The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-06-26
WET OR DRY.
The Election to be held Tuesday to De
tcrmine the Question of Saloon
License at Big Stone Gap.
TTLEiNTEREsT TAKEN.

Some months ago the prohilitionist
commenced quietly to agitatc the ques
tion of putting a stop to the liquor trafii
at Big Stone Gap. Knowing the licenses
here would expire in May, they used ever.
influence to prevent Judge Miller from
renewing them.
Stripped Of all legal quidditics and cir
cumlocution, the Law seems to he as fol
lows The statute declares that wher
there is sufficient evidence before Tho
court to show that the applicant for a
license is a proper person, and the place
where the saloon is to be kept is proper
place. the court "may" grant such person
a license 1t seems further that the
court of appeals has decided that the
word may when used in such a conncc-
ton means SHAH, and that when the con-
diions prescribed by the statute, under
which license mag be granted, nro
shown to exist, the county Judge has nc
discretion but must issue he license.
Since that decision was rendered how
ever the Legislature has passed an act
depriying the defeated applicants for
license from right of appeal beyond the
Circuit Court; and when the application
Of Symmetrical for q license to sell liquor
ut Big Stone Gap was presented to Judge
Miller. Of the County Court, he refused
il. Appeal was taken TO the Circuit
Court and Judge Morrison said that while
he should have felt compelled to grant the
license to the applicant had he been sit
ting as county Judge, he did not believe
he had jurisdiction owing to some clause
in the city's charter Or some technical
difficulty, and he must therefore decline
to ovcrrulc Miilcr's decision.
Application was then made that an
election be held, as the law provides in
case a district votes for licenses the Judge
is compelled to grant them. This cleo
ton is to be held Tuesday next. 1t has
been inadcquately advertised and this
publication in the Posi- will be the first
intimation many people will lave that a
vote is to he taken.
The public here have about come to the
conclusion that very nearly as much
liquor is sold in and about Big Stone Gap
without license as with it, Under the
license system the city got Il revenue of
$1,000 perannum from this source; and if
the same quantity of liquor is sold, this
$4,000 remains in the pockets of those who
sell it instead Of being devoted to dcfray-
ing the city's expenses and TO that ex-
tent saving the taxpayers. The present
conditions certainly strengthen and en-
rich those who sell liquor and deprive the
CITY of this much needed revenue from
licenses without accomplishing any good
whatever.
There is no prctcnsc even of enforcing
;he law 1t is dead letter. The volun-
tccr police force frankly told Judge Miller
that they gave their services to the city
gratis for the purpose of preserving order.
They did not propose to play the part OF
detectives and attempt to ferret out vio-
lators of the revenue laws. The prohibit
tionsts who urged Judge Miller to refuse
licenses have taken no steps to see the
law enforced though they know it is vio-
lated Those who favor the granting OF
licenses to proper persons naturally say,
':wc are not going to prosecute anybody.
These prohibitionsts have brought all
this about, let them enforce the law"
The prohibitionst's won't take any steps
however for one reason Or another, but it
is believed it is because they fear they
will njure their private interests by set
ting prosecutions on foot, and they want
some one else to do the prosecuting.
SO altogether the law is anullity, and
the only persons in the community who
are proftng by the present situation is
the people who sell liquor and save the
money they would have to pay the city
were license granted them. The morals
of the community are no better; there is
no better order; and, it is said, there is
even less trade in other business.
Now we should either have licenses or
not have them; and if they are not grant
ed, the sale Of liquor should be prohibited
and those who are responsible for having
them withheld should make some effort
to enforce the law. The situation as it
stands is costly sham to the city and
those who brought it about should remedy