The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-19

lin 1868, it has undergone the test OF
time, and, more than that, it has prac-
tically revolutionized the drinking hab-
its OF The people. It is no longer a
recommendation for a candidate
for the supreme bench, as it
was at one time, that he is a four or
| i've bottle man. The duties OF hospi-
TALLY no longer require the heads OF
families OF social standing TO maintain
in their employment the lad whose main
duty it was to unloosen the n~eck-gear
! of the diners-out who had fallen below
| the tables before the assaults of French
claret. The improvement has spread
through all ranks and conditions of
men, and Forbes Mackenzie has done it.
First and foremost, the law declared
that on week days no liquor was to be
sold between the hours Of II p. IN. and
s a. M, and on Sundays none at all,
except to bona-tide travellers. just
what constituted hat class OF traveller
was long n vexed question in the
courts. Practically, the matter is
now left to the decision Of the
police and the local authorities.
In most cases, the man who travels
three miles from his starting point with
out any declared intentions or thoughts
of drinking is supposed by the law to be
in need of liquid r%efreshment. But the
man who has been proved to have in
Cured the journey for the sake OF a
drink and a good time has been fire.
quently sent to Jail for a period OF thirty
days to teach him what is due to his
conscience. False representation, of
course, is even a worse offence.
Further, the law divided the vendors
of liquors into three classes, the grocer,
the saloon man, and the hotel keeper.
From the first class it removed the right
Of selling liquor to be consumed on the
premises. In other words, the grocer
might sell whisky or wine or beer, but
the purchaser could not so into the
"back shop" and drink it. The back
shop had been n of the very worst
elements in the encouragement Of secret
drinking, but under the rigorous work
ing Of the law it has become a mere
"reminiscences. The saloon keeper was
held down to the time limitations al
ready mentioned, and the hotel proprie-
tor was left at liberty to provide for his
guests at any time whatever. To carry
the new law into effect, the magistrates
were invested with extraordinary pow
ers, and the police we're authorized to
enter without warrant and at any time
premises where liquor was sold.
Supplementary laws have added to
the rigors Of the original act. Appli-
cants for all licenses have their reputa-
tions severely scrutinized by the police,
and the slightest flaw in the record
makes the permission an imposslbility.
Even the men in possession of licenses
have to exercise the strictest conform
ity with the law, for these permits are
reissued yearly, and a hint from the
police or a complaint from citizens is
very apt to result in a refusal of further
privileges. Duplicate licenses are looked
upon with disfavor, and it is not a very
common occurrence that a permit is
issued to the same individual for two or
more saloons. The saloon must have
only one entrance. 1t must have no
internal means OF communication with
any other establishment. No bartenders
may sleep on the premises, and the pro-
prietog's home mnst be altogether separ-
ate from the saloon. With these pro-
visions, the law is practically supreme,
and evasions are every year becoming
less important and less numerous.
Advocates Of temperance reform and
improved licensing methods in this
country will find valuable material in
the clauses of Forbes Mackenzie.