections which may
be offered, to the person applying; in
quiring into the manner in which he
has previously conducted the business
and considering the suitability of the
place, they vote as their Judgment and
oath of office dictate. Nay more, if they
ascertain that the liquor laws have been
violated, they lay the facts before the
officers of the Commonwealth in order
that the offenders may be justly dealt
with, according to law. And the records
of the Corporation Court will show that
upon their motion offenders have been
hrn trr1 = 70 hn how Df
swer rule of Court to show cause why
their license should not be revoked
In general way it may be said that.
it is safe to fight behind ramparts. 1t
suits very we'll the characto ristics OF
some people to avoid q responsibility,
by cndeavoring to cause another to be
held for that responsibility.
IT the reverend doctor and the 600 or
more citizens who joined him in his
protest, really want to abolish the sails
of liquors, not only in the residence
portion of the city but in The business
portion as we'll. why is not the local
option law invoked by them, and tho
sale Of liquors in this city absolutely
abolished? AT least why do they not
assume practical opposition to the
liquor traffic? Why not be leaders in
the crusade? Surely it is not to be
said that they wish to avoid the glory
and honor of suppressing such traffic.
If it is not proper for liquor to he sold
in the residence portion of town, is it
proper to be sold in the business por-
ton? Is it not really question of
police supervision so far aS the place is
concerned? )r is it matter of senti-
ment?
If,however, the rcverned doctor and
the 600 do not care to take the lead in
the local option movement there are
two other ways in which they may dis
charge their duty to the wives, daugh-
tiers and sisters of the husbands, fathers
and brothers.
One is by really "upholding the
hands" of the board. Let any of them
come before the board and testify that
the person applying is not fit for the
business, that the place is not suitable.
Let them there meet the applicant and
his witnesses face to face ana assist the
board by their moral, practical support
in the boards efforts to rightly pass
upon the application.
And If the Board nevertheless ap-
proves the application those who may
think the Board has judged amiss may
enter their protest before the Court.
They may become parties in Court to
prevent the issue Of licenses. And il
tho Court ''still persists" in granting
the license, the directors will at least
divide the responsibility between the
Board and the Court. But il these
gentlemen do not avail themselves of
these lawful means Of preventing the
sale of liquors how can they escape
from their responsibility?
Tho Reverend Doctor cites Hotel
Brunswick as crying evil. and calls it
saloon. No one who passes by that
place would ever know it was such
There some OF the most respected gen.